The Life Of Chuck is a beautiful and deeply moving film that is filled to the brim with an insanely talented cast. It will be remembered as one of the greats.
The Life Of Chuck is one of those movies that is a lot to process and is sure to stick with viewers long after they finish watching it. The film starts with Act Three, then moves to Act Two, and finally ends with Act One – a brilliant move if you ask me because this keeps certain things a secret as long as possible.
Starting with the final act of the story adds a mystery element to things, which allows it to lean into more of a thriller genre. As it goes on, it evolves, switching genres in unexpected, thrilling, and thought-provoking ways.
If you were to go into The Life Of Chuck knowing absolutely nothing about the story or the cast, to say your mind would be blown is an understatement. Every time someone popped up on the screen, I was excited to learn more about their character and see what they brought to the table.
Everyone in this movie is an incredible talent. It might be titled The Life Of Chuck, but it isn’t just about him — especially in the third (first?) act. This is the meat and potatoes of it all. The scenes that will have you wondering what exactly is going on, but enjoying the heck out of it at the same time.
Shrouded in mystery, it is the perfect way to kick things off. Stephen King is a phenomenal writer, and not just of horror stories. While most people know, some would be surprised to discover he is the author behind The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and Stand By Me. The Life Of Chuck has earned its place among these greats and will be remembered in this collection over time.
While it deals with some things that could be considered supernatural, there is so much more to it. This is a story about life and about living your life how you want to. It is weirdly inspirational and life-affirming, even though it is a movie about the end.
Tom Hiddleston plays one version of Chuck and is, of course, fantastic in the role. In the second act, he performs a mesmerizing dance number that teeters on almost too long (and it will be for some) but is extremely important to his character, as we discover in the first act.
Jacob Tremblay and Benjamin Pajak portray Chuck in Act One, each bringing an element to him that I could not help but admire. It made me care so much more about this character. Perhaps that is because we learn all about how he came to love the things that he did and how he developed as a person.
Mark Hamill is a key part of this act as well. He does a wonderful job playing Chuck’s grandfather and while I want to stay spoiler-free, he has an important role in the way everything comes together. His is one of the best performances among many, many fantastic performances.
The “big reveal” that brings everything together came as a surprise to me, but a welcome one. It adds so much to the movie, truly making something special, and something that needs a lot of thinking about to be able to digest. It has made me look at the world differently just in the several hours since I saw it.
Mike Flanagan has done a fantastic job with The Life Of Chuck. It would never have been my first choice when thinking of him collaborating with Stephen King, but it turns out it was absolutely the right one.
The Life Of Chuck is beautiful, moving, and emotional. It is a thought-provoking film that is sure to solidify itself as one of the most brilliant movies of our time. I laughed, I cried, and I left with a different outlook on life. I can honestly say it has changed me in ways I never expected.
With an absolutely phenomenal cast, everyone is given the time to shine, no matter how long they appear for – which is kind of on brand when it comes to the messaging of the film. This one is special. Do not let it fly under your radar.
The Life Of Chuck comes to theaters on June 6th.
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About The Life Of Chuck
A life-affirming, genre-bending story about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz.