SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Helloturia I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Ed-Shullivan Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Michael Moriarty, Queen Latifah, Diane Ladd and Jack Palance were perfect in their respected roles in Living With the Dead. For a made for TV film, this was definitely over achieving expectations. Mrs. Shullivan and I really enjoy a good suspense film, but eh, throw in some great science-fiction, thriller, and a non-stop "who done it" serial killer theme and you come up with in my opinion a prime-time Emmy winner for any film audience.Ted Danson is the star of this film who plays James Van Praagh, a troubled divorced man whose business is struggling financially, his elderly mother Regina Van Praagh played by Diane Ladd has just been admitted into the emergency wing of the local hospital after suffering a stroke, but James Van Praagh also has demons deep inside his mind from his early childhood memories of seeing and talking to dead people. Jack Palance plays Ted Danson's father Allan Van Praagh, who continually tells his young son well into his adulthood years that he must suppress any visions that his son James might be seeing and disregard them as nonsense. But the young James Van Praagh remembers vividly his mother relying on a composite of drugs to survive and when he is an adult his father tells James that he can arrange for him to receive the same drugs that his mother used to help her sleep. At this point James realizes that his mother must have also had visions of dead people herself, and she was trying to suppress them.Queen Latifah plays a business consultant named Midge Harmon who is called in to help save James faltering business, but she also tries to help James see that both his past and future visions are real so she brings him to a meeting of like minded people where James is introduced to a very calm Psychic named Adrian played by Michael Moriarty. Adrian patiently tries to reassure James that his visions are real and that eventually when he is ready to accept that his uncanny ability to speak to the dead is very real, he will be at peace with himself, and be able to assist people talk to their dead relatives through him. The film moves along at a very even pace maintaining the suspense as James continues to interact with many dead people and a slew of young boys who are trying to instruct James how he can assist in finding their serial killer. There are a number of potential serial killer suspects and you will find yourself questioning who the real murderer is.This is by far a much better suspense film than is generally available on television, and since Mrs. Shullivan and I just watched the film 14 years after it was originally released and it still has great appeal I can recommend to other viewers that it is well worth your evening's entertainment and you will not be disappointed. I give the film a solid 8 out of 10 rating.

dpc69 Many, many theatrical productions have tried to portray what it is like for a person (or a family) to live with a psychic gift. (ie: Medium, Sixth Sense, Providence, to name only a few). This production excels at this on many levels. I don't know if it is the masterful direction of Stephen Gyllenhaal, the exceptional ensemble cast (Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson, Queen Latifah, Jack Palance, Diane Ladd) or the involvement of the actual character in the writing, but this teleplay is given the treatment it deserves by all involved. This is not just a vehicle for the husband/wife team of Danson/Steenburgen. You can feel everyone's commitment to giving this story authenticity and humanity. Nothing is treated glibly or lightly or taken for granted. The title character is quite unwilling to trust his own visions until they insist on his attention by destroying his business and nearly his sanity. Before proceeding any further I must confess to being a skeptic. I don't personally believe in spirits communicating with living persons. But my grandson fully believes he can see and talk to spirits. How do I deal with that? I have learned to listen and sympathize but not believe. But that means I have been faced with the same problems that so many people in the movie seem to endure. One learns to walk a thin line, trying not to encourage or discourage, just to accept. That is the theme of this work, acceptance. But, back to the excellent acting and great directing. One of Palance's last dramatic roles, a little heavy-handed turn by Danson. But great understated subtlety by Steenburgen. A good watch on a rainy afternoon (4 hours long). I recommend it.

lovinlife33712 It seems that there are several shows using the after death theme lately. In a culture that doesn't talk much about death this may help people become more open minded and comfortable with death. I like movies with real life husband and wife actors performing in a film. This movie kept my attention throughout even though at times it did drag a bit. It was interesting seeing Queen Latifa act without being funny. I am most moved by the ending of the movie. I didn't see it coming and that is refreshing. More importantly, the message of forgiveness and love in such a spiritually profound, visual and moving manner was very unique. I am grateful that I chanced upon it. There are no accidents only experiences.

Tommy I have just finished watching the first part of Living With the Dead. I would ordinarily never even think of writing a review until I had finished watching a movie until the credits stop rolling. Yet this film is the exception to the rule. Not since Lonesome Dove has there been a multi-part television endeavor that I actually have been excited about seeing the finish. Until now. Ted Danson gives one of the best performances of his career. Portraying the guilt ridden Catholic and stodgy bibliophile forced into facing things he doesn't want to face in a very believable and empathetic way. The rest of the cast is equal quality.Stephen Gyllenhaal's direction is deft and workmanlike. Throw in Jeffery Jur's top notch and sufficiently creepy Cinematography and you got yourself a very worthwhile movie, made for television or not.I have now waited a week to see the finish. I stand by my previously conclusions. While the story itself is unexceptional, the dialogue is good. Whether or not the story is true or the movie is like the book is immaterial to the quality and enjoyment for me. I watched it on CBS and even though it was interrupted with an unseemly amount of commercials and my advice is watch it uninterrupted if you can, I still enjoyed it. All-in-all, a very worthwhile movie to watch. I give it 8 stars out of 10.