Friday, October 27, 2006
In the likes of The Squid and the Whale and The Royal Tenenbaums, Running with Scissors parades an overly dysfunctional family with a character trying to make terms with the situation. It really is like The Royal Tenenbaums on heroine. It is witty and very funny at times, yet the satirical mood is not really carried out throughout the film, like the Tenebaums. The film is basted on the memoirs of Augusten Burroughs, (who is still living). It follows Augusten, played by Joseph Cross, as he grows up with a disillusioned mother (Annette Benning) and a distant alcoholic father (Alec Baldwin). If that was not already enough for this kid, Deirdre, his mother, starts to see a therapist (Brian Cox). Dr. Finch just hands out drugs, to start manipulating Deirdre into a basket case of “spiritually awakened” and an addicted drone. The father is forced out by the lies of Dr. Finch and Augusten is adopted by the Doctor’s very, very messed up family. Augusten then has to come to terms with his new life and what his mother has done. Confused and searching for love and existence he has to start making decisions on his own, surrounded by what can only be described as a mental hospital. All this is happening over his early adolescents.
This film would probably not have been made had Augusten not been gay. The main point of the film was on the relationship to his mother, and how a self-absorbed disillusioned woman lost her chance to be a loving caregiver to her only son. When Deirdre realizes this, the lose is devastating. Had they stayed more on this side of the story I would have enjoyed the film more. The actors do an absolutely fantastic job with the emotions that they portrait. I have to specifically mention Annette Benning who makes you believe her craziness is real. I really have mixed reactions from this film. I don’t hate it, yet I really don’t like it. I can’t recommend this film, nor denounce it. This is one that you will have to come to terms with on your own and see it or not.
Definitely don’t pay the theatre prices to see this.
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