Life During Wartime

Year: 2009

Grade: C

Country: USA

Director: Solondz

Review

basically a sequel to solondz’s happiness, but with only one cast member returning. i’m writing this review a couple weeks after watching the film, but honestly it didn’t leave much of an impression while i was watching it either. ciarin hinds plays the dylan baker character (the father who molests his son’s friend) in this part of the story. in the first film that was the most reprehensible of all. in this one, hinds gives him some more depth and that was probably the highlight of the film.

like most aging filmmakers, solondz is losing his touch and i knew that going into the film. however, this film didn’t have the humor that his best work has. it seemed to try be solondz (weird and uncomfortable), but without the humor. i guess he’s trying to be more mature or deep. didn’t work for me. C.