Kevin Kline, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Hayden Christensen star in
Life as a House, a compelling and entertaining drama
about the willpower of one man who could just as easily have none.
Life as a House is about George, a divorced father who knows he is going to die in a matter of months. His relationship with his ex-wife isn''t that bad, but his son is a rebellious loner, resorting to prostitution to be able to buy drugs. But when George decides to buy a house, the pieces of his shattered life begin to come together, rebuilding themselves after many years.
Life as a House is amusing in sort of a dark kind of way. There are some shocking moments, like the realization that the son is so desperate for drugs that he will sell himself. There are some other strange sexual encounters, mainly focused around Jena Malone''s character, a 16-year old girl that seems awfully mature about her age and doesn''t mind flaunting her features. Most importantly, there is some great dialogue, as George grapples between being an asshole and a loving father.