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Ghost World (2001)
Released By: MGM Pictures, Inc.   Rating: R   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: MGM Pictures, Inc.
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Steve Buscemi, Brad Renfro, Daniel Graves
Published ID: 421270
UPC: 027616867650,
Plot: Filmmaker Terry Zwigoff, who enjoyed breakthrough success with his 1994 documentary Crumb, shifts gears as he examines the lives of two young women on the verge of leaving their adolescence behind in his first dramatic feature. Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) are two close friends who've just graduated from high school, and are trying to decide what to do with their lives. Enid is a dark-haired arch cynic who is tired of living at home with her ineffectual dad (Bob Balaban) and his annoyingly perky girlfriend Maxine (Teri Garr), while Rebecca is prettier and a bit cheerier, but no more certain about her future. While the two girls have vague plans of getting an apartment together, they seem content to while away their summer hanging out and indulging in their shared infatuation with Josh (Brad Renfro), a friend from school who works at a convenience store and doesn't seem to be especially attracted to either of them. Enid discovers that in order to get her diploma, she'll have to take an additional class over the summer, where she winds up studying art with Roberta (Illeana Douglas), who is determined to encourage Enid's creative impulses, whