My Life (film)
- Michael Keaton: Bob Jones
- Nicole Kidman: Gail Jones
- Bradley Whitford: Paul Ivanovich
- Queen Latifah: Theresa
- Michael Constantine: Bill
- Haing S. Ngor: Mr. Ho
My life for you (Original Title: My Life) is an American film drama from 1993 was directed by Bruce Joel Rubin, who also wrote the screenplay.. The film stars Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman.
Action
Bob Jones is just mid 30's and the head of a successful advertising firm in Los Angeles when he learns that he has lung cancer and will only live a few months. The attempt to cure by chemotherapy brings side effects, so that Bob is in acute danger to life several hours. Therefore the physician advises him from further attempts, he should instead use the remaining time as well as possible. Jones accuses the doctors of wanting to take away his hope.
Bob's wife Gail notes that she is pregnant. Bob seeks help from the Chinese natural healers Mr. Ho, but he also can not do anything more because the cancer has already progressed too far. He advises Bob to fight his anger and learn to forgive, to prepare for the next life. Bob said later that he was not angry, but Gail sees things differently.
Bob now has to fear that he will be able to never see his unborn child. He begins, therefore, record video tapes on which he tells about himself and his life. Bob also tries to pass on good advice and your own knowledge to his son.
Years ago, Bob quarreled with his father because he did not want to take the scrap trade of his father and despised to live his father and his way and work. For years, Bob has not seen his parents and his brother, therefore. Gail believes it is a good idea to visit them, so Bob reconciled with them. There they celebrate first with at the wedding of his brother who is carrying on his father's scrap trade. In a family conversation but the old wounds break open again, and father and son make each other allegations and break a fight. Bob's father accuses him of being ashamed of his family and have even changed his last name. ( Bob's family carries a Polish last name. ) Bob, however, criticized his family, because they have never visited him in Los Angeles and know the company that he has built, does not appreciate. His parents claim that his mother has panic fear of flying and the trip would take the car for too long. Embittered Bob breaks up with his wife to return.
Meanwhile, there is Bob getting worse and he will eventually bedridden. When his family learns of his terminal illness, she travels immediately by plane to spend the last days with Bob.
He witnessed the birth of his own son - In the penultimate scene of the last remaining possible dream come true for Bob. But shortly thereafter presents Gail stated that Bob only has little power and is approaching its end. Only with difficulty, Bob can breathe at all and finally breathed his last breath.
In a brief epilogue we see an excerpt from Bob's video recording of a television, before a small child sits.
Reviews
James Berardinelli praised on ReelViews the presentation of Michael Keaton, the play of Nicole Kidman appealed to him only sporadically.
Roger Ebert described in the Chicago Sun - Times November 12, 1993, the presentation of Michael Keaton as intelligent. He said the film, which deals with a very serious subject, could do without some little jokes.