Human Nature (Widescreen)

 

 

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Men raised as apes. Mannered mice. Women with bad body hair days. Don't expect anything halfway normal in the ironically-titled "Human Nature," the first collaboration between the brilliant Michel Gondry and even more brilliant Charlie Kaufman. Forget style above substance -- this is a thinking man's comedy, quirky and utterly hilarious.

It opens with a dead man, a convicted woman, and a genteel simian-man all speaking of their pasts: Lila (Patricia Arquette) became horribly hirsute when she was a teen -- by twenty, she was "Queen Kong" in a sideshow. Miserable, she retreated to the woods and became a reknowned nature writer. During electrolysis treatment some years later, a nurse offers to set her up with a desperate guy: Nathan Bronfman (Tim Robbins), a manners-obsessed scientist who is teaching them to white mice.

One day in the woods, Lila and Nathan come across a feral young man they call Puff (Rhys Ifans) -- as explained early on, Puff's father thought he was an ape, and raised his son accordingly. Now Puff is being taught the ways of humanity, as Lila tries to preserve the more primitive things about human beings -- and a warped love triangle results.

Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman recently collaborated on the wonderful, poignant "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," so it's not surprising that their first joint film was also excellent. It's the sort of film that can't be easily pegged as one thing or another -- part comedy, part satire, part blinking question mark. Is it human nature to be naked and free, to be civilized and uptight, or does it lie somewhere in the middle? Are we just animals in clothes, or do humans have something more... or less? "Human Nature" doesn't answer all these questions, but it does make you think about them.

Michel Gondry's quirky style -- he directed some of Bjork's best music videos -- suits this equally quirky movie. He keeps the movie jumping quickly from scene to scene, moving fast enough that you never get bored. And he seems like a kind of directorial minimalist (the afterlife is a white room with a white table and white mist). At other times, he takes slapstick to new heights, lightening up the cerebral tone of the comedy.

The surreal flashbacks and oddball comedy (like Ifans wearing a shock collar) give "Human Nature" cinematic style. But the characters are what really fill up the screen -- Arquette does an excellent job as the tormented Lila, particularly during a beautiful musical number in the woods. Rhys Ifans is even better, whether it's as an uncivilized ape-man, or as an eloquent, rather dapper ape-man.

Dorky scientists, civilized simians and hairy women sound like an idiotic basis for a movie, but Kaufman and Gondry transform it into a smart, strange comedy. Definitely not to be missed.

Everyone should see this film. It's human/social commentary. Kaufmann has such a wonderful, deep, intelligent sense of humor. Very entertaining. Interesting from beginning to end. And I'm always amazed at how perfect the casting is for Kaufman's movies.

This is, as usual, an amazing script by Kaufman. I wouldn't rank it as high as Eternal Sunshine...but I would rank it above Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

If you want to see a film that operates as a piece of art, this film is for you. Kaufman's quirky characters are wonderful & wonderfully played by this great cast.

If you don't want to think while watching a film, I recommend running away & watching some silly action film or teen comedy.

And be prepared for hairy naked women!

Great Film!

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4.0 out of 5 stars A Kaufmanesque Classic
A unique film in every sense of the word. If you enjoy Kaufman's other films, you should definitely check this out. Read more

Published on Mar 21 2004 by Ben Nedivi

5.0 out of 5 stars Strange but fantastic
This was a completely unheard of movie from what I know, though it starred Tim Robbins, Patricia Arquette and Rhys Ifans (of "Notting Hill" and "The... Read more

Published on Feb 10 2004 by Adam P Boots

1.0 out of 5 stars Complete garbage...
This movie is unbelievably awful. Avoid at all costs.

Even Herzog's similarly-themed Kasper Houser is better than this, and that's not saying much. At all. Read more

Published on Feb 6 2004 by Snacky Cakes

1.0 out of 5 stars This is a snoozer, I recommend ICEMAN (1984) instead.
Boring! Boring! Boring! So boring I almost feel asleep at 6:30pm. Instead of this snoozer, I highly recommend ICEMAN (1984). Read more

Published on Mar 28 2003 by James McDonald

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
This was an entertaing film, with some interesting themes. Definitely original, and quirky. I liked it. not as good as Being John..don't know about Adaptation yet.

Published on Feb 17 2003 by dylanwb123

4.0 out of 5 stars djlibra?? Spell check?
Question the first review based on how poorly it is written. This seems like a poor person in which to take advise. Read more

Published on Jan 3 2003

1.0 out of 5 stars The Worst Movie
If there was a 0 star for a reating this movie would get it would get it. This movie is stupider than Kung Pow. This stupid movie isn't worth your time. Read more

Published on Dec 25 2002 by djlibra2002

4.0 out of 5 stars Planet of Patricia Arquette Naked
I rented this movie recently betting that the many talented individuals involved would deliver an unusual and thought provoking movie. I was not disappointed. Read more

Published on Dec 21 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Must See!
While Hollywood continues to pump out uninteresting, action packed, technologically expensive fodder.... Read more

Published on Dec 12 2002 by Scott Perez

5.0 out of 5 stars genius movie
this great movie show in a very ironic way the story about us "human beings".
the acters are great and as the movie start you will not feel bored. Read more

Published on Nov 16 2002 by shay manor

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