a beautiful life movie review 2023

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A Beautiful Life Reviews

A Beautiful Mind is beyond clichéd—it’s borderline non-sensical.

Full Review | Jan 19, 2024

All I'm gonna say about A Beautiful Life, is if you like the yearning nonsense that passes for "a ballad" on the trailer, then this film is exactly what you deserve.

Full Review | Jun 7, 2023

Despite some small setbacks, A Wonderful Life captures the essence of dreams and the struggle to realize them while providing us with an unforgettable soundtrack that becomes a fundamental pillar of the story. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Jun 7, 2023

A Beautiful Life is a small cut above many of the romances Netflix has churned out in recent years. Its dramatic points are a little edgier and a little less predictable, and the romance is more mature.

Full Review | Jun 6, 2023

A cliched drama with all the ingenuity of a musical act manufactured by Simon Cowell for shopping malls and the VMAs.

Full Review | Jun 3, 2023

Insipid and inane.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Jun 2, 2023

Elliott has a wonderful voice and the dedication to his craft is inspiring. His soul comes through the songs he sings and it’s an enjoyable movie because of it.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 1, 2023

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Stream It or Skip It: ‘A Beautiful Life’ on Netflix, A Cheesy Danish Music Drama With A Hunky Lead

Where to stream:.

A Beautiful Life (2023)

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A Beautiful Life , the new Danish Netflix movie that began streaming last week, is mostly an excuse for Danish pop singer, Christopher Lund Nissen (or simply “Christopher,” his stage name) to show the world he’s a sensitive, hunky heartthrob. The 31-year-old singer recorded a new album for the movie’s soundtrack, which also released last week, featuring nine new songs written by him—including an autobiographical song about his reaction to his wife informing him she’s pregnant. (This is relevant because it will come up again later, in an inexplicable plot twist.)

Christopher’s biggest hit is arguably still his 2016 single, “ I Won’t Let You Down ,” featuring American singer Bekuh Boom, but perhaps a Netflix movie will help increase his fame outside of Denmark. That’s clearly the hope!

Though some aspects are inspired by Christopher’s real life, the movie is a fictional drama, in which Christopher stars as a humble fisherman named Elliot, who, with very little effort on his part, rockets to fame after he’s discovered by a producer playing an open mic at a bar. However cheesy you think this movie is going to be: It’s cheesier. Read on for Decider’s movie review of A Beautiful Life, now streaming on Netflix.

A BEAUTIFUL LIFE : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Elliott (Christopher) is just a lowly fisherman trying to scrape by. He has no aspirations of becoming a professional musician. His buddy Oliver (Sebastian Jessen), however dreams of becoming a star singer. Elliott agrees to accompany Oliver on the guitar at an open mic, during which Oliver knows a famous music producer will be present. When Oliver flubs his singing, Elliott swoops in to save him—and, lo and behold, he’s a much better singer than his friend. Oliver and Elliott get into a fight after the set, which leads to Oliver cutting Elliott out of his life. Luckily, the music producer, Suzanne (Christine Albeck Børge) offers Elliott a new life: Come to her studio for a few weeks, and she’ll make him a star.

After getting fired from her job, Elliott takes Suzanne up on her offer. Suzanne introduces him to her daughter, Lilly (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), also a producer, who will work with him to write a new album of songs. After a rocky start, Elliott and Lilly hit it off, fall in love, and sleep together. Also, the album is an instant hit. Suddenly, Elliott is an overnight superstar. Girls scream for him while he conducts interviews, as if he were Paul McCartney in 1964. Everything is going great… until Elliott’s old BFF Oliver slinks back into his life, and wants a piece of his fame. Things pretty much spiral from there.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: It’s every cliché of a rags-to-riches musician drama rolled into one, but if I had to pick one, I’d say A Star Is Born . (My deepest apologies to every version of A Star Is Born . None of you deserve this.)

Performance Worth Watching: A Beautiful Mind is very clearly a vehicle for Christopher to earn more fame, but, to his credit, he is a decent actor. When he stands in front of a huge crowd and hears them singing back the words that he wrote, his eyes shimmer with emotion, and only the most cynical will remain unaffected. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that the scene is a manufactured dream come true for any singer-songwriter—it’s easy to imagine that Christopher, in that moment, wasn’t acting.

Memorable Dialogue: Early in the film, Oliver tells Elliott, “If we’ve got nothing to die for, what the hell are we doing?” which later provides inspiration for Elliott’s first big hit.

Sex and Skin: Christopher spends a not-insignificant portion of the film with his shirt off, showing off his many tattoos and impressive physique. There’s also one implied, fade-to-black sex scene after our two romantic leads take turns sharing their sob stories.

Our Take: Christopher is undeniably a great singer, and watching him perform is a pleasure. Unfortunately, A Beautiful Mind fails to construct an interesting, or even coherent plot to connect those performances. The film is decidedly not a comedy, and yet I found myself laughing out loud time and time again, at the sheer absurdity of the characters’ actions. (The group of eight screaming teenagers banging on the windows while Elliott talked to a radio DJ was particularly mirth-inducing.) The dialogue is so cliché, you wonder if writer Stefan Jaworski was even trying. Poor translation can only excuse so much; surely “He can sing, but he’s scared ,” is trite in any language. More than that, Lilly’s traumatic backstory—that her father died by suicide, unable to handle the pressure of the music industry—is handled poorly, with little nuance or understanding of a serious real-life issue.

