Hurlyburly (1998)

Wonderful Movie

ridiculous rating

Powerful

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

A reflection on something - I think - with drugs, sex and stereotypical wannabes all enmeshed in a sort of nihilistic parallel world that means whatever their actions, nobody in the "real world" sees through them. The problem with such obtuse symbolism is that it has to lack focus to suggest representation, but in lacking focus, needs to say something significant to make people think its worth stating. This film says nothing significant about people who don't matter. Subsequently (aside from a few obviously more enlightened reviewers) who cares about what happens to them. I watched, waiting for enlightenment but aimlessly plodding direction and bland cinematography left an occasionally interesting dialogue and tireless actors flailing around, probably hoping something good might come in the editing. Unfortunately it didn't.

This movie falls somewhere between mediocre and near-garbage. Great performances by Sean Penn and Kevin Spacey could not save the terrible writing; the bad writing and poorly conceived story are the biggest problems with this film, which is especially disappointing as it was adapted from a stage play, which is usually a good indication of a gripping dialogue/story/character-driven narrative, a la David Mamet, whose fantastic work this pretentious trash is unsuccessfully trying to imitate. The dialogue is overblown: it feels like it was written by a seventeen-year-old boy trying to "sound smart." It's also extremely repetitive; Sean Penn is given the undesirable task of having a perpetual coke-fueled emotional meltdown, and the problem with this is that it means nothing to the viewer if it's ALWAYS HAPPENING. There is also a groan-inducingly saccharine "tugging-at-your-heartstrings" moment that tries to show how really deep down these guys aren't such assholes, and this moments only further poisons what little sense of genuineness this movie has. This movie thinks it is hipper--and far more intelligent--than it actually is.

I could go into a long exposition about this movie and why I disliked it...but I won't. The characters are truly horrible people, real as they may be. I found myself detesting them completely. I can't relate to this film in any way. The only thing I can conclude is that it must have been made by self centered Hollywood types FOR self centered Hollywood types. Palminteri's character is probably one of the worst screen characters I've ever seen. As I mentioned earlier, most of my stomach wrenching was in direct result of this guy. It's a bizarre film, and in the least, it'll leave you being thankful for your "normal" life.

After viewing this picture, I became a big fan of Sean Penn,(Eddie),"The Interpreter",'05, who showed his great acting abilities in playing a very hard role to portray on the screen. Meg Ryan,(Bonnie),"In The Cut",'03, played the role of a dippy blonde who would do anything for Eddie and I mean anything. Robin Wright Penn,(Darlene),"Nine Lives",'05 had the hots for Eddie and Eddie had a ball making love to her quite often during the film. Well, after all, they are husband and wife. Garry Shandling,(Artie),"Town & Country",'01 make a few brief appearances and tried to add some humor to his role, which was so so. This is a very strange story, but is really down to earth and has a cast of great actors who did a fantastic job of presenting way out people all mixed up and high on DRUGS!