One Lyfe to Life

This is a hard-hitting drama about a character who wants to leave his rough life in a tough neighborhood "the hood" but his environment keeps pulling him back in. The direction is strong, especially when the action ramps up, and the editing keeps the story moving along at a steady pace towards the bittersweet conclusion. Most of the acting is solid, although I wish there was more time spent on the relationship between the lead and a supporting character with drug problems since that becomes more important as the narrative progresses. There is a narration that comes in every now and then that seems a bit jarring when it breaks the fourth wall, but most of the character relationships are developed nicely through the characters' interactions. The audio is also a bit jarring at times, as it cuts off and sounds muffled in places. But the story is strong and I appreciated that it shows that there is also love and support in "the hood" as much as there is violence and tough times.

'One Lyfe to Life' is an atmospheric film that builds its tension slowly. The visuals are intended to create a gritty, raw feel. Despite the simplicity of the visuals and lighting, they still immerse a viewer and allow one to be fully absorbed into the story of Lyfe, who is living in a tumultuous struggle in New York. The slow motion during some of the confrontation sequences is warranted and the use of deep depth of field allows the viewer to take in the full landscape/atmosphere. Wonderful score and overall, the flow of the scenes works well. The film could have been further immersive with cleaner sound in some places and enhanced performances, but still a great story of perseverance with a theological undertone.

One Lyfe to Live is a really captivating story following a young man who wants to better his life, but is left with limited options as adulthood sets in. This film tells a really powerful story, and it kept me engaged the entire time. It truly is a captivating movie!! Really worth taking the time to watch. The writing, directing, and acting are all solid. While it may not be perfect, as an independent film, the creators did a great job. I also appreciate how they filmed a lot of scenes on location because this ultimately made the story feel more real. It also showed the nuance of "the hood life" and how it's not purely violence and crime, but there is friendship and love as well.

I was drawn in from the very start of the film. As a former New Yorker I absolutely love how New York this film feels. The production value was quite impressive and the runtime ran perfect throughout the narrative of this gripping film. The actors all brought their A game and delivered memorable and unique performances. This is a very character driven film that feels fresh and original full of raw emotions. The score and direction of this narrative are brilliant and come together in a very authentic and believable way that makes me want to see more from this incredibly talented team. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a solid and authentic drama.

Here is my honest critique. Overall, this was a good movie. The story was well written with some good subplots. The pacing was good, a few slow moments, but good. This story depicted a realistic and relatable view of how some young men are caught in this never ending web of street life. Good way to depict the mother's fears of loosing their children to the street life. I am glad that this movie did not romanticize the street life, but displayed both sides, action and consequences. I thought some of the actors could have been a little stronger in their performances and there were a few audio issues throughout. The musical score was captivating and really gave this movie a soul. Good job.