Then there’s the (spoiler alert!) completely out-of-left-field plot twist that Lilly is pregnant. Its obviously manufactured so Christopher can end the movie on the song he wrote about his actual baby and actual wife, but feels entirely forced for the character he’s playing. It’s a fittingly ridiculous ending for a ridiculous film.

Our Call: A Beautiful Mind is beyond clichéd—it’s borderline non-sensical. Unless you’re a Christopher super fan who’s just here for the eye candy: SKIP IT.

Stream It Or Skip It

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A Beautiful Life (2023) Review and Ending Explained – An Inspiring Journey of an Artist Finding Love in all Places

What A Beautiful Life explores is the ability to grow at any stage in life. Elliott is someone who is just living for the next day because of his current profession. His heart is not one with the sea as a fisherman, instead, his heart lies with the music industry. He has been in the shadows because his friend overpowers him and he always gets what he wants because of who his father is.

Director Mehdi Avaz explores one man’s dream to move forward in life with something that he has always wanted to do. Elliott keeps fighting and challenging himself throughout the film, but he doesn’t forget to humbly be himself.

A beautiful life review and plot summary, is a beautiful life worth watching, a beautiful life ending explained.

Elliott is a young fisherman works extremely hard to make a living during the day to keep himself afloat. But his love of music is where his passion lies. He has an incredible voice and he plays guitar. He plays a gig with his close friend, who doesn’t have the strongest voice. It’s clear that he wanted to be the lead singer and kept his friend as backup, which doesn’t make sense if he has a better voice.

At this one gig, there were music producers in the audience and once Elliott starts singing the entire room stops for him. His friend noticed how people responded and wanted to wait for the producer after the show. Unfortunately, his friend gets into a scuffle with some bad people in the alley and Elliott defends him.

The producer follows Elliott to the police station and offers him money for his singing capabilities. He really wants to perform and get out of this life that he’s currently living. His friend doesn’t have his best interests at heart and he sees that. He has a gambling addiction and survives off his father’s money, which is the opposite of how Elliott lives.

A Beautiful Life is a sweet film that shows the love artists have for the industry and the different passions they express. It’s important for Elliott to stay true to himself and his roots while navigating this industry no matter how he gets there.

Even though he does come off as reserved, there are moments in the film that show his big heart. It is a good film that has a bit of romance as he opens himself up to other possibilities in his life.

If you are looking for a heartfelt inspirational journey then this is something you should watch. Elliott has a wonderful voice and the dedication to his craft is inspiring. His soul comes through the songs he sings and it’s an enjoyable movie because of it.

Elliott finds a new family that uplifts him and wants him to succeed. Once the romance comes in it does overpower the rest of his journey, but it’s important for him to dive into something new to change his life for the better.

In the beginning, Elliot and Lillt had no interest in working with one another. Her mother forces them together to see if producing music will help her come out of her shell. As they work together, their professional and personal bond grows strong. It feels unexpected for Lilly, but Elliott knows something was there.

How does Elliott decide to move forward in the industry?

Once social media becomes involved, Elliot becomes larger than life, and his stardom spikes. Elliot and Lilly have helped each other in this industry. Lilly has had a tough past with her father, and Elliot pulls her out of it. As he rises to fame, his relationship with Lily is tested.

When he’s on a late-night talk show, he is questioned by the host about who he wrote the love song for, and he doesn’t mention Lilly. He knows his popularity will fizzle if he mentions being in love with someone, especially when trying to build a fanbase. As he is about to perform, Lilly appears at the top of the stairs, and they make eye contact. He slowly realizes that he can’t do this without her and that she is his muse when writing these songs.

He sings “Baby, I’m Pregnant” directly to Lilly instead of his first hit, that’s skyrocketing up the charts. He knows that his life would change with a baby, but he knows things will be alright with her by his side.

The movie ends right after he finishes singing it. He continues performing in the credits to sold-out crowds. So it’s unclear if he does choose her and he still performs or if he accepts that their love wasn’t meant to be, and he accepted that it was only for a short period of time.

What did you think of A Beautiful Life? Comment below.

Is A Beautiful Life on Netflix based on a true story?
Where was A Beautiful Life on Netflix filmed?

Article by Amanda Guarragi

Amanda Guarragi joined Ready Steady Cut as an Entertainment Writer in June 2022. She is a Toronto-based film critic who has covered TIFF, Sundance Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, and HorrorFest International. Amanda is also a growing YouTuber, with her channel Candid Cinema growing in popularity.

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Review: A Beautiful Life (2023)

Image: ©Netflix

In Danish romantic music-drama, A Beautiful Life , Elliott is a young fisherman struggling to get by. He’s doing his best, but life isn’t easy, and he spends his days working hard to earn what he can.

But for Elliott, fishing isn’t his passion. While he might spend most of his waking hours down at the docks, his real talent is for music.

Elliott loves to write songs and has a superb singing voice. He dreams of one day moving beyond his current situation, but at the moment this doesn’t seem likely.

However, one night while performing on stage at a club, he is spotted by music mogul, Suzanne. She instantly recognises Elliott’s talent as both a writer and singer, and suggests he come to her home the next day, so she can help push his skills in the right direction.

