Happiness

 

 

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You will not like it. There is nothing to like about this film. It deals with topics that are indescribable without having this review purged. The film comes with warnings all over the cover. People got up and left the cinema. People tried to boycott it and wanted to see it banned. It is an assault on morals. It is the darkest of dramas. It is only funny because a smile is all you can do to deal with what you are witnessing. It is nauseating. It is completely taboo. You do not want to tell people you saw this. You do not want to watch it with your girlfriend. You do not want to recommend it. You would feel excruciatingly embarrassed to watch this with your parents. You can not comprehend why anyone would want to make it. You feel that the actors have gone too far. You never want to see anything like it again. However, inside, deep down, you know that what you have seen is nothing short of the horrific truth about some people. You know that your parents could very well be like this. You know that your girlfriend or boyfriend may have some secrets like this. You know that your friends could well be involved in some of the topics conveyed in this film. You know all too well that the media reports on it 24/7. You know that PEOPLE DO THESE THINGS! But it is taboo, taboo and it is not you! Never you! How could you ever do such a thing or even think such things.... But there in the darkness of your soul is something that is not a hundred miles away from the topics that this darkest of film expounds on. The human condition and its western syndrome are all too capable of what is on display here.

The fact remains that millions of people have experienced first-hand much of themes that this film covers. It is not something that does not happen. It does and they do. The media talk about non-stop. Any tabloid magazine is full of it. The telephone services have to deal with it - so do the police and social services. People even make money out of these things. It is terrible, awful, disgusting - but real.

What most people fail to realize is that this film is all about the mentally ill who have very deep-seeded psychological problems that they can not cope with, without some help. These people can be found in any walk of life. As on display in "Happiness" those who suffer from these diseases of the mind are in fact everyday Joe-soaps and some with important jobs or are even authority figures. It is this angle that makes it all the more real and upsetting. It is this upper-class take on the whole problem that shows that no matter who you are, you too can suffer from these problems. Too long has this material been only played out in the hands of the seedy "villains" or underground freaks. Too long has cinema devoted these themes to prisoners and baddies and the elements of society who most of us never engage in. Here we see our friends, family, employers, employees, doctors and teachers all doing what they should not be doing! This is why this film deserves the acclaim that it got. It did the right thing. It did it the right way. It did it to balance out this topic that has always been dealt with unjustly.

Honesty deserves praise and praise is what this film deserves. Say "thank you" to Todd Solondz for "keeping it real".

This film is indeed marvelous. Todd Solondz combines really absurd situations and embarrassing moments -some of which most of us do encounter in daily life and some we hopefully won't- with serious issues. Thus, this film provides not only a very high degree of entertainment -Solondz' sense for irony is exceptional-, it gives you a critical view on society without judging or condemning or forcing you to think one way or the other. I am genuinely impressed by Happiness and its cast full of great actors.

It is littered with an assortment of characters that seem to have sexual fetishes and perversions of some sort. Solondz explores some dark subjects and you would think this would make the film harsh and difficult to watch, but it holds your attention throughout mainly because of the excellent performances on show, especially from Dylan Baker as a respected doctor who holds a terrible secret, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as an obscene phone-caller. He is so incredibly versatile - he successfully made my skin crawl here. Before I even go further the very first scene is probably the best work John Lovitz has ever done. This movie looks dead on at some of the most awkward and horrific things in American culture, but never ever ever tells you or suggests to you what you should think or feel, the way most films do. John's Speech will blow you away. Jane Adams, who has a calamitous love life and plays the social reject of three dysfunctional sisters, does a wonderful job in role her facial expressions will get you going. My personal favorite was Cynthia Stevenson as one of those typical housewives with 2.5 kids and a carpool. Her character was so obnoxious, superficial and condescending - she clearly did a wonderful job. I was also a huge fan of Camryn Manheim (what a twist!), Lara Flynn Boyle (she gives new meaning to the role of the phony snob), Elizabeth Ashley, and Molly Shannon's cameo which was HYSTERICAL. And the child actors...simply brilliant and such difficult material. The film's most powerful and emotional scene is towards the end when Baker's character has a trying conversation with his son.

I think it is fair to say that anyone watching this film can identify with at LEAST one of the so-called 'sicknesses' of the characters, therefore, it is the look in to the dark recesses of their own minds that makes them so uncomfortable. The world is a messed up place, and we all contribute to that in our own fashion, some more than others, but nevertheless, we all do, because our lives all clash with one another at some point. The best we can do is to face it and deal with it, not act as though we are separate from it! I suppose what I am trying to say is that this work is an important, unflinching look at the REAL reality in this world and, like it or not, it does affect you in one way or another, so you might as well face up to it by identifying with this film!

I cannot start to explain how much this movie is amazing, and Amazon delivered it in record time in very very good condition, worth the money, all the way!

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2.0 out of 5 stars Where do I go with this movie?
After watching Happiness, part of me wants to applaud the creators for daring to illustrate unexplored reaches of human lust, self-loathing and lonliness. Read more

Published on Mar 2 2005 by Travis

1.0 out of 5 stars This film is NOT honest.
"If you can't handle the realism, it's your problem; this movie isn't afraid to be honest; blah blah blah. Read more

Published on Jun 11 2004 by John

1.0 out of 5 stars Tasteless, valueless, shock-fare garbage.
This movie has nothing to offer but shock, and I mean nothing. The acting is decent, but other than that there is no point to this film other than to expose the viewer to the... Read more

Published on Mar 26 2004 by The Poe Toaster

1.0 out of 5 stars Dont look for any depth, its not there.
Yes, happiness is an offensive, disturbing film-thats not why I dislike it, it's pretty much impossible to offend me. Read more

Published on Mar 18 2004 by Brock Smith

1.0 out of 5 stars Excruciatingly boring
The people in this movie are creepy, all right, but unfortunately there's little if anything interesting about any of them. Read more

Published on Mar 5 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars The Cinema of Revenge
"Happiness" is like an American Peter Greenaway film without stunning visual images, witty dialogue, intellectual game-playing indugences. Read more

Published on Feb 24 2004 by C. Gardner

5.0 out of 5 stars Happiness, where are you?
For long I have been hearing about this film. Mostly from independent study. One day, I typed in the title of the film into Yahoo and it came up with the script which I completely... Read more

Published on Feb 5 2004 by Trevor Bather

2.0 out of 5 stars Well...
...a good story, decent acting, some harsh subject matters, but none that I haven't seen before (I'm from Europe, we're more used to be shown the ugly and nasty aspects of life in... Read more

Published on Jan 18 2004 by Danjal Jannik Nyberg

5.0 out of 5 stars the greatest movie no one should see
I highly recommend this movie. Its a good old family fun filled flick. The wife and kids and I sat around the old tube with a big bowl of popcorn and a laughed ourselfs silly! Read more

Published on Jan 9 2004 by Dr. Gonzo

5.0 out of 5 stars This Flick is Bent.
...and I loved every minute of it.

=^..^=

Published on Jan 7 2004 by Sandi Strehlau

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