Life Inside Out (2013) User Reviews

Sweet Family Film

[wirebaby17 · 8/10 · 17 January 2015]

This is a quiet movie... In today's market it's hard to find a nice film with a good plot that doesn't overwhelm the senses. This is a drama, with some funny moments, and a lot of really great independent musicians.

The film is set in Los Angeles and tells the story of teenage love and longing - and midlife crisis as experienced by a NORMAL family. Yeah, no divorce, no drugs, no alcoholism. Just a nice compelling story about normal people. If that doesn't appeal to you I'm sure Showtime or Fox have something more to your liking. But if you want a good movie to watch with teens/pre-teens, this is a great pick. No spoiler, but it does have a happy ending with a little surprise.

And if you like good music, this is a really good pick.

This is an award winner at a lot of independent film festivals. And an award winner in my house!

Exceptional Film

[mauralynnmuhl · 8/10 · 4 May 2015]

This film was very inspirational and thought provoking. It also made me laugh and cry. I enjoyed the ride completely from start to finish. Everyone in my home could relate to this film. I especially loved how the family worked together, despite moments of friction, to support each other. Being over forty myself and a singer/songwriter, I completely identified with the character played by the super talented Maggie Baird. My son, who is a teenager, loved the acting and the music by the mega-talented Finneas Baird O'Connell. We both loved watching the relationship and support between these two characters and could completely relate. All of the music in the film was superb. I wish more movies like this one would be made, because it is a great reflection of life and how things can work themselves out in a positive way if we are open to them and support each other. Loved the cinematography, humor, passion and artistry. A must see film!

Beautiful and moving, excellent film.

[mariannechoquet · 10/10 · 1 May 2014]

This film is deeply moving, joyful, hopeful, real, tender, fun - it celebrates the best of humanity through the rich elements of unity, support, beauty, love, sincerity, creativity and it demonstrates the power of creativity and expression to connect people to each other and themselves. It is always fantastic to see a daring and loving woman over 40 become more of who she already is. The cherry on the cake is the music, and even more cherries are each collaboration between mother and son. The movie itself is a song of loving life. Maggie Baird does an incredible job as a best actress, in every right. This is the exactly the kind of film the world needs more of and it deserves a world-wide audience. Excellence in writing, directing, cinematography, soundtrack, and acting. Flawless, really.

Realistic and engaging

[movieguysla · 6 November 2014]

"Life Inside Out" is a story that anyone can relate to. How far do you take a dream? Laura, the main character, re-discovers an old passion - songwriting, which has previously taken a back seat to raising a large family. But the core of the film is how that pursuit of that dream draws her closer to her family, specifically her moody son. The film lays out characters that act truthfully towards one another in a plot that also strives for realism over showy theatrics and lame movie conventions. The direction by Jill D'Agnenica is calculatedly unobtrusive in its style, yet she draws good performances out of the actors, especially Maggie Baird and David Cowgill. Along the way, there's humor and warmth, making this a "Life" worth examining!

Comforting

[fmwongmd · 5/10 · 14 July 2019]

A mother and son movie with musical talent in between. Some good notes and lyrics.

Satisfying, realistic, heartwarming,

[itzpeggy-33-452201 · 10/10 · 20 June 2014]

Satisfying is the first word that comes to mind to describe this film. The story works, the characters are believable, the acting is not forced, the cinematography is perfect, the sound track is pleasing. It's a feel-good family story in a not trite way. Seriously! Almost-empty-nest Mom is taking a creative risk in her life. Disaffected and insolent teen son bonds with mother over open-mic style music - and he teaches himself to play guitar via an unorthodox method. This movie is a classic example of show not tell - we are in the story as it unfolds in front of our eyes. It's definitely a keeper. 10 out of 10 in the way only an indie movie can be. Nothing showy, just solid storytelling and movie-making.

Few films have a woman in her 40s as the lead...

[matg64 · 10/10 · 22 October 2014]

This is an excellent film of a character finding a little bit about herself. Few films have a woman in her 40s as the lead. This film makes an engrossing trip into the daily life of one as she finds a part of herself she forgot about and in the process, discovers a side her son as well. Great acting, great directing, a seamlessly crafted work of art. A good family film that avoids clichés yet delivers contemporary America with a realism that is pleasant, mundane and totally familiar.

With scenes involving ScrapBooking and Open Mic performance events, LIFE INSIDE OUT hits hilariously and painfully close to everyone's contemporary suburban existence.

A mid-life mom rediscovers her passion and helps her son discover himself as well

[lieberwilkins-179-861000 · 9/10 · 6 December 2014]

This sweet film is poignant and true. The script speaks to the heart of most of our families--flawed, struggling, yet enduring. Maggie Baird is illuminating as the mom of three sons, one of whom is a floundering 14 year old who is depressed, sullen, and withdrawn. As she rediscovers an old passion for guitar, singing and song writing, her son, played by her real life son, Phinneas, discovers he, too, is passionate about, and talented as a singer/songwriter. He begins to come out of his shell; he emerges as someone who feels he has value; and he sees and appreciates his mother in ways most 14 year old sons can't.

Through humor and simplicity of story telling, we become a part of this family. We feel their financial struggle. We love the long term marriage of the parents, still so committed, yet winding their way through these muddy middle years. We relate to the sibling relationships. We so deeply feel the anxiety and isolation of adolescence. And when perseverance and unrelenting mother love and support help them both to find their way, our hearts soar with their discoveries.

An almost perfect indie gem

[kkonig · 9/10 · 19 January 2015]

This film is a delight - a lovely, funny, poignant, well made, well written, well acted indie film. Think ONCE but in a traditional family. It is so refreshing to see a story about a woman who isn't in her 20s or 30s and who is empowering herself while still taking care of her family. The music is terrific both from the leads and from the featured musicians. At the showing I attended, there was a talk back and someone commented that, like ONCE, it would make a great stage musical. I concur. This is the kind of film that doesn't get attention from big distributors because nothing blows up and there are no stars. But it's better than much of the blockbuster stuff out there. Run, don't walk.

Your heart knows this film and wants you to see it.

[dininesig · 9/10 · 11 May 2015]

Beautiful film which draws you in from the first frame. Maggie is a mom whose daily grind leaves little time to devote to self discovery and fulfilling activities. She is pulled by the demands of making dinner and balancing the budget along with managing the different personalities of her kids, husband and sister. As she notices her high school son struggling, she searches for ways to reach him. Music is the bridge that brings the two of them together and reveals each to the other in a deeper sense. I love that in this film the ending is really a beginning but more than that it is a beautiful testament to selfless love, especially a mother's. The characters in this film were well written and real without being difficult to like--each resonated with me on a soul level. Order this film and get ready to relax with characters who feel like old friends.

A 'Life" Story Not to be Missed

[whiteravenflying · 10/10 · 18 October 2014]

An incredibly beautiful story of a mother, a family, a couple, a misfit teen trying to find his way and the many variations by which love is expressed. This is a movie for even those who don't like this kind of movie. You will laugh and cry, wince at points with the characters as their individual challenges are exposed and you see them more as whole people not just the mask they show the world. This is destined to be a classic, a simple tale on the surface that runs so deep that you can see it a dozen times and still come away with something new.And thru out enjoy the music. The songs are amazing, the acting superb and the story line very realistic. I can't say enough good about it without adding the spoilers I'm trying to avoid. Go. See it. Carry it home in your heart.

You know these people, and they might be you!

[zaftig00 · 10/10 · 4 November 2014]

When I left the movie theater, I was greeted by co-stars Maggie Baird and her son (in the movie and life) Finneas O'Connell. I looked at Finneus like he was some kind of soul-mate and blurted out in amazement "You made a movie about me and my son!!" He just smiled and said "Everyone says that".

I was literally stunned when the movie ended and I realized the characters on the screen were not actually me, my son, and my husband. I am still not able to get it into my mind that I don't at east know these people very well.

Even my 14 year old son, who is usually a brutal critic said they got it right.

The movie made me cry often but not in an obvious manipulated way. I was captivated by how true the many powerful moments were. Nothing took me out of the depth of the moment until the film concluded.

By true, I mean that they have captured those private lonely feelings we go about our lives not sharing, not knowing how to share, and maybe not even seeing ourselves. Then we see them on the screen and our private sadness is shared. It's a feeling of connection and understanding.

It's as if you ate nothing but hyped-up McDonalds meals your whole life and never questioned that they were great, until one day when you actually tasted real food!

I hope there will be another film by this team, but wonder if anything could top this for what it is. It's not so much a story as a truth. It's real food, not formula.

Loved this!

[yldonaldson · 10/10 · 7 July 2022]

I wasn't sure what to expect but I've been on an Indie streak. This was wonderful. I had a few misty moments and real tears at the end. Loved the songs! What a delight I find that mom and son were mom and son in real life.