When Elliott arrives, Suzanne teams him up with her daughter, Lilly, who is a superstar music producer. At first the pair struggle to hit it off, in large part due to Elliott’s short temper, but soon they find common ground as well as a touch of romance.

Directed by Mehdi Avaz, A Beautiful Life stars Danish actor and composer Christopher, alongside a cast that includes Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Christine Albeck Børge. The movie is new to Netflix from today, and is a likeable picture, which balances the right mix of romance, drama, and music.

Of course, this isn’t highly original stuff, and the story does tread a fairly well-worn path, but A Beautiful Life is put together rather well. The movie looks good, features a great cast, and Christopher’s vocals really add something to the film.

It also helps that he’s rather hunky, co-star Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas is beautiful, and Denmark has never looked more delightful. There is a lot of visual delights on display in this movie, and it’s not too difficult to just let the whole thing wash over you.

In terms of the narrative, the script is filled with clichés, but the two leads paper over this issue quite effortlessly, and add some weight to Elliott and Lilly’s journey. Both characters have trauma in their past, which are holding them back in life, and the two actors do a fine job of conveying this.

They are helped along by some solid direction from Mehdi Avaz, which captures the right tone and mood, and as well as some strong cinematography from Daniel Cotroneo. The musical score from Thomas Volmer Schulz also works well with Christopher’s English-language songs, and everything comes together quite nicely.

Although A Beautiful Life isn’t going to win over everyone, it is perfectly decent stuff. Fans of romantic dramas will find something to enjoy here, and it moves along fairly well.

A Beautiful Life has enough emotional drama to keep things interesting, and Christopher really impresses on screen. All-in-all, an enjoyable film that brings a touch of warmth to Netflix as we head into the summer season.

Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede! . For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.

Should You Watch ‘A Beautiful Life’? Review of Netflix’s New Musical Drama

Picture: Netflix

The new music world drama from Denmark, A Beautiful Life , is now streaming, but should you give it a watch?

Multi-platinum-selling artist Christopher ( Toscana ) delivers his first leading role in A Beautiful Life, a music-based drama set in his native country of Denmark.

Christopher plays Elliott, a young fisherman with an extraordinary voice, who gets the chance of a lifetime when he is discovered by the successful high-profile music manager, Suzanne (Christine Albeck Borge). She soon pairs Elliott with her estranged daughter and music producer, Lilly. On his way to becoming a star, struggles from the past threaten not only his big breakthrough but also the budding love with Lily (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas).

Directed by Mehdi Avaz (Toscana), A Beautiful Life is a clear showcase for Christopher and his talents as a singer-songwriter, with the possibility of adding crossover success in the U.S. to his resume.

One of the biggest pop stars in Denmark, Christopher has branched out in the past three years as he managed to have several #1 records in Asia & Top 20 records in areas of Europe. However, to become a global sensation, he would need a bigger platform to spread his talents.

Enter Netflix & A Beautiful Life.

“The creative process and the journey of making A Beautiful Life – both the movie and the soundtrack – started more than 3 years ago, so to finally share it with you guys feels dope.” said Christopher in a video he made for Spotify.

With nine brand new original songs, including the title track that features prominently in the film’s closing moments, A Beautiful Life seems to be a perfect vehicle for him and seems to mirror some of Christopher’s most personal real-life experiences.

In another video message for Spotify, Christopher explained how the project and the title track came together.

“It’s how the whole thing started. I remember writing this song because my wife came to me and said she was pregnant with our first kid. And it became the core of the whole thing. It’s a song that is very personal and very close to my heart and probably one of the best songs I’ve ever written.”

While his musical acumen was never in doubt, his acting abilities would be up for debate as he is front and center for the first time in a film that has some strong emotional themes throughout.

“It’s about love. Not only about music, but for your friends and family. It’s about grief. It’s about breaking patterns. But, most importantly for me, I feel like this movie is about seizing the opportunities that life throws at you and finding your voice and finding your people.”

At its best, the film is about all those things. The love connection between Elliott & Lily is littered with obstacles in the shape of family tragedies & absent parents, which elevates the story at times from the standard rise-to-fame musician arc that we’ve all seen & heard ad nauseam.

We also get a 2nd hand account of the perils of pop stardom with the large shadow & cautionary tale of Lilly’s father & Suzanne’s husband, a musician who dominated the charts and toured obsessively to the detriment of his family & mental health. The shrapnel left behind by his untimely passing is also one of the core pieces that makes this film stray away from the cliche for stretches.

Ultimately, the film works when the pacing is slow & subtle, the relationship between Elliott & Lilly is blooming, and the songs are being formed in real time. Many of the songs are beautifully constructed and work on tugging the heartstrings of its audience.

However, the film doesn’t work well when it flips the script in the rise to fame portions of the story. While it’s understandable to create villains out of jealous friends & desperate parents, the tonal shift and loss of momentum is very apparent and not well handled. To further complicate things, the character of Patrick is used far too often as a key figure in discussions with Elliott that don’t make logistical sense. Their relationship with each other appears cursory & professional at best, but the film creates multiple moments where Elliott’s mental status and stomach for the onslaught of new found fame are being questioned with Patrick as the sole guide to see him through.

a beautiful life danish musical drama coming to netflix in june 2023 christopher

Will any of these story inconsistencies matter to the core audience of Christopher fans & suckers for a good melodrama? I doubt it. The memorable songs & the swoon-worthy performance from Christopher himself will make many of the problems of the film disappear much like Lilly’s reaction to him in the film’s final minutes.

