The life of James Dean movie review

Director Anton Corbijn is deeply in love with his subject matter which is the still camera, so the film is a tribute to the camera. James Dean, of course, features strongly, but this film is more about the relationship between a photographer for Life Magazine in 1955, Dennis Stock, and his camera’s interpretation of James Dean.

The film is extremely slow, therefore a warning: good as it is, it often comes to a complete standstill and turns into pretty and moody pictures filled with subtext.

But it is the performance of Dane DeHaan as Dean that truly captivates the persona of this reluctant star.