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Life

  • 1999
  • R
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
60K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,125
581
Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac, and Michael Taliferro in Life (1999)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:39
2 Videos
77 Photos
Buddy ComedyPeriod DramaPrison DramaComedyCrimeDrama

In 1932, two strangers are wrongfully convicted and develop a strong friendship in prison that lasts them through the 20th century.In 1932, two strangers are wrongfully convicted and develop a strong friendship in prison that lasts them through the 20th century.In 1932, two strangers are wrongfully convicted and develop a strong friendship in prison that lasts them through the 20th century.

  • Director
    • Ted Demme
  • Writers
    • Robert Ramsey
    • Matthew Stone
  • Stars
    • Eddie Murphy
    • Martin Lawrence
    • Obba Babatundé
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    60K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,125
    581
    • Director
      • Ted Demme
    • Writers
      • Robert Ramsey
      • Matthew Stone
    • Stars
      • Eddie Murphy
      • Martin Lawrence
      • Obba Babatundé
    • 194User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 6 nominations total

    Videos2

    Life (1999)
    Trailer 1:39
    Life (1999)
    Soprano: A La Vie, A La Mort
    Trailer 0:50
    Soprano: A La Vie, A La Mort
    Soprano: A La Vie, A La Mort
    Trailer 0:50
    Soprano: A La Vie, A La Mort

    Photos77

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    + 70
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    Top cast73

    Edit
    Eddie Murphy
    Eddie Murphy
    • Rayford Gibson
    Martin Lawrence
    Martin Lawrence
    • Claude Banks
    Obba Babatundé
    Obba Babatundé
    • Willie Long
    Nick Cassavetes
    Nick Cassavetes
    • Sgt. Dillard
    Anthony Anderson
    Anthony Anderson
    • Cookie
    Barry Shabaka Henley
    Barry Shabaka Henley
    • Pokerface
    Brent Jennings
    Brent Jennings
    • Hoppin' Bob
    Bernie Mac
    Bernie Mac
    • Jangle Leg
    Miguel A. Núñez Jr.
    Miguel A. Núñez Jr.
    • Biscuit
    Michael Taliferro
    Michael Taliferro
    • Goldmouth
    • (as Michael 'Bear' Taliferro)
    Guy Torry
    Guy Torry
    • Radio
    Bokeem Woodbine
    Bokeem Woodbine
    • Can't Get Right
    Ned Beatty
    Ned Beatty
    • Dexter Wilkins
    Lisa Nicole Carson
    Lisa Nicole Carson
    • Sylvia
    O'Neal Compton
    O'Neal Compton
    • Superintendant Abernathy
    Noah Emmerich
    Noah Emmerich
    • Stan Blocker
    Rick James
    Rick James
    • Spanky
    Clarence Williams III
    Clarence Williams III
    • Winston Hancock
    • Director
      • Ted Demme
    • Writers
      • Robert Ramsey
      • Matthew Stone
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews194

    6.859.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8hitchcockthelegend

    life's what you make it!

    Looking forward to my next viewing of this. Martin Lawrence once again proves that given a co-star to work off he can deliver, and here he does as he gets Eddie Murphy on prime form to work with. It's a very funny and bittersweet picture, a tale of friendship under duress. A great supporting cast fills out the other convict characters. 8/10
    slightlymad22

    Under Rated

    Continuing my plan to watch every Eddie Murphy movie in order, I come to Life (1999)

    Plot In A Paragraph: In 1932, two strangers (Murphy and Lawrence) are wrongfully convicted and develop a strong friendship in prison that lasts them through the 20th century.

    This is the last movie starring Eddie Murphy, that I chose to go see at the cinema!! That is not counting voice work, I went to see with my kids. This reteams Murphy with his Boomerang costar, Martin Lawrence. 7 years ago, Murphy was a huge star, and Murphy was relatively unknown. Now they were on an equal footing. Ned Beatty (Deliverance) has a small but important role.

    I enjoy this movie, and consider it to be under rated. I usually watch this every couple of years. Murphy and Lawrence had genuine chemistry and some out takes and ad libs are actually in the movie. I think this is probably Murphy's last good comedy!! It's not a laugh riot, but it's a seriously touching movie. Probably in my Top 10 Murphy movies.

    Life grossed $63 million at the domestic box office, to end the year the 34th highest grossing movie of the year.
    10dcbaaca25

    I din't understand why this gets such a low score!

    Excellent, simply brilliant.

    One of the most funniest films I have seen.

    I have seen this so many times and I don't understand why it has only scored a 6/10!

    I always think that story lines that cover a large chunk of the characters' lives are always very interesting as the audience gets to see how they evolve and change with age. All of the characters pull this off - over the years we see Ray (Eddie Murphy) change from a young confident individual who never gives up hope to a tired old grouchy man who is hard of hearing; but its never sad. Even when the characters are riddled with old age the humour is still fantastic.
    9mitsubishizero

    Underrated

    To say this's an underrated comedy is putting it lightly. This was pretty funny. Not only that, I dare even say it had some good commentary about issues the main characters had to face from not just from back then, but also today. The plot's about 2 guys who end up in jail for a crime they didn't commit after a series of mishaps. Most of the film is them trying to survive in the rough prison run by a racist warden.

    Throughout their time there, their friendship is tested in various ways. From failed escape plots, constant antagonism by the warden and his self-hating guard, to bitterness on how they came to be in this awful position. During they sentence, they meet a befriend a colorful cast of characters.

    Who knew Eddie Murphy and Martín Lawrence would make a great comedy duo? They play off each other well. Them and the supporting cast.

    In regards to the commentary, there're some themes that still resonate today: Homophobia, racism, and resilience in the face of hopelessness and adversity. As funny as it is, it still has a great amount of heart and characters we grow to like too (most of them). I have to admit, they never came off as friend last as the film would like you to believe though. That's just my opinion.

    Bottom line, this movie's underrated. Another film the critics got wrong. With that being said, check it out if you have time.
    10scottdashrek

    That ain't my daddy's watch😂😂😂

    Underrated been in my dvd collection for years. Watched it about 100 times classic

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    Related interests

    Steve Martin and John Candy in Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
    Buddy Comedy
    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
    Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
    Prison Drama
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    Comedy
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    Crime
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    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Ray and Claude are standing on a box of bottles, Claude mentions that a one of his toes has slipped into one of them. This actually happened during the take, but Martin Lawrence kept going, despite Eddie Murphy's laughing, which is genuine.
    • Goofs
      When Ray and Claude are older in the superintendents house talking in their room. You can see that Ray is fixing his bodysuit. He is pulling down his stomach.
    • Quotes

      Goldmouth: Maybe I oughta eat *your* cornbread.

      Rayford Gibson: Motherfucker, you can't have my cornbread. That's for damn sure. Cause if you try and take my cornbread, Part 2 of my killing spree is gon' begin up in here on your ass, right now. You thinking about my cornbread, better get the taste out your mouth. That's for damn sure.

      Claude Banks: Ray, chill out...

      Rayford Gibson: No, fuck him. Fuck that, 'cause I'm from New York City, goddammit. Nobody take no cornbread from me. That goes for anyone of you motherfucking farmers who wanna start some shit. You fuck around with me, there's gonna be consequences and repercussions.

    • Crazy credits
      Bloopers are shown during the closing credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in Maxwell: Fortunate (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Wake Up Everybody
      Written by Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen

      Produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis

      Performed by Robby Pardlo

      Courtesy of Booga Basement Records

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Life?Powered by Alexa
    • What is the name of the song on the watch that Eddie Murphy's character's father gave him?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 16, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Condenados a fugarse
    • Filming locations
      • Locke, Sacramento, California, USA('Natchez-under-the-Hill')
    • Production companies
      • Imagine Entertainment
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $80,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $64,016,268
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $20,414,775
      • Apr 18, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $73,475,268
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 48m(108 min)
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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