My Life (2001, DVD)

The movie begins with a young Bobby Ivanavich, outside at night, reciting Star Light, Star Bright. You see, all he wants is for a circus to come to his backyard tomorrow after school. He makes a deal with God. Do this for me, and I ll make sure everybody finds out about it and then you ll get more money for your church. He goes to school the next day and invites all of his friends. The circus does not show up and thus begins the transformation of Bob the optimist, to Bob the pessimist.

Flash to present day. Bobby is now Bob Jones (Michael Keaton), a successful advertising businessman. My Life is about a man who struggles with emotional extremes. Over time, he s lost ability to believe, he feels emotionally detached from his family, he s facing the end of his life, and his first child is about to be born.

He pulls out a camcorder and starts recording information about his life. The initial tapes are like a chronological history of Bob s life. Like an autobiography written in the third person.

Proof of this is evident when we get to see interviews of people Bob works with. No one really knows anything about Bob Jones. To them, he s just a boss, a peer. He s more PR then a real person.

After receiving bad news about his medical progress, Gail (Nicole Kidman) pleads with her husband to go see a Chinese healer. The healer moves Bob closer to a truth that he is not ready to embrace.

Bob goes home for the wedding of his kid brother. Over the years, he has distanced himself from his family. Not only did he change his last name, he seldom kept in touch. We get to see the tension that exists between Bob and his father. Instead of wanting to work through the issues, Bob wants to pick on things that bother him about his family. He doesn t like his father s profession. He doesn t like the direction his brother has taken.

Throughout the film, Gail is struggling with the emotional aspects of her husband dying and her child being born. During most of the film, she struggles with trying to bring Bob into the baby s world.

Bob lives to see the birth of his son. This life changing event is the turn around the corner we ve been waiting for.

The movie is good. I like it a lot. It deals with life and death issues in a very emotional, but clear way. Michael Keaton s character makes a beautiful transformation. You ll laugh at his tapes. You ll cry at his struggles. If you ve ever had strained relationships with your family, this movie may move you in a way that is profound.

I ve always enjoyed Michael Keaton s acting. Many people know him for his role in Batman however, if you re really interested in his array of acting, check out Mr. Mom and Clean and Sober.

Nicole Kidman is not at her best in this film. She s plays more of a secondary character. If you want to see some good Nicole Kidman work, watch To Die For.

I m not going to give away the ending of the movie. I ve seen it probably two dozen times and each time, I m still deeply affected. If you like movies that turn your emotions inside out, this is a good movie to see.

Other movies of this kind you might like:
Terms of Endearment
Evening Star
Sixth Sense
Muriel s Wedding