Did you just love WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE? I did. I laughed hysterically and died from the sick a twisted nature of it all. So how on earth could I not be excited over Todd Solondz's HAPPINESS. Well, it screened up in Toronto and now the rest of us have to wait a few months. Joy. But hey it sounds great!!!
Wow.
This 23rd annual Toronto International Film Festival has so far been the best of the four I have attended. I'll try to give you a fuller report this time, but I'm dead-tired. I've seen 14 movies in 4 days!!! (Thank God for that press pass!)
I'm writing now to tell you about what I'll probably call the best movie of the year come December, Todd Solondz's "Happiness". The film has been described by Premiere as a hate letter to suburbia. This movie is more than that; it's the most honest depiction of the human condition I've seen on film in quite some time, by turns funny, disturbing, and cathartic. The movie was such a hit with critics that (unofficially) an extra press screening has been added.
The film is basically an Altman-esque collection of interconnected stories: all of these depraved or pathetic characters seem to share the same destiny--a discovery that happiness is rooted in something wholly separate from the general definition of the word. Solondz's characters are at their smiliest when an opportunity to act on the impulses of their ids and libidos presents itself.
I can't say enough good things about this picture, though I can't imagine it financially surviving any sort of wide release. Universal-owned October Films dumped it, probably due to two (necessary) scenes containing ejaculation. Good Machine is going to distribute the film; it is no wonder "Happiness" producer James Schamus was behind last year's equally sharp take on suburban life, "The Ice Storm".
Of "Happiness"'s stellar cast, Dylan Baker's performance deserves a special mention. As a psychiatrist with pedophilic tendencies, every one of his scenes is heartbreaking yet sickening. (Aside: Jon Lovitz's and Marla Maples' cameos were greeted with non-stop (intentional) laughter at the screening.) Only Lara Flynn Boyle's turn as a snotty poet rang untrue--like Neve Campbell in "Hair Shirt" (which Campbell also produced), Boyle comes off a bit like a young girl playing dress-up.
Lastly, I'll briefly mention that I was disappointed in "Permanent Midnight". Ben Stiller is a fine actor, but his character is such a witless, disreputable lout I didn't buy the unconditional love that was bestowed upon him by Elizabeth Hurley. I know a lot of people who dug this movie, but I've seen and read one too many yuppie-gone-druggie movies to give a shit about Jerry Stahl, a man who flushed his barely thriving career down the proverbial toilet. (Stahl used to work on "Alf"--an alien called Mr. Chompers in "Permanent Midnight". Is it any wonder that abomination was written by a trainspotter?)
Gonna pass out.
Arrivadercci,
Kilgore Trout
