The Good Life (2007)

20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(1,877 ratings)

First-time helmer Steve Berra writes and directs the finely felt coming-of-age story The Good Life, a film à clef loosely based on Berra's experiences growing up in a Nebraskan small town during the '70s and '80s. Mark Webber stars as the director's alter ego, a more or less well-adjusted adolescent… More First-time helmer Steve Berra writes and directs the finely felt coming-of-age story The Good Life, a film à clef loosely based on Berra's experiences growing up in a Nebraskan small town during the '70s and '80s. Mark Webber stars as the director's alter ego, a more or less well-adjusted adolescent who nevertheless cuts against the grain of his football-obsessed friends and neighbors. Zooey Deschanel plays a young woman in the town who befriends Webber and encourages him to celebrate his uniqueness and individuality; Harry Dean Stanton portrays a local cinema owner who gives Webber a job running the theater. The picture co-stars Chris Klein as an abusive ex-high school football star, Bruce McGill as a worshipped football coach, and Bill Paxton (who also co-produced) as an admirer of Judy Garland. Though set in Nebraska, Berra and co. filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The film reunites Paxton and Stanton, who also co-star in the HBO series Big Love. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Stephen Berra
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 18, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Nov 4, 2008
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

James Greenberg, Hollywood Reporter
While The Good Life is stylistically ambitious and heartfelt, it feels more forced than authentic.
Luke Y. Thompson, OC Weekly
As a director, Stephen Berra makes this all quite palatable, but as a writer, he frequently mistakes platitudes for profundity.
Kim Voynar, Cinematical
You just can't go from darkly morose to uplifting and hopeful in the last 30 seconds of the film without any kind of arc to take you there.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Grounded in the rich cinematic tradition of Small-Town America, the film doesn't break much new thematic ground, but it's well-acted by the entire ensemble, which consists of both pros and young thespians.
Jamie Tipps, Film Threat
The film spends what seems like interminable hours driving home the brutal truth that the world is better off without Jason Prayer, and, despite the anemic flip-flop of the last twenty seconds, it's hard to disagree.

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Leigh R

Dark, but good. Really interesting movie and keeps you on your toes and thinking. I love Deschanel in her role... I swear she can pull off anything.
Fascade F

ZOOEY Deschannel is really opening my eyes as a talented actress...one look in those eyes of honesty of hers holds me captivated as she goes through the script she held in this epic of a movie...being trapped in her life she found the perfect escape through the befriending and… More
ZOOEY Deschannel is really opening my eyes as a talented actress...one look in those eyes of honesty of hers holds me captivated as she goes through the script she held in this epic of a movie...being trapped in her life she found the perfect escape through the befriending and relating with Patric Fugit. This was a good soul searching drama the holds you and surprises you in the very end.
shane h

A bit outside the norm here, this one makes you really think about what is and what could be. A great little plot twist that makes the movie towards the end. The end to me was left kinda open I had been watching movies for about 8 hours recovering from New Years Eve so I may have… More
A bit outside the norm here, this one makes you really think about what is and what could be. A great little plot twist that makes the movie towards the end. The end to me was left kinda open I had been watching movies for about 8 hours recovering from New Years Eve so I may have missed something.