Overall, A Beautiful Life could broaden the musical career of Christopher on a global scale with certain songs from the film already reaching over half a million streams on Spotify, but the story won’t live in the minds of filmgoers beyond the first viewing. Reluctant music stars shying from their new found fame is nothing new or special, but the songs and the chemistry in their creation may get a tad more mileage.

Watch A Beautiful Life on Netflix if you like:

Purple Hearts
I Used To Be Famous
A Star Is Born

MVP of Netflix’s A Beautiful Life

CHRISTOPHER as ELLIOTT

While I thought Elliott & Lilly as a pair worked well in their more intimate scenes of creative passion, the performance of Christopher as Elliott, particularly in the execution of his character’s hit songs, makes the film pop when it needs it. He displays enough range between his brooding beginnings as an orphan fisherman to his development as a musical talent to make many of the key scenes of the film work. This is his star vehicle and he makes the most of it.

PLAY, PAUSE, OR STOP?

Just when you think the movie gets too boring or too cliche, you hear a song or a story that makes it worth the effort. But ultimately, it IS a tad messy & cliche to fully endorse.

Andrew Morgan is a film critic & podcaster with 20 years of experience on the sets & offices of film & television. Current podcast host of the entertainment review show, Recent Activity. He lives in the Northeast of the United States.

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A beautiful life, common sense media reviewers.

Danish romantic drama has mature themes, strong language.

A Beautiful Life movie poster: Musician and Producer.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

People deserve opportunities no matter their stati

Elliott is hesitant but takes opportunities offere

The film is shot in Denmark and filmed in Danish.

Men get into fistfights. A man lost his parents to

A man and a woman kiss, take off each other's tops

In the English subtitles: "f--k," variations on "s

Car, musical instruments, and clothing brands. Mai

Adults drink, sometimes in excess. There's mention

Positive Messages

People deserve opportunities no matter their station in life. Talent can't be forced if it's not there. Jealousy can be a destructive emotion. Forgiveness can bring resolution. Family is who you make it.

Positive Role Models

Elliott is hesitant but takes opportunities offered to him and steps up to life's challenges. Lilly and Suzanne have past trauma and abandonment issues to work through. Oliver is a selfish and irresponsible man.

Diverse Representations

The film is shot in Denmark and filmed in Danish. One of the main characters is played by an Iranian-born actor.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Men get into fistfights. A man lost his parents to the sea when he was just a boy. There's mention of a person committing suicide by jumping off a hotel balcony. A person's house burns down.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A man and a woman kiss, take off each other's tops (only male chest shown), then wake up the next morning in bed together. There's more kissing in underwear. Another man hits on women at a bar, talks about "p--y" coming his way, and mentions a threesome. A married man and father cheated on his wife. A handsome musician attracts mobs of screaming female fans.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

In the English subtitles: "f--k," variations on "s--t," "ass," "damn," and "goddamn," as well as "hell," "moron," "p---y," "balls," "piss off," "shut up," "loser," "fool," "jerk," and "coward."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Car, musical instruments, and clothing brands. Main actor Christopher's music. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults drink, sometimes in excess. There's mention of getting "s--tfaced."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that A Beautiful Life is a Danish romantic drama featuring characters dealing with grief, love, and fame. There's a lot of swearing, including "f--k," variations on "s--t," "ass," "damn," and "goddamn," as well as "hell," and more in the English subtitles. Sexual content is alluded to rather than shown, beyond kissing. One character talks about getting "p---y" and having "threesomes." The main characters are all dealing with grief over the loss of loved ones in the past, and how they died or committed suicide is discussed. A man's house burns down, and men get into fistfights. Adults drink, sometimes in excess. There's mention of getting "s--tfaced." The lead actor is a pop star in Denmark and this film could inspire viewers to seek out his music. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

A Beautiful Life: Christopher works the docks.

Community Reviews

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What's the Story?

In A BEAUTIFUL LIFE, Elliott (Christopher) works a day job as a fisherman while trying to save up money to restore his deceased parents' boat, where he lives, to its past seafaring glory. One evening, he accompanies friend Oliver (Sebastian Jessen) on guitar for a music gig. When Oliver chokes, Christopher belts out the rest of the tune. His beautiful voice captures the attention of music producers Suzanne (Christine Albeck Børge) and Patrick (Ardalan Esmaili). Suzanne offers Christopher a load of money to come make music with her, partly as a ploy to get her emotionally-estranged daughter, Lilly (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), to produce his music and stay home in Denmark. Elliott and Lilly fall in love, but when Elliott becomes famous seemingly overnight, Oliver comes back into his life looking to capitalize on Elliott's newfound fame, and Elliott and Lilly have a falling out.

Is It Any Good?

The Danes do melodrama well, and this romance -- set to melodic tunes by the blue-eyed pop star Christopher -- will tug at your heartstrings. A Beautiful Life is a small cut above many of the romances Netflix has churned out in recent years. Its dramatic points are a little edgier and a little less predictable, and the romance is more mature. Christopher makes a fine acting debut here and the film succeeds where it needs to, even if the singer's rise to fame and romantic relationship feels rushed, and some of the characters -- notably the mother and the producer -- rest heavily on clichés. The music is a nice addition.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the musician who plays the main character in A Beautiful Life . Did you find his acting convincing? What other examples of films can you think of that have starred singers?

