The Life of Reilly (2007)

98% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(678 ratings)

"The Life of Reilly" is an adaptation of Mr. Reilly's acclaimed one-man show and was photographed for the screen during Mr. Reilly's final two perfomances of his play in North Hollywood, California. The film takes us through this man's strange, tragic, and hilarious life, from his birth in a humble… More "The Life of Reilly" is an adaptation of Mr. Reilly's acclaimed one-man show and was photographed for the screen during Mr. Reilly's final two perfomances of his play in North Hollywood, California. The film takes us through this man's strange, tragic, and hilarious life, from his birth in a humble neighborhood of the Bronx to his retirement in his posh Beverly Hills abode.

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Frank L. Anderson, Barry Poltermann
Written By: Charles Nelson Reilly, Paul Linke
Genres: Documentary, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 9, 2007 Wide
Studio: Reel Diva Consultants

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
...he's far more candid recalling his grand delusions in a school play than he is when he gets to Broadway and Hollywood.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
...it's a funny and frequently affecting reminiscence...
Joe Leydon, Variety
Life of Reilly is vivid proof that living well, and laughing heartily, can be the best revenge.
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
The Life of Reilly lets us know how much the world has changed.
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
Director Barry Poltermann's sweet little evocation of a show business career captures Reilly at 'the twilight of an extraordinary life,' in Reilly's words.
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
It's fortunate that we have this filmed record -- directed by Barry Poltermann and Frank Anderson -- of a memorable solo performance by a true show business original.
Dave White, Movies.com
It was shot just before he died, so it's a nice record of his life in his own words, a life that included bizarre family situations as well as his solo navigation of Hollywood as a decidedly unconventional celebrity.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Gives us a sense of a full life of triumph and tragedy, an epic story told in 84 minutes by a master raconteur.
Robert Horton, HeraldNet
It doesn't pretend to be a movie, really, but it's an unexpected treat from a man who made a living out of being silly.
Rob Thomas, Wisconsin State Journal
See Life of Reilly and you won't see him as a pop culture footnote ever again.
Randy Shulman, Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)
The schmaltzy surface-nature of the show, however, is redeemed by Reilly's performance... and by a final story...
KJ Doughton, Film Threat
It... holds wrenching emotional power in its naked, warts-and-all history of one man's life...
Jonathan W. Hickman, Entertainment Insiders
Unfortunately, I never caught Nelson live, but this film has to be the closest thing to it.
Jason Anderson, eye WEEKLY
...the man's sense of stagecraft and storytelling prowess are undeniable.
Hank Sartin, Time Out
As this entertaining recording of his one-man show reveals, Reilly was a natural raconteur.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Helmers Frank Anderson and Barry Poltermann had the bright idea to preserve Reilly's show on film, and... it is indeed an invaluable record.
Richard Knight, Windy City Times
Charles Nelson Reilly's one-man stage show makes for a terrific one-man movie.
Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper
This is a story about all wide-eyed dreamers as much as it is about him: When Reilly reads off the roster of his classmates in a New York acting class for the dirt-poor, it's a simple act that's hugely inspiring.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
Reilly conjures a self-portrait that is insightful, hilarious and completely devoid of self-pity.