"Hurlyburly"
Reviewed by Heather Picker
Directed by Anthony Drazan. Written by David Rabe. Starring Sean Penn and Kevin Spacey, with Chazz Palminteri and Robin Wright Penn. 1998, 123 min., Rated R.
The night before I watched "Hurlyburly," I watched Neil LaBute's "Your Friends & Neighbors." Both films share the common theme of disparity in the lives of people who seemingly have it all going for them. "Hurlyburly," directed by Anthony Drazan is about the self-absorption of a group of friends and acquaintances. Unlike the characters in "Your Friends & Neighbors," the folks here hurt themselves and each other through drug use and words instead of sex.
Eddie (Sean Penn) is a casting director who lives in a Hollywood Hills mansion with business partner Mickey (Kevin Spacey). A brief but concise introduction into Eddie's world opens the film. Introduced as occurring "A Little While Ago" (only to skip ahead a short while later), Eddie snorts cocaine and nervously paces the room, and says "Heart's stopped. I know how you feel," as a picture of open heart surgery flashes across the television screen. At this time nothing more about the character and how he will behave throughout the rest of the movie has to be explained or foreshadowed; there is an almost instantaneous identification with the inner pain this man is in, which so obviously contorts him, that just makes you feel like nothing will really change, at least during the course of the next couple of hours we'll spend with him, because he needs this distress in order to function the only way he knows how.
To say that there is plot, and then discuss it is not something that would be enjoyable to read because the movie is basically one hundred percent dialogue and is largely repetitive. Adapted by David Rabe from his own play, it is easy to imagine the script as one rather length soliloquy, as characters, mostly Eddie, deliver rambling, occasionally incoherent speeches at such a rate that there is little time for pause or action of any sort. Some viewers will be turned off by this, but these are characters who feel like they are drowning in themselves figuratively as they literally drown themselves in drugs. I didn't mind that a lot of the same things were mentioned in different ways by the characters, whose few tangible bonds are their shared feelings of suffocating in their own thoughts, their own selfishness and constant distraction. Everything revolves around them, and they don't know whether or not it is okay to feel like that, even though they do. It is what makes them human, and it is what made it a sometimes visceral viewing experience for myself.
The elements of the story that aren't exactly cohesive but band together characters and lead into the ending are as follows: Eddie is interested in Darlene (Robin Wright Penn), who is also in show business, but Mickey becomes involved with her first. Friend Artie (Garry Shandling) shows up at Eddie and Mickey's place with Donna (Anna Paquin), a teen runaway (?) who was living in the elevator at his building. He "gives" her to them as a CARE package, and Mickey finds her more interesting a prospect than Darlene, so tries to pull the noble friend routine by encouraging Eddie and Darlene to give a go at a relationship. Phil (Chazz Palminteri), Eddie's struggling actor friend and small-time thug, is having marital woes and spends much of his free time getting high, popping pills, and intimidating Donna at the Hills bachelor pad.
Along for the ride is Bonnie (Meg Ryan), infamous in Eddie and Mickey's circle for her promiscuity, who is tossed out of a moving car by Phil, after Eddie tried to set the two of them up towards the end of a night of mucho chemical (plural and of various natures) intake. Bonnie is the most out-of-place character, though Ryan makes a nice impression during her brief on-camera stint. The only reason necessitating even the mentioning of her character is a story that the sober but soon not to be Eddie tells about Bonnie engaging in what can definitely be considered bad-parenting behavior around her young daughter, at the suggestion of Eddie and Mickey, who doesn't show any emotion as Eddie disgustedly keeps on with the story.
"Hurlyburly" boasts perhaps the best ensemble acting of 1998. Penn is astounding, and Spacey is perfect, and appears to revel in the sarcastic, hypocritical lines Mickey gets to slyly deliver. Robin Wright Penn, Shandling, and Paquin don't have too much to do, but are solid in their roles, and Palminteri is also great. Drazan has a visual style that is mostly uncluttered, which works well because the dialogue is the main attraction. Rabe has crafted a script that will be irritating and stilted, just adequate, or revelatory depending on the viewer. Some of the plot is strained, and about an hour and a half into the film I knew what the "big event" would be that would give some of the characters a chance for redemption, and I also knew how they'd use that chance. Predictable, but interesting to watch unfold.
DVD Details: New Line unfortunately didn't release the DVD as a part of their Platinum Series, but it is nonetheless an affordably priced ($24.99, available online for $14.99) disc with an attractively sparse look and some good supplemental material. Shown widescreen (the film's aspect ratio is 1.85:1) and anamorphically enhanced, the picture is mostly solid but at times artifacts are noticeable. Anything less than absolute visual brilliance is considered substandard for a New Line DVD release, but the picture quality is acceptable and quite good. The sound is excellent. Stereo surround and DD 5.1, in a movie that is entirely composed of dialogue, it more than suffices and everything sounds crisp and clear.
The main menu is simple and nice looking, with Play Movie, Special Features, Scene Selections, and Language Selections options. If you click on the New Line logo you'll see disc production credits. The theatrical trailer is slightly grainy at times, gives the definition of the film's title, "n. 1. Tumultuous commotion; uproar." Cast and crew filmographies and biographies are included, as are two full-length audio commentaries. The first is with director Drazan; he rhapsodizes on directing the adaptation, and David Rabe on the writing process. The second track is of Penn, Rabe, and author/social commentator Janet Brown discussing the themes in the play and movie, and selective music cues and insight from composer David Baerwald. It isn't an "As Good As It Gets" or "Bound" type of together-in-a-room discussion, rather isolated comments with some stretches of just the movie in between. Overall, the second commentary track is interesting and informative.
Notes: Rated R for constant drug use, pervasive language, and some sexual material. I read a review saying this film isn't appropriate (in that reviewer's opinion) for anyone under college age, but as a high school student I can say that most mature teenagers can 'handle' seeing this movie.
The Verdict: "Hurlyburly" isn't for everyone. It's story is hidden under layer upon layer of dialogue, but it's lasting message and the excellent acting are it's strongest suits and fans of dark, offbeat, edgy dramas with a healthy dose of social commentary are most likely to appreciate it. And the DVD is another New Line home-run. mailto: Ahber16@aol.com Review courtesy of http://www.thatmoviesite.8m.com
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