 |  | Get Showtimes... |
Review #292 of 365
Film: Running with Scissors (2006) [R] 116 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $11.50
Where Viewed: Colorado Cinemas Cherry Creek 8, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 30 October 2006
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Film's Official Website
DVD Release Date: unscheduled
Directed by: Ryan Murphy ("Nip/Tuck")
Screenplay by: Ryan Murphy (The Furies) based on book Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Annette Bening (American Beauty) • Brian Cox (Match Point) • Joseph Fiennes (The Great Raid) • Evan Rachel Wood (Down in the Valley) • Alec Baldwin (The Departed) • Joseph Cross (Flags of Our Fathers) • Jill Clayburgh ("Nip/Tuck") • Gwyneth Paltrow (Infamous) • Patrick Wilson (Hard Candy) • Kristin Chenoweth (RV) • Jack Kaeding (debut)
Soundtrack: Download now from 
— or — order the CD below
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Fans of the book, Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs be prepared prior to seeing the film adaptation by screen writer and director Ryan Murphy for while the film captures the spirit of the book, it is with a price in lost characters and favorite scenes. New to the world of R. w/ S. myself, I found the film an intriguing character study and interesting exploration into the colorful arena of mental health—does the environment cause one's mental health to deteriorate or does the deteriorating mental health or is it the other way around?
"…off-beat comedy with dramatic moments. The ending leaves a bit to be desired…a good but not great film."
Annette Bening and Alec Baldwin as Deirdre and Norman Burroughs
(Click Still Photo to Purchase)
Young Augusten Burroughs pseudo-parented by Norman, a cold, detached, alcoholic father (Alec Baldwin) and Deirdre, an overly possessive, under-appreciated, unacknowledged poet laureate mother (Annette Bening) develops an early fascination with things that are shiny.
Joseph Cross as Augusten Burroughs
(Click Still Photo to Purchase)
By the time he is a neo-teenager and portrayed by Joseph Cross, the scathing relationship between his parents prompts the beginning of a long relationship with an off-beat psychiatrist and marriage counselor name Finch (Brian Cox). As their haranguing of each other worsens, it becomes clear to Deirdre that the best place for Augusten to grow up is with Dr. Finch's family. A world unto its own, the home of the Finches is one gigantic mess. Inhabited by the doctor's wife Agnes (Jill Clayburgh) and two daughters: Hope (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Natalie (Evan Rachel Wood), the house is literally filled to the brim with junk, trash, and dirty dishes. The Christmas tree has been up for two years. Agnes believes that dog kibble is a fine tv-time snack. The place is not an intriguing workshop of dreams, it is complete chaos due to a lack of attention. The mental wellness of every member of the Finch family is certainly open for question, and poor fastidious, coming of age and discovering he is gay, Augusten, cannot stand the place. During the course of a few months of Dr. Finch treating Deirdre for her mental episodes and working to help her reach her psychological inner voice so that her poetry may emerge with greater rage and authenticity, Augusten does his best to find his way in this wacky home.
(Click Still Photo to Purchase)
He does form deeper familial relationships with Agnes and Natalie which help him cope with this life and his old. Eventually, his mother signs adoption papers permanently assigning him to the Finches. It is a callous and odd moment when it happens, and this is after in an attempt to help him find his way, Natalie hooks him up with a patient and similar Finch adoptee, a gay man of 35 who is a struggling photographer named Neil Bookman (Joseph Fiennes). The two develop a sexual relationship, while Augusten is still in Junior High. No one, including his mother, seems to think this is a bit of a problem. From the point of adoption, to the end of the film, the film loses complete focus and the story spirals out of control. Filled with alternating surreal scenes of Deidre experiencing mental collapse, Augusten trying to figure out what to do with his life while avoiding school at all costs, Neil threatening Dr. Finch's life, Agnes wishing to get her husband back, the IRS threatening to take the Finches's house for back taxes, Hope pretending to cook up her dead cat as stew, Dr. Finch encouraging Augusten to fake a suicide attempt to get out of going to school, and on and on. Other than showing how crazy Augusten's life was and how he managed to survive it, there's not much point to the story. The story is as funny as it is tragic, causing one to wonder if it is actually ok to derive humor from the misery of others.
Brian Cox and Jill Clayburgh as Dr. and Mrs. Finch
(Click Still Photo to Purchase)
While the story may go no where fast, the actors have a grand time with these zany characters. Annette Bening's portrayal is one of her finest since American Beauty. Brian Cox was perfect as Dr. Finch. Jill Clayburgh and her make-up artists created an Agnes with beauty on the inside. And both Jack Kaeding as the 6-year old Augusten and Joseph Cross as the teenage Augusten created a very special, loveable, protagonist for the film. In fact, he is so endearing, that you want to watch the film with hope that he will finally get the family of his dreams and the life he deserves. Something seemed a little off in Joseph Fiennes's portrayal of Neil, though I cannot seem to put my finger on exactly what. Partly, it's so difficult to imagine an attraction between these two and partly it's difficult to comprehend why anyone looking after Augusten would think him having an intimate relationship with a 35-year old on-going patient of Dr. Finch was a good idea. In any case, there is no question that the cast has created a memorable group of characters, though they border on being labeled the new Adams Family.
Running with Scissors is a good, off-beat comedy with dramatic moments. It breaks some ground on mental health issues as poor Augusten must watch his mother deteriorate. The last third or so of the film needed more organization and follow-through. The ending leaves a bit to be desired in the way of resolution for Augusten leaving a good but not great film.
Running with Scissors is a good, off-beat comedy with dramatic moments. It breaks some ground on mental health issues as poor Augusten must watch his mother deteriorate. The last third or so of the film needed more organization and follow-through. The ending leaves a bit to be desired in the way of resolution for Augusten leaving a good but not great film.
Back to Top | W.I.P. Scale™ | Most Recently Reviewed Films | Films of 2005 | Films of 2006
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring Running with Scissors (2006)
Cast Members
Annette Bening
• Brian Cox• Joseph FiennesEvan Rachel Wood
• Alec Baldwin • Joseph CrossJill Clayburgh
• Gwyneth Paltrow• Patrick WilsonKristin Chenoweth
Director
Ryan Murphy
Author of Running with Scissors
Augusten Burroughs
| Book | CD Soundtrack | DVD |
| VHS | Related Book | Related Book |
Running with Scissors (2006) Review-lite [150-word cap]
Fans of the book, Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs be prepared prior to seeing the film adaptation by screen writer and director Ryan Murphy for while the film captures the spirit of the book, it is with a price in lost characters and favorite scenes. The film is an intriguing character study and interesting exploration into the colorful arena of mental health—does the environment cause one's mental health to deteriorate or does the deteriorating mental health or is it the other way around? Alec Baldwin and Annette Bening take on the roles of Augusten Burroughs's (Joseph Cross) haranguing parents. This is a story and a film where the characters out-shine the story leaving a good, off-beat comedy with dramatic moments. The last third or so of the film needed more organization and follow-through. The ending leaves a bit to be desired in the way of resolution for Augusten.
No comments:
Post a Comment