Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Richard Dreyfuss, John Cassavetes, Christine Lahti, Bob Balaban, Kenneth McMillan ... see more see more... , Kaki Hunter , Thomas Carter (II) , Alba Oms , Janet Eilber , Alston Ahern , Julie Andelman , Betty Cole , Jeffrey Combs , Ward Costello , John Garber , Kathryn Grody , J.J. Johnston , Michael Steve Jones , Lissa Layng , Dorothy Meyer , Tony Simotes , Wabei Slyolwe , Mel Stewart , Alan Stock , Robert S. Telford , Lyman Ward , George Wyner

Stepping into the role made famous on Broadway by Tom Conti, Richard Dreyfuss stars as a profoundly handicapped sculptor in Whose Life is it Anyway? Left a quadraplegic after an auto accident, the emb... read more read more...ittered Dreyfuss feels utterly useless, as both an artist and a human being. He doesn't want his family's love, or his doctor's care, or his nurse's ministrations. Dreyfuss simply wants to die-but this is impossible, given the legal state of things in the 1970s. Whose Life is It Anyway? may be the only film in which a person's right to self-destruction is regarded as a happy ending. Not as depressing as it sounds, Whose Life Is It Anyway is perversely hilarious at times, with Dreyfuss at his acerbic best. The film was scripted by Reginald Rose and Brian Clark from Clark's stage play. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

78% liked it

1,191 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

5 critics

R, 1 hr. 58 min.

Directed by: John Badham

Release Date: December 2, 1981

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: May 22, 2007

Get It:

Stats: 79 reviews

Photos


None yet... Got one?

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (79)


  • May 30, 2009
    I had heard this was a very good play, but I was unaware it was a movie until recently. Dreyfuss gives both a charmingly hilarious and emotionally heart-wrenching performance as a quadriplegic sculptor who's lost the will to live. extremely thought-provoking as you find yoursel... read moref never definitively taking a side all the way to the perfectly apropos ending. a film that really slides under the radar, but it's really quite amazing.
  • July 6, 2007
    Important issues of dignity & self determination at the end of one's life. Superb acting by Richard Dreyfuss.
  • June 6, 2006
    The theme of this movie is: choice. It hasnt been around the shelves for awhile, so many havent had a chance to see it. Go see it if you can. It will make you think more than twice about your own mortality.

Critic Reviews


Steve Crum
October 15, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Talky, depressing, ranting.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
January 30, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Focuses on the right to die wishes of a sculptor who's paralyzed and provides viewers an opportunity to test their attitudes toward making choices about life and death. Full Review

October 24, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

January 10, 2004
Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 6, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
June 15, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Daniel M. Kimmel
April 16, 2004
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

January 26, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Guzaarish
    Guzaarish (100%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

Whose Life Is It ... : Watch Free on TV


Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for Whose Life Is It Anyway?. Want to create one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists


Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?