LIFE LESS ORDINARY, A

"Right on, Louise. But what hip angels! Guntoting, foul mouthed killers, especially Holly Hunter, whose baccy chewing, indestructible and sardonic vamp is really the star here. I wanted HER story. In fact, it feels like it WAS her story, but somebody glugged it up with all this Cameron Diaz nonsense (sorry Paul). Lindo is great too; so is the entire supporting cast. Even the throw away characters are terrific. One great scene, with the angels sheltering from the rain in plastic macs while staking out a bar where the romance is supposed to bloom, is sheer cinematic magic. Up there with the great scenes of all times; but what of the rest? Not much. Another thing: the film rushes past its natural ending, trying too hard for something it isn’t. Too slight in romantic terms, overweighted by the effort and gung-hoism of the plot. Wished I coulda liked it, but it needs more work."
Andrew L. Urban

"Only through the masterful genius of director Danny Boyle, what could have ended up as your conventional, kooky romantic comedy, is an original, black, hilarious and deliciously sardonic work. Glorious to the eye and ear, A Life Less Ordinary makes the assumption that we are all destined to find some kind of partner, but certain lost souls need a bigger nudge than others. Here is a film that celebrates the complexities and foibles of impossible love, making us believe that these two disparate characters are destined for each other. Visually stylish with a musical score that enhances the film's often unnerving situations, some zany, others darkly ridiculous, this is Boyle at his luminous best, crating a witty and entertaining gem that is unpredictable and full of memorable characters. The performances are as skilled and honest as the direction and writing. Diaz is a marvel to behold, a real revelation: smart, sexy, poignant, vulnerable, tough, all embroiled in a wonderfully luminous package. With this film, a star is born. She's aided by the equally memorable McGregor who shows his viciously comedic side to perfect advantage. Ian Holm also turns in a scene-stealing performance as Celine's arrogant father, the root of her problems in life and love, and Holly Hunter is amazing as an angel with a difference. Remember Diaz's hilarious karaoke scene in Best Friend's Wedding? Well, she does another one, but this time she sings and dances her way into one of the most unashamedly romantic sequences in the movie. Hypnotic, hilarious and charming, enhanced by an undercurrent of savagery, A Life Less Ordinary is indeed a film most extraordinary, and one of the year's best."
Paul Fischer