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Zone's Eye View of "Life as a House" 

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Synopsis of movie:

Life as a House is the poignant, often humorous journey of one man who decides to tear down his house-and winds up rebuilding the world around him. From the day he picks up his sledgehammer, George Monroe embarks on a grand adventure that will shatter expectations and build a foundation for many different dreams among his family and neighbors. 

Academy Award(R) Winner- Kevin Kline stars as architect George Monroe, who has had a lifelong ambition to achieve one of the great American Dreams: to build his own home, a refuge set on a cliff at the edge of the sea. But it's a dream that George has put off again and again while he's sunk lower and lower-ending up divorced, overworked and estranged not only from his friend and family, but from himself. 

Now George has hit rock bottom and there's nowhere left to go...except out onto the edge. At first, his plans seem wild-eyed and crazy. His cul-de-sac neighbors despise his sagging, dilapidated shack. His teen-aged son (Hayden Christensen) would rather stare into space and pop pills than raise a finger to help him. His ex-wife (Kristin Scott Thomas), who once shared his house and his dream, is now emotionally distant from him. Local city officials want to sabotage his plans. It seems there is no one left with any faith in him. 

But George is determined to build this house-even if it means refurbishing his entire life. He begins the project alone, but soon attracts a disparate group of people-from the next-door neighbor's sexy young daughter to his ex-wife's kids from a new marriage-to his scheme. What begins as a way for George to redeem his own bruised dreams turns into something much bigger than he ever imagined-and something far stronger than just a shelter. 

Aspen Filmfest 
2001
• Won, Audience Award 
Audience Favorite Feature
Irwin Winkler

Golden Globes, USA 
2002
• Nominated, Golden Globe 
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Hayden Christensen

Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards 
2002
• Nominated, Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award 
Best Character Makeup - Feature
Christina Smith, Bonita DeHaven, Tammy Ashmore

National Board of Review, USA 
2001
• Won, NBR Award 
Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actor
Hayden Christensen

Online Film Critics Society Awards 
2002
• Nominated, OFCS Award 
Best Breakthrough Performance
Hayden Christensen

Screen Actors Guild Awards 
2002
• Nominated, Actor 
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Hayden Christensen

• Nominated, Actor 
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Kevin Kline

Now for The Zone's Eye View

By Laura Alber

An intensely emotional yet uplifting film. Kevin Kline at his best! Hayden Christensen was brilliant as the rebellious, blue streaked hair, body pierced teenage drug addict “Sam”. The remaining cast was also beneficial for the film. Kristen Scott Thomas, Jena Malone, Sam Robards and Mary Steenburgen.

Kristin and Kevin are divorced but share a son “Sam” (Christensen) together. He spends most of his time at his mother and her new husbands house though. Kristin can’t handle the troubled teen any longer, while also trying to care for her two other younger children with her new husband.

George Monroe (Kline) builds models for an architectural company and has hated every minute of it, but it is habit and comfortable. It turns out that the company wants to retire his position since they can do their plans on the computer so much faster. Although upset about losing his job (and after a good temper-tantrum in the office), George decides he is going to finally build his dream house. He currently lives in a dilapidated shack. He also decides to take his son for the summer, realizing how far they’ve drifted apart. He is hoping to bond with Sam while they work on the house. Sam is less than thrilled with the prospect of staying with his dad instead of his original plan to stay in Tahoe with his friends all summer. This shows in his attitude and total disrespect for his father.

George doesn’t give up and keeps tearing down the old house to make way for the new one. Sam finally gives in and says, “he’ll help out for $10 dollars an hour”, since he’s now in debt to a drug dealer for $300. After a while, he realizes it’s not that bad. He meets the “girl next door” (literally), played by Jena Malone, and even takes out all his “pierced parts”. He begins to look and act like a “real kid”. His mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) is so happy and amazed at the transformation, that she begins bringing them lunch every day, and eventually stays until the new husband is off work to help them work on the house. He claims that she’s enjoying being around her son and having him actually “talk” to her. In reality, she is struggling to decide if that’s the only reason, or if she may be falling back in love with George.

The movie is so well written, that it’s almost like we’re spying on a family and seeing all the ups and downs they go through. There is such a feeling of family, that the audience could easily be drawn in enough to feel like a part of their family as well. There are secrets, sicknesses, addictions, resentments, emotions, and so much more just in this one movie.

There is something of interest for both men and women in Life as a House. Even though there is much sadness in the movie, it still manages to be uplifting and introspective. This highly underrated film gets an 8 from the Zone. A definite must see!