The Life Before Her Eyes DVD Review
I didn’t think director Vadim Perelman could top his writing/producing/directing effort, House of Sand and Fog, but he did. The result, The Life Before Her Eyes, is about Hillcrest High School student Diana (Evan Rachel Wood) and best friend Maureen (Eva Amurri). Although the girls are opposites–Diana is a free spirit and Maureen is more by the book—they are best friends nonetheless. When a Columbine-like tragedy strikes their school, it changes their lives forever, as well as the lives of all those around them. The Life Before Her Eyes jumps forward 15 years, but is continually peppered with high school flashbacks, all culminating in a crucial scene in the film. In the flash forwards, the adult Diana (Uma Thurman) is facing the anniversary week of the massacre. She’s now a teacher, and she has a husband (Brett Cullen) and daughter (Gabrielle Brennan).
My Rating: 
The leads in this film, particularly Wood (Down In The Valley, The Upside of Anger, Thirteen) and Amurri (Saved!, The Banger Sisters), do an outstanding job of drawing viewers into their world. Thurman (The Producers, Prime, Kill Bill) and Cullen (“Lost,” ”Friday Night Lights”) also pair well together and make for a believable family unit. The Life Before Her Eyes also costars Lynn Cohen (Then She Found Me, “Sex And The City”).
The Life Before Her Eyes is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer, with audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 and an optional Spanish 2.0 track. Extras include a making-of featurette “Flashback: Behind The Life Before Her Eyes,” that clocks in at almost 54 minutes and talks with all the leading actors, the director, production designer Maia Javan, producer Aimée Peyronnet, original novelist Laura Kasischke and co-producer Ian McGloin (talking points include the story and script-to-screen process, casting of the major roles, visuals, and some focus on specific shoots). There’s also audio commentary with Perelman and Javan; five deleted scenes; an alternate ending; the Amurri casting tape; and the short featurette “Reflections Back and Beyond,” which touches on a major theme in the film. As all of the extras divulge major plot points, they are best viewed AFTER watching the film itself.
The Life Before Her Eyes packs a lot into a tight 90 minutes, but never once feels rushed or like too much is being crammed into the story. Rather, the pacing is brusque and necessary to the story as a whole. In addition, the film is beautifully shot, offering lush and dreamy flashback scenes. But perhaps the real beauty of The Life Before Her Eyes lies in the story, which will leave viewers thinking about the film long after the credits have rolled.
The Life Before Her Eyes is rated R for “violent and disturbing content, language and brief drug use.” It’s a heavy, emotionally laden film that is best suited to mature audiences.
I give The Life Before Her Eyes 4 out of 5 stars.