Have you watched other films or series from Denmark? Did you find any similarities to this one?

How does this compare to other romantic dramas you've seen? Why do you think this genre is so popular?

Movie Details

On DVD or streaming : June 1, 2023
Cast : Christopher , Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas , Christine Albeck Borge
Director : Mehdi Avaz
Inclusion Information : Female actors
Studio : Netflix
Genre : Drama
Topics : Music and Sing-Along
Run time : 69 minutes
MPAA rating : NR
Last updated : June 1, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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A Beautiful Life movie review: Netflix’s new musical drama is clichéd, contrived, and terrified of dancing to its own tune

A beautiful life movie review: the new netflix film tells the rags-to-riches tale of a troubled fisherman who is sent on a journey to pop stardom after being 'discovered' by a powerful record producer..

A feel-good drama about the birth of a pop star, Netflix ’s A Beautiful Life is a lot like the genre of music itself — neatly packaged, accessible, and undemanding. Of course, the best pop artists hardly ever play it safe, but A Beautiful Life doesn’t have the spirit of Lorde’s Melodrama or pandemic era Taylor Swift. Instead, it has all the ingenuity of a musical act manufactured by Simon Cowell for shopping malls and the VMAs.

And this is unfortunate, because the Danish-language film actually wants to be taken seriously as a heartwarming rags-to-riches tale. The real-life singer Christopher makes his starring debut as the fisherman Elliott, who just happens to be spotted one evening by Suzanne, the widow of a legendary rockstar; her prickly daughter Lilly, and a record executive who works with them. It sets him off on a journey to pop stardom marked with such little resistance that he may as well have been AirDropped into the future, and you’d be none the wiser.

The first time that Elliott opens his mouth to sing is meant to be as impactful as that iconic scene in Bradley Cooper’s A Star is Born, when Lady Gaga gets up on stage and pretty much brings everybody to their knees with her voice. It ranks as one of the greatest movie star-making moments of the last decade. But a similar dramatic moment is staged more intimately in A Beautiful Life, and despite Christopher’s admittedly angelic voice, it can’t help but feel contrived.

But that’s the problem with the entire film. The writing is rarely engaging , and the script seems more concerned with hitting all the familiar beats than dancing to its own tune. Before you know it, Elliott is shipped off to the countryside to scratch together a demo track ordered by Suzanne, he develops feelings for Lilly, and begins churning out bangers with the least amount of effort. All of this goes against the fundamental truth about crafting compelling drama; there’s no conflict — Elliott doesn’t think twice before agreeing to Suzanne’s proposal, he doesn’t experience any difficulty with the creative process, and the love story unfolds way more rapidly than it should.

Left with zero tension and a protagonist who seems too perfect, A Beautiful Life doesn’t waste a single second in sending him down the most cliched journey imaginable. Plotted like a Hindi serial, complete with an unexpected pregnancy and the sudden appearance of an old foe, A Beautiful Life is so desperate to appeal to everybody under the sun that it is left with no identity of its own, and ends up being too timid for fans of romance stories, too clean-cut for music lovers, and too straightforward for people who like a challenging movie.

For instance, even though the film hints at the difficult life Elliott led before being ‘discovered’ by Suzanne, we aren’t told anything about it. When did he realise he was talented? Why did he never pursue music? What were his struggles? We don’t know. And this, primarily, is why it’s so difficult to root for him. Similarly, it’s unclear why Suzanne is so determined to make him a star in the first place. She’s meant to be grieving the death of her husband and trying to mend fences with Lilly, with whom she doesn’t see eye to eye, and maybe that’s how the character was written. But Christine Albeck Børge’s performance makes Suzanne seem like a scheming record studio executive looking to exploit a village bumpkin.

Singing, unlike most other forms of artistic expression, is sort of undeniable. While you can look at a modernist painting and remain unmoved if you aren’t receptive to that sort of art, not a single person who’s heard Adele sing can dismiss the power of her voice. You might not like her music, but you cannot dispute the fact that she’s a great singer. And this is essentially what it’s like to watch A Beautiful Life; Christopher is so obviously talented, but the quality of music in this film is uniformly atrocious. In fact, I was convinced that one upbeat number Elliott knocks out midway through the movie was a parody, but it wasn’t. And when a music film doesn’t understand the difference between a good song and a bad one, we have a problem.

A Beautiful Life Director – Mehdi Avaz Cast – Christopher, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Christine Albeck Børge Rating – 1.5/5

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Movie reviews: Hollywood and Indie, specializing in independent comedies, dramas, thrillers and romance.

Thursday, June 1, 2023

A beautiful life: movie review.

Something Similar But Different:

A Beautiful Life cast: who's who in the movie

A Beautiful Life is a new romance movie on Netflix. Here's everything you need to know about the cast...

A Beautiful Life cast — Christopher Lund Nissen as Elliott, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as Lilly

A Beautiful Life is a Danish movie about a fisherman who wants to pursue a career in the music industry and ends up getting more than he bargained for.

The official synopsis reads: "Elliott, a young fisherman with an extraordinary voice, gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is discovered by the successful and well-known music manager Suzanne.

"Suzanne soon pairs Elliott with her divorced daughter and music producer, Lilly. On his way to stardom, the struggles of his past threaten not only his big break but also his budding love for Lilly."

But who's in the cast? Here's everything you need to know about the stars of A Beautiful Life and where you might've seen them before...

Christopher Lund Nissen as Elliott

Elliott is a young fisherman but his passion really lies with music, and he has been gifted with an incredible singing voice. The movie follows him as he gets into the music industry and finds romance along the way.

Christopher Lund Nissen is a Danish singer from Copenhagen, who is known for his pop music. He has three studio albums including Colours and Told You So.

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as Lilly

Lilly is a music producer who is recently divorced, and she meets Elliott during his journey to a successful music career. It isn't long before feelings develop between the two, causing some complications.

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Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas is an actress known for playing Yiva in the movie The Last King , Lotte in Going West, and Erica Fischer in the TV mini-series Rekyl .

Christine Albeck Borge as Suzanne

Christine Albeck Børge as Suzanne in A Beautiful Life

Suzanne is a music manager who is well-known in the industry, and helps Elliott to get his big break. She is the mother of Lilly, and the two meet through her.

Christine Albeck Børge is an actress and director, best known for roles in Ulven kommer, Love and Other Catastrophes and Manden bag døren .

Ardalan Esmaili as Patrick

Patrick works alongside Suzanne but he's unconvinced about Elliott at first, initially appearing quite stand-offish.

He is known for roles in The Charmer , Greyzone , and Domino .

Who else is in A Beautiful Life?

Sebastian Jessen as Oliver
Paw Henriksen as Jesper
Jonathan Harboe as Dennis

A Beautiful Life is available to stream worldwide on Netflix now.

Lucy joined the WhatToWatch.com team in 2021, where she writes series guides for must-watch programmes, reviews and the latest TV news. Originally from Northumberland, she graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Film Studies and moved to London to begin a career writing about entertainment.

She is a Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and has a huge passion for cinema. She especially loves horror, thriller and anything crime-related. Her favourite TV programmes include Inside No 9, American Horror Story , Stranger Things and Black Mirror but she is also partial to a quiz show or a bit of Say Yes to the Dress !

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A Beautiful Life Review: Intriguing True Musical Drama Unleashes Stellar Performances | Explore the Cast, Technical Aspects, and More! 2023

June 3, 2023

Is A Beautiful Life The Next Must-Watch Musical? Unveiling the Truth in Our Review!

Introduction

A Beautiful Life, a 2023 Netflix film, presents a story of ambition, dreams, and love. Directed by Mehdi Avaz, the movie follows the journey of Elliott, a fisherman with a hidden musical talent, who finds himself on a path to pop stardom after being discovered by a record producer. However, this heartwarming rags-to-riches tale falls short of its potential, struggling to find its own identity and resorting to familiar clichés. In this comprehensive review, we will delve into various aspects of the film, including cast and crew, performances, technical elements, and the overall verdict.

Cast and Crew

Directed by Mehdi Avaz, A Beautiful Life features Christopher, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Christine Albeck Børge in pivotal roles. Christopher, a real-life singer, makes his debut as the lead character, Elliott. The performances in the film are a mixed bag, with Christopher showcasing his angelic voice but lacking the depth required to fully engage the audience. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas portrays Lilly, the prickly daughter of Suzanne, played by Christine Albeck Børge. While the cast delivers their roles adequately, the writing and character development leave much to be desired.

Performance

Christopher’s singing talent shines through in A Beautiful Life, capturing the essence of the protagonist’s musical aspirations. However, the lack of character depth and development hampers the overall impact of the performances. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas brings a certain authenticity to her role as Lilly, but the script fails to fully explore her character’s dynamics. Christine Albeck Børge’s portrayal of Suzanne, the widow of a legendary rockstar, seems more like a scheming record executive rather than a grieving widow. The performances, while competent, are hindered by underdeveloped characters and weak writing.

Technical Aspects

A Beautiful Life falls short in terms of its technical execution. The writing fails to engage the audience, as the script appears more concerned with checking off familiar beats rather than exploring its own unique tune. The lack of conflict and tension robs the film of depth and emotional resonance. The music, a central element in the movie, disappoints with uniformly atrocious songs that fail to captivate. The film’s aesthetics and production design are adequate but do not compensate for the shortcomings in other technical aspects.

Positive Elements – Stellar Performances and Inspiring Themes

On the positive side, the film showcases stellar performances from the cast. Christopher, making his starring debut as Elliott, delivers an impressive performance, both in terms of his acting skills and his angelic voice. The authenticity and passion he brings to the character elevates the overall viewing experience. Additionally, the supporting cast, including Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as Lilly and Christine Albeck Børge as Suzanne, also deliver commendable performances, adding depth and nuance to their respective roles.

Furthermore, the film’s exploration of the rags-to-riches journey and the theme of pursuing one’s dreams is inspiring. It highlights the importance of resilience and determination in the face of obstacles. The message of personal growth and finding one’s true calling resonates with audiences, offering a sense of motivation and hope.

Negative Elements – Clichéd Storyline and Underwhelming Music

However, on the negative side, the film falls short in terms of its writing and script. The storyline feels clichéd and predictable, lacking the necessary depth and originality to truly captivate the audience. The absence of significant conflicts and the swift resolution of challenges result in a lack of tension and a missed opportunity to create more compelling drama. This can leave viewers wanting more substance and complexity in the narrative.

Moreover, the film’s music, a crucial component of a musical drama, fails to impress. Despite the undeniable talent of Christopher as a singer, the quality of the music in the film is uniformly disappointing. The songs lack the impact and memorability that one would expect from a musical production. This undermines the overall effectiveness of the musical elements and detracts from the film’s ability to fully engage and immerse the audience.

In summary, while the movie features stellar performances and touches upon inspiring themes, its shortcomings lie in its predictable storyline, lackluster script, and underwhelming music. These aspects prevent the film from reaching its full potential and may leave viewers wanting more depth and originality in the overall execution.

A Beautiful Life aims to be a heartwarming journey of an artist finding love and pursuing his dreams. However, it succumbs to clichés and lacks the originality and depth required to stand out. The film’s writing feels contrived, and the characters remain underdeveloped, failing to evoke strong emotional connections. While the performances have their moments, they are ultimately overshadowed by the film’s shortcomings. Despite its aspirations, The movie struggles to find its own voice and ends up being a forgettable experience.

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New Hollywood Movies

A Beautiful Life

A Beautiful Life: Release Date, Trailer, Songs, Cast

Release Date 1 June 2023
Language Danish
Genre Drama, Musical, Romance
Duration 1h 38min
Cast Sebastian Jessen, Ardalan Esmaili, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Christine Albeck Børge, Christopher
Director Mehdi Avaz
Writer Stefan Jaworski
Cinematography Daniel Cotroneo
Music Christopher, Thomas Volmer Schulz
Producer Julie Rix Bomholt, Anna Malmkjær Willumsen
Production Den Vestdanske Filmpulje, Rocket Road Pictures, SF Studios Production

About A Beautiful Life Movie (2023)

Elliott (Christopher), a young fisherman with an extraordinary voice, gets the chance of a lifetime when he is discovered by Suzanne, a successful high-profile music manager. Suzanne soon pairs Elliott with her estranged daughter and music producer, Lilly. On his way to becoming a star, struggles from the past threaten not only his big breakthrough, but also his budding love with Lilly.

A Beautiful Life Movie Cast, Release Date, Trailer, Songs and Ratings

A Beautiful Life Movie Trailer

A beautiful life photos.

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1 way disney's wish could have been improved (that fans came up with).

Fans have created one way Disney’s Wish could have been improved based on the initial art after its lackluster box office and reception by critics.

The original concept art featured Star as a human with a humorous and shape-shifting personality.
Disney fans took inspiration from Wish's concept art, enhancing Star's character depth and narrative potential.
Fans also fleshed out Asha and Star's potential romance, adding emotional depth while still paying homage to classic Disney films.

After the lackluster release of Disney's Wish , fans of the company were able to reinvent sections of the film that vastly improved the story, including the role of Star. Wish follows Asha (Ariana DeBose) in the kingdom of Rosas who is trying to apprentice under the magical King Magnifico (Chris Pine), whose powers include granting the wishes of his subjects. When she discovers an unsavory truth about his methods, Asha, with the help of a fallen star, goes on a quest to depose the king and saves Rosas from his growing madness.

The film was directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn in her feature directorial debut. The film grossed $254.2 million worldwide but was met with mixed reviews. Many audiences felt the film relied too much on nostalgia, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 48% from critics according to Screen Rant . Wish was released on DVD and Blu-ray before coming to Disney+ in 2024.

Disney's Wish Cast Guide: What The Actors Look Like In Real Life

Disney's wish had a very different idea for the star, disney released the art book the art of wish in 2023.

Disney's original concept art for Wish showcases the idea of Star being a person as well as a romantic lead before animators decided against it, dampening the dynamic between Star and Asha and leaving the film to follow flat characters. Many of the designs reveal parts of the film that would have not only been fascinating but a first for Disney, such as King Magnifico and his queen both being villains , making them the first Disney villain couple. However, according to the book, the largest shift was changing Star from a human character to an anthropomorphic one.

The art depicting a human Star had the same comedic personality but with a more fluid design. He also would have been able to shapeshift, creating more comedic opportunities in the film. However, the animators shifted away from this, making Star a flat anthropomorphic figure whose only role was to further Asha's story. This created some problems for Disney's Wish , as it created a disconnect between Asha and Star and narrowed both of their developments. It also took away the idea of a romance between the two, which would have added new layers to the narrative and their individual arcs.

Fans Transformed The Star Boy Romance Idea Into A More Compelling Film

Fans of Disney have taken Star's original design and developed the idea, showcasing the potential romance and characterization and how it would have ultimately helped the film. Star's design bore some similarities to Jack Frost from Rise of the Guardians, who also garnered a lot of fan attention. Using this and the original ideas, fans have fleshed out Star and Asha's romance arc, depicting the many possibilities the story could have taken and how it could reference classic Disney movie couples , including Asha helping Star rediscover the beauty of wishing and dreaming much like the main couple in Tangled.

Having this dynamic in Disney's Wish would also have given the couple more opportunities for character growth as they navigate their feelings and try to halt Magnifico's plans. Asha and Star's romance could have expanded their motivations beyond the initial wish as they discover what they need to find happiness. It could make the main conflict more exciting with Asha pushing further to keep Star away from Magnifico as she now has more to lose. It could have also created a heartbreaking moment during Wish's ending if Star had to leave, creating another Disney first with a bittersweet ending.

