Whose Life Is It Anyway?

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Whose Life Is It Anyway?

R,

1981,

1h 58m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

70%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

1,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Ken Harrison (Richard Dreyfuss) is a well-known and respected sculptor, until a terrible car accident leaves him a paraplegic. His once positive outlook descends into depression as he comes to grips with the loss of his independence and his art. Even as he develops a relationship with Clare Scott (Christine Lahti), all he wants to do is end his life, but U.S. law forbids assisted suicide. Dr. Harrison (John Cassavetes) vows to keep Ken alive -- while Ken's lawyer fights for his right to die.

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Jul 25, 2019

[Whose Life Is It Anyway?] is an engrossing drama despite its grim subject.

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Bruce McCabe

Boston Globe

Apr 28, 2018

The inadequately and misleadingly titled Whose Life Is It Anyway? is a brilliant emotional exercise which ambitiously and heroically wrestles with the most emotional issue of all -- death.

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Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

May 27, 2020

4/4

Who's Life is one of the year's best films, not to be missed.

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Rick Chatenever

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Nov 20, 2019

Dreyfuss never seems to get far enough into his character to make his anguish -- or his decision to fight -- real.

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Diego Galán

El Pais (Spain)

Aug 26, 2019

Shallowness drowns the ambition of the project. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Oct 6, 2005

4/5

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Finn W

Jan 20, 2017

Was one of the films I found profoundly important when it came out in 81. We did not have the rules and regulations as we do today over handicapped persons, care of people in hospital making their own decisions about their care rather than physicians, and I loved this film. It truely supported persons being their own boss over their life. I am a nurse and let me tell you this movie did represent what did go on!!

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John Badham

Director

Richard Dreyfuss

Ken Harrison

John Cassavetes

Dr. Michael Emerson

Christine Lahti

Dr. Clare Scott

Bob Balaban

Carter Hill

Kenneth McMillan

Judge Wyler

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Synopsis

Ken Harrison (Richard Dreyfuss) is a well-known and respected sculptor, until a terrible car accident leaves him a paraplegic. His once positive outlook descends into depression as he comes to grips with the loss of his independence and his art. Even as he develops a relationship with Clare Scott (Christine Lahti), all he wants to do is end his life, but U.S. law forbids assisted suicide. Dr. Harrison (John Cassavetes) vows to keep Ken alive -- while Ken's lawyer fights for his right to die.

Director: John Badham
Producer: Lawrence P. Bachmann
Screenwriter: Brian Clark, Reginald Rose
Production Co: SLM Production Group, Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 2, 1981, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 58m

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