Life Is Beautiful

Name: Life Is Beautiful
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Released: October 23, 1998
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 59
Cast: Nicoletta Braschi, Roberto Benigni

1998

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Mixed or average reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 365 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 365 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: October 23, 1998 | PG-13

Starring: Nicoletta Braschi, Roberto Benigni

Summary: From one of the world's most acclaimed comic filmmakers comes an unexpected and unforgettable fable about the power of laughter to move the human heart and the power of the imagination to bolster the human spirit. (Miramax Films)

Director: Roberto Benigni

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, War

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Film.com Elizabeth Weitzman

Benigni, with great help from young Cantarini, has crafted a work of such complexity that you may find both your brain and your heart simply overloaded. Which, of course, is the rarely achieved goal of all art.

Mike Clark

To see someone even attempt bittersweet treatment of this subject is surprising, but to largely pull it off is a major feat. Read full review

Joshua Klein

The concept is not so much nihilistic as it is realistic, and the fact that Benigni has made such fine distinctions so powerfully clear is amazing and moving. Read full review

David Rooney

Sluggish, uneven and lacking in rhythm, it nonetheless has enough pathos and winning humor. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Manages to incorporate all these things into a moving yet unsentimental story about the beauty of maintaining one's wits while stumbling blindly in the insane no man's land that lies beyond wit's end. Read full review

David Sterritt

Has good intentions, but its exaggerated celebration of quick-witted improvisation ultimately trivializes the human and historical horrors evoked by the story. Read full review

David Edelstein

Benigni's movie made me want to throw up. Read full review

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User Reviews

pasido

Jul 1, 2012

And the dad of the year award goes to...

Let's face it, some of the humor can get annoying. The holocaust wasn't realistically portrayed. But that's not the point of the movie. The movie is about an awesome dad who is trying his hardest to protect his son.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

DerekR.

May 10, 2008

I don't know how this could be anything less than a 9. This is a great movie centering around a loving father protecting his son. I don't know how the critics didn't see this.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

CritiqueGirl

Mar 1, 2011

This was the sweetest, funniest and most human story that could have ever come out of the Holocaust. I am in no way the sub-title type and yet it had no negative effect, it may have even been positive because I liked hearing the Italian language.

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

AndrewT.

Apr 26, 2006

This was an awsome movie i liked all those other critics dont kno crap.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Oliviero

Jun 7, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Orgoglio italiano: trama bellissima, la recitazione di Benigni suprema e momento drammatici come la morte del personaggio interpretato da Benigni lo ha reso uno dei miei film preferiti. Solo che la ricostruzione storica non è il punto forte del film, infatti nella scena della liberazione del campo di concentramento gli americani liberano il campo (quando in verità sono i russi a liberarlo) e a me è sembrata un po’ una scelta per agevolarsi l’oscar. Del resto un film bellissimo, consigliato… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Iky009

Nov 30, 2016

In many ways Life is Beautiful is wonderful but it is not just a melodrama. Roberto Benigni is the great highlight with a beautiful performance. The art direction and soundtrack are wonderful and complete the film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

WCM320

Jun 13, 2020

It pains me to be so negative when reviewing this but.

This movie is pure and utter garbage, aimed squarely at dolts and as a award movie. The humor is annoying and childish, made even worse when you remember where it takes place. The message is childish in a saccharine way that DisneyIt pains me to be so negative when reviewing this but.

This movie is pure and utter garbage, aimed squarely at dolts and as a award movie.
The humor is annoying and childish, made even worse when you remember where it takes place.
The message is childish in a saccharine way that Disney never even approached.
The acting is bargain basement at best. Most people that defend the movie have to approach it from some a juvenile direction that it becomes comical in and or its own right.

If you where going for a comedy based in the time period.. It's not that you can't do it. (It would be VERY HARD) But as a example, blazing saddles straddles that line pretty well.
But this goes far beyond that making it clear that oh no, the holocaust is totally going on in the background, but we want to you feel warm and fuzzy.

I normally don't go this far but.

If you like this movie, you should feel bad about yourself.
Your stupid and you fell for emotional manipulation.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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90	#90 Best Movie of 1998
7	#7 Most Discussed Movie of 1998
5	#5 Most Shared Movie of 1998