Is Life is Excellent Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2024)

The Narrative Arc & Core Premise

Life is Excellent, a standout production of 2024, meticulously weaves its narrative threads through the Modern Cinema landscape, offering a cinematic experience that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into David Robilliard was a talented British artist who died in 1988, aged just 36 years old, one of the many young gay men of his generation lost to AIDS. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Modern Cinema are tested.

The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "David Robilliard was a talented British artist who died in 1988, aged just 36 years old, one of the many young gay men of his generation lost to AIDS. In this emotional documentary, actor and contemporary art devotee Russell Tovey embarks on a quest to bring the life and work of Robilliard back to its rightful prominence. The result is a film that gathers together the artist’s close friends, collaborators, and colleagues to remember and celebrate a remarkable talent. Through their memories and Tovey’s devotion to Robilliard’s work, we build a picture of a young dynamic artist full of courage and wit whose legacy deserves to shine."

Artistic Execution & Performance Study

A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Russell Tovey does an admirable job with the material provided, but one can't help but feel that a more daring directorial approach would have yielded a more impactful result. It is a competent but ultimately standard genre performance.

The direction by Joe Ingham is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 49 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.

Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch

Is Life is Excellent truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Modern Cinema, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.

The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.

Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision

At a deeper level, Life is Excellent explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2024 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Joe Ingham respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.

The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.

Final Editorial Recommendation

Ultimately, Life is Excellent is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Russell Tovey or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Life is Excellent is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.