The Life of Reilly (2007)
91%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The Life of Reilly is a poignant and humorous tribute to the late Charles Nelson Reilly, a man whose life was as colorful as his personality. Through his one-man show, Reilly takes us on a journey from his humble beginnings to his rise to fame in Hollywood, all while sharing intimate details of his personal life. The film captures Reilly’s wit and charm, as well as his vulnerability, making it a touching and entertaining tribute to a true icon of the entertainment industry. With his unique storytelling style and larger-than-life personality, Reilly proves that sometimes the best revenge is simply living well and laughing heartily.
The Life of Reilly is a hilarious and heartwarming documentary that gives us a glimpse into the life of the legendary Charles Nelson Reilly. From his early days in school plays to his rise to fame in Hollywood, Reilly’s story is one of triumph and tragedy, told with wit and charm by the man himself. Whether he’s recounting his bizarre family situations or his solo navigation of Tinseltown as a decidedly unconventional celebrity, Reilly is a master raconteur who will have you laughing and crying in equal measure. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride – The Life of Reilly is a must-see for anyone who loves great storytelling and unforgettable characters.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., Chenault Productions,
Distributor
Reel Diva
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2006
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 30m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 9, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2016
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Charles Nelson Reilly, Paul Linke, Barry Poltermann, Frank Anderson, Reel Diva, LGBTQ+, resilience, dysfunctional family, game show host, late-night talk show, actor, theater director, drama coach, monologue, humor, endearing, critic reviews, Tomatometer, audience score, box office, gross USA, limited release, streaming, English, genre, biography, life story, triumph, tragedy, retrospective, intimate, one-man-show, humanity, profound, check on life, time capsule, horror movies, MCU, Netflix series, TV shows, anticipated movies, critic submission, licensing, advertise, careers
Worldwide gross: $38,960
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $57,453
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,079
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,265
US/Canada gross: $38,960
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $57,453
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,740
US/Canada opening weekend: $2,798
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,126
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,814
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Frank Anderson – Director
Charles Nelson Reilly – Screenwriter
Paul Linke – Screenwriter
Director(s)
Barry Poltermann, Frank Anderson
Writer(s)
Charles Nelson Reilly, Paul Linke
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (1)
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
Melissa Anderson
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
…he’s far more candid recalling his grand delusions in a school play than he is when he gets to Broadway and Hollywood.
March 10, 2009 | Rating: B-
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
…it’s a funny and frequently affecting reminiscence…
March 10, 2009
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Life of Reilly is vivid proof that living well, and laughing heartily, can be the best revenge.
March 10, 2009
Joe Leydon
Variety
TOP CRITIC
As this entertaining recording of his one-man show reveals, Reilly was a natural raconteur.
March 10, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The Life of Reilly lets us know how much the world has changed.
March 10, 2009
Andrew O’Hehir
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
An entertaining, touching and funny look at a man whose Hollywood life is truly worth remembering.
September 14, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Charles Nelson Reilly ranges from the jocular and anecdotal to a banshee-like wail as if he were a very queer Lear.
May 26, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
It was shot just before he died, so it’s a nice record of his life in his own words, a life that included bizarre family situations as well as his solo navigation of Hollywood as a decidedly unconventional celebrity.
April 4, 2011 | Rating: 4.5/5
Dave White
Movies.com
Gives us a sense of a full life of triumph and tragedy, an epic story told in 84 minutes by a master raconteur.
July 19, 2010 | Rating: 5/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
It doesn’t pretend to be a movie, really, but it’s an unexpected treat from a man who made a living out of being silly.
March 10, 2009
Robert Horton
HeraldNet (Everett, WA)
See Life of Reilly and you won’t see him as a pop culture footnote ever again.
March 10, 2009
Rob Thomas
Wisconsin State Journal…
Plot
“The Life of Reilly” is a documentary about the late comedian Charles Nelson Reilly, chronicling his life story from a dysfunctional childhood to achieving fame as a game show host and actor.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The late comedian Charles Nelson Reilly recounts his life story in this humorous and endearing documentary.
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