As mentioned in our previous two posts (here and here), we held our Cast & Crew screening last month. As well as inviting people who worked on the film, we thought we'd invite a few critics along so that we could start getting a sense of how the film would be received among the critical fraternity. I think the response somewhat astonished us all. Here are a few excerpts from the reviews:
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'In his first feature, Barrett has already acquired the skill to know exactly where to position his camera in order to suggest a view on the material without ever imposing such a view artificially... It may be a cliché, but Barrett's key influences clearly come not from art but rather from life, from the generosity and curiosity with which he has observed both his contemporaries and himself...for it seems to me that each of the central characters represents a different aspect of their creator's personality. It is tempting to describe LIFE JUST IS as one of the most promising debuts in contemporary cinema, but this temptation should be resisted. We are not dealing with promise here: we are dealing with achievement' - Brad Stevens, Sight & Sound contributor & author of Abel Ferrara: The Moral Vision
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'The sharply written and skilfully acted LIFE JUST IS explores the emotionally fraught lives of its young characters with humour, intelligence and compassion. It's a confident and impressive debut from Alex Barrett' - Philip Concannon, Phil on Film
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'LIFE JUST IS will hit a nerve with those going through the post-graduate slump but also resonate with anyone trying to work out their place in the world. It is a film that will connect with its intended audience due to the strong script and great characters...
A ferociously smart and perceptive film that confronts the issues of modern life. A strong debut that is as affecting as it is funny. It is so exciting and refreshing to see a British director make a film like this' - Katherine McLaughlin, Film Critic for Cinetalk
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'Barrett's film is fresh and assured...For while his film is a kind of post graduate slacker film for the 2010s generation, it is also witty, moving, charming and well-paced... He has appeared in our presence as a confident, eloquent and articulate new voice - one that will be heard of in the not-so-far future and I for one, can't wait.
LIFE JUST IS has an engaging cast who carry off the equally engaging script with style and professionalism. Everything about the film, from locations to mise-en-scene and from visual quality to direction belie the micro-budget of the production. As both writer and director, Alex Barrett has arrived and arrived with class - the barefaced cheek!' - James B. Evans, Film Critic and Author. Contributor to Electric Sheep, Little White Lies and Cinema Scope
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'Barrett is unafraid to tackle ‘proper’ spiritual issues and have his characters discuss the G— word. It’s a bold move. But this doesn’t mean they spend the whole time sitting around expostulating Kierkegaardianishly: there’s room for humour and even – thank... errrr ... heavens(?) - a sort of a knob gag. Which goes to make them seem all the more normal...
LIFE JUST IS is a controlled debut from an assured filmmaker confident to make his own film in his own way' - John Riley, Film Critic for Resonance 104.4fm
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'Barrett's meticulous eye elevates this beyond many of his peers... The uniformly excellent (and good looking) cast deserve to break out as a result of their work here' - Hemanth Kissoon, Filmaluation
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'The film manages to be both very large in scope, discussing religion and the existence of God, and also extremely intimate. The conversations are very realistic in the way they are written and are performed naturally by the cast, which really brings the characters to life…
Ultimately, once the film had finished, I find myself wishing I could see the next day in the lives of these characters. Watch it, and you’ll feel like you’ve made some new friends' - Tom Roberts, Manager Gate Cinema, Notting Hill and writer for Cinetalk.
Q&A after the screening at the ICA, 09/12/12. L-R: host Philip Concannon and writer/director Alex Barrett. 
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