John came to Hollywood to get that one big break in life. Years have passed since and all he has to show for are a menial job, unpaid bills and airhead friends and he's getting sick of it al... Read allJohn came to Hollywood to get that one big break in life. Years have passed since and all he has to show for are a menial job, unpaid bills and airhead friends and he's getting sick of it all. Is there a way out of this downward spiral?John came to Hollywood to get that one big break in life. Years have passed since and all he has to show for are a menial job, unpaid bills and airhead friends and he's getting sick of it all. Is there a way out of this downward spiral?
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win total
James Le Gros
- Mike, Jr.
- (as James LeGros)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
5.9643
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Featured reviews
starving artists LA style
The movie is about three male friends living in Los Angeles. They have just completed college and are working temporary jobs. They have little to no money and it's not clear what exactly they want to do, although one senses they have lofty artistic goals. The main character is typing a novel and is seemingly very jaded. He has seen it all. The facade is chipped by his blossoming relationship with a woman. they have both started to share their true feelings. he also has a roommate desperate for companionship, whom he disdains. good story, good acting, good everything. if you ever wanted to be a starving artist and bogart cool, but now just go to your mind numbing job and sit behind the desk, this movie's for you. walkingintherain.net
demands respect and appreciation
The low life is a film that will no doubt leave you depressed and just for that, you know that this film is well made and very successful in it's aim. It's purpose is to portray the low lives of society, the people who are the 'scum' or the under-dogs of the world, the people we always look down on and give dirty looks. This film tells us that there is a reason for them being the way they are and provokes real sympathy. Sean Astin is the strongest link in this film, one can't help but feel so sorry for his character...all he wants is a friend. Viewers will find themselves hanging out for scenes with him. The low life is a very good film, realistic and thought-provoking....not uplifting, but thats how it should be.
moves kinda slowly, but still worth seeing
For the most part, I thought that "The Low Life" moved pretty slowly. But even so, it's still worth seeing, if only as a character study. The main character is John Martin (Rory Cochrane), who has moved to Los Angeles hoping to make something of himself, but has to separate carbon copies to make ends meet. He has to stay with geeky Andrew (Sean Astin). Surrounded by several different kinds of people, John tries to maintain his identity however possible.
So, there's nothing particularly special about this movie. Maybe it's worth seeing once. But the entire cast does some interesting things with the characters. I think that that's about the best description that I can give; much of the movie confused me.
Also starring Kyra Sedgwick, James Le Gros, J.T. Walsh, Shawnee Smith, and Renee Zellweger in an early role (she plays the poet).
So, there's nothing particularly special about this movie. Maybe it's worth seeing once. But the entire cast does some interesting things with the characters. I think that that's about the best description that I can give; much of the movie confused me.
Also starring Kyra Sedgwick, James Le Gros, J.T. Walsh, Shawnee Smith, and Renee Zellweger in an early role (she plays the poet).
One of those rare movies...
that takes you in completely. I can't help but noticing that many people praise Sean Astin. I agree, he is wonderful in that role. He makes the audience feel with him. But still I think this is definetely Rory Cochrane's Movies. His performance is so incredibly good, that I saw that movie three times in a row. There never was any doubt that Mr. Cochrane is a very, very talented Actor, but he just shine's out in "the low life". Yes, the movie is somewhat depressing, but it's Cochrane's play to thank for, that the viewer can still enjoy the whole movie. I really can't believe that I just recently saw it for the first time. To bad there might never be a DVD, finally a movie worth buying. bibi Germany
Entertaining ...
The characters don't interact with each other very well, but separately they are very interesting. I especially liked Sean Astin's Andrew, a lonely twenty-something with a penchant for 80s power ballads. James LeGros is up to his usual standards as Michael Schroeder, Jr., the landlord who sends his temps to do everything from plumbing to evictions.
I usually like Rory Cochrane, but either his character wasn't written all that well (probably the case) or he didn't do it very well. At the end you're more interested in Andrew's fate than anyone else's.
I usually like Rory Cochrane, but either his character wasn't written all that well (probably the case) or he didn't do it very well. At the end you're more interested in Andrew's fate than anyone else's.
Did you know
- TriviaRory Cochrane and Renée Zellweger appeared in Dazed and Confused (1993), Love and a .45 (1994), and Empire Records (1995).
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $45,436
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,589
- May 12, 1996
- Gross worldwide
- $45,436
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content






