Plot
A long-time married couple who've spent their lives together in the same New York apartment become overwhelmed by personal and real estate-related issues when they plan to move away.
Release Year: 2014
Rating: 6.6/10 (110 voted)
Critic's Score: /100
Director: Richard Loncraine
Stars: Diane Keaton, Morgan Freeman, Cynthia Nixon
Storyline
A long-time married couple who've spent their lives together in the same New York apartment become overwhelmed by personal and real estate-related issues when they plan to move away.
Writers: Jill Ciment, Charlie Peters
Cast: Morgan Freeman -
Diane Keaton -
Ruth
Carrie Preston -
Cynthia Nixon -
Niece
Miriam Shor -
Alysia Reiner -
Blue Leggings
Claire van der Boom -
Young Ruth
Sterling Jerins -
Zoe
Josh Pais -
Jackson
Liza J. Bennett -
Mrs. Vincent
Maddie Corman -
Friendly Lady
Hannah Dunne -
Debbie
Katrina E. Perkins -
Lady with Dog
Joanna Adler -
Boy's Mother
Alanna Blair -
Young Wife
Taglines:
A coming of age story
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 8 May 2015
Filming Locations: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Based on a novel called "Heroic Measures," it was renamed "Life Itself," then "Ruth and Alex," then "5 Flights Up." See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 10/10
From the story line, it may seem that this film will be boring to kids.
But, when I started watching this film I fell in love with it. Morgan
Freeman's perfect timing of jokes and Diane Keeton's wonderful and
priceless emotions make this film entertaining and heartfelt from the
very start to the last second.
It is a bit hard to say what the main genre is. Of course, there is a
lot of romance between the two characters, Alex (Morgan Freeman) and
Ruth (Diane Keeton), there is also that funny side that makes it all
that more enjoyable. And, there is still a serious dramatic side which
keeps you on the edge of your seat till the end.
The story starts when an elderly couple, Ruth and Alex, live in a high
up, massive apartment in New York City, Brooklyn actually. However, the
five flight of stairs they need to take is getting more and more
challenging so they decide to move to a location with an elevator. To
add to the challenges, their dog is in the hospital undergoing
treatment for spinal injury.
The director, Richard Loncraine makes this movie feel authentic and
rustic and also shows how current society stereotypes elderly people,
how they truly feel about it and how wrong it is. The cast is wonderful
and the acting is just superior with serious and comedy scenes mixed
together and standing out all the time. I also like how they lightly
touch upon problems of the past as well as problems of today. For
example, Ruth and Alex got married in a time when bi- racial couples
were not welcomed with open arms. Then it shows how today a gay couple
is making an offer on a house. They submit it along with a note telling
how they tried to adopt a child and finally were able to adopt one. It
is something Ruth and Alex wanted to do when they were younger but were
denied.
My favorite scene is when they have an open house to sell their
apartment and a huge crowd of people comes through, looking at
everything and touching everything. Alex doesn't like it but Ruth tries
to see the positive side but fails. I like that scene because it shows
how the couple's life isn't perfect and also makes the film feel very
real. Not only this moment does that but many others as well.
This film has perhaps several moments of adult content but none that is
too mature. I recommend it to kids ages 10 to18 and give it 5 out of 5
stars.
Reviewed by Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. For more reviews by
youth, go to kidsfirst dot org.
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