Disney's Wish is currently streaming on Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.

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‘Asphalt City’ Review: Arbiters of Life and Death

Sean Penn plays a flinty paramedic showing a rookie the ropes in this maddening drama about emergency medical workers in New York.

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A man with blood on his arm works in the back of an ambulance.

By Natalia Winkelman

Two paramedics — Ollie Cross (Tye Sheridan), a wide-eyed rookie, and Gene Rutkovsky (Sean Penn), a gruff veteran of the trade — traverse the mean streets of East New York, Brooklyn, by ambulance in the solemn drama “Asphalt City.” Flooded with neon and sirens, the movie opens during Cross’s first nights on the corps, tracking his and his new partner’s efforts to provide care for an array of challenging patients.

Directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire — with evident inspiration from Martin Scorsese’s “Bringing Out the Dead” — this jittery drama wants viewers to appreciate the unique burdens facing emergency medical workers. Its approach to achieving this goal, however, involves a profusion of overly literal allusions to the paramedics as arbiters of life and death. “We are gods,” a colleague insists to Cross in one of several midnight symposiums on ethics and existentialism. As if those weren’t enough, our hero in training also sports a bomber jacket conspicuously embroidered with angel wings.

For reasons beyond my understanding, Cross, an aspiring doctor, looks up to Rutkovsky, a flinty old timer with a propensity to aggress when he feels sad or mad or basically anything. Their dynamic is familiar at best and dull at worst, particularly for those who long ago tired of the tragedies of toxic machismo. A couple of women do inhabit “Asphalt City”: the enthralling Katherine Waterston as Rutkovsky’s nettled ex wife, and Cross’s nameless love interest, whose naked body seems to receive more screen time than her face.

Asphalt City Rated R for bloody emergencies and graphic nudity. Running time: 2 hours. In theaters.

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This quiet but sweeping drama, from director Zhang Lü, is a delicate romance, a sweet story of unexpected friendship, and a softly heartbreaking family reunion. It is also, in Zhang’s elegant framing, a winsome tribute to the old quarters of Beijing, their narrow streets and hole-in-the-wall eateries. Xin Baiqing, playing a rumpled, middle-aged food critic, is the soulful center of the film, while Huang Yao gamely plays the young photographer who coaxes him out of his stasis. Zhang’s modest narrative gradually builds toward a poignant conclusion, capturing the sound and sensation of time swiftly passing.

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Another of Alice Rohrwacher ’s folksy curios that are actually saying something rather deep about modern-day Italy, La Chimera concerns unlicensed excavators of antiquity, a band of rogues who dig around in the ancient soil to see what evidence of history they might find. Among them is a British man, Arthur ( Josh O’Connor, speaking almost entirely in Italian), who is mourning a lost love. As La Chimera whispers and clatters along, the film contemplates what it means to go about the business of living when we are forever surrounded by reminders of the dead—people who came before us and made their own music, had their own romances, and left their own trail of debris before becoming it themselves. (In US theaters March 29.)

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Housekeeping for Beginners

Macedonian Australian filmmaker Goran Stolevski ’s third feature is a rambling, sometimes bruising found-family drama about a home shared by an interconnected crew of misfits in Skopje, North Macedonia’s capitol city. The great Anamaria Marinca plays a health care worker who finds herself taking on the role of den mother following a tragedy, working to formalize some of the bonds holding her motley clan together. Among other things, Housekeeping for Beginners is a sober look at the realities of Roma life in the Balkans, especially for those contending with the additional stigma of being queer in a bigoted society. Stolevski—one of the most exciting emerging directors on the world scene—manages a controlled chaos, keeping his film loose and lively while driving toward a stirring finish. (In US theaters April 5.)

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Cast & crew
User reviews

A boy, bruised by life, finds his salvation through the love of his dogs. A boy, bruised by life, finds his salvation through the love of his dogs. A boy, bruised by life, finds his salvation through the love of his dogs.

Caleb Landry Jones
Jojo T. Gibbs
Christopher Denham
61 User reviews
95 Critic reviews
45 Metascore
1 win & 3 nominations

Douglas Munrow

Mike Munrow

Salma Bailey

Douglas' Mother

Douglas Munrow (Teenager)

Richie Munrow

Lola Rodriguez

Mrs. Rodriguez

Drag Madonna
Drag Annie Lennox
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Trivia In total, 15 dog trainers were needed to get all the dogs necessary for the movie. Already-trained dogs were preferred to avoid wasting time on training new dogs. Before shooting the dog scenes, Caleb Landry Jones spent three days with the trainers and their dogs to get comfortable with the canines.

Douglas Munrow : I always liked disguises. It's what you do when you don't really know who you are, right? You dress up, you make up a past to forget your own.

Evelyn : Did you know anyone else? Somebody that could show you some attention or affection?

Douglas Munrow : A child takes affection where he can get it. They're my babies. As far as I can tell, they only have one flaw: they trust humans.

Soundtracks Ultrafox Music by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli Performed by Django Reinhardt

User reviews 61

Boristhemoggy
Jan 29, 2024
How long will DogMan be? Powered by Alexa
April 5, 2024 (United States)
Official Site
Essonne, France
Luc Besson Production
TF1 Films Production
See more company credits at IMDbPro
$21,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

Runtime 1 hour 53 minutes