Hurlyburly (1998)

[UncriticallyAcclaimed]

"We are all just background in each others lives; cardboard cutouts." This movie not only gets caught up in the semantics, it evolves a symbiotic relationship with them. You are taken on a drug filled journey through the minds of some perfectly cast and exceptionally acted hedonists in this dark dramedy. Eddie, a man trying to find love in his detail absorbing life. Mickey, whom is carefree and lives in the moment. And Phil, who is looking for advice and insight into his own life. This movie is definitely worth a re-watch.

VERDICT: ADD IT TO YOU COLLECTION/QUEUE!

[Deadite]

It was pretty interesting, I thought. Reminded me of David Mamet's style, the way language itself is central to the film, not as exposition but constantly influencing people and their behavior; shows how people delude themselves and how ugly the results can be. Spacey's character was the only one who seemed immune to the word games/mind games. My sense of the film's ultimate message was it was a cautionary tale about confusing language with truth per se; language is symbolic and can merely approximate truth, but itself is a neutral carrier and capable of self-contradictions. Sometimes people lose sight of that, like Penn's character.

[UncriticallyAcclaimed]

I'm curious if you recently watched it before writing that or if that was all from memory?

[Deadite]

From memory. I haven't watched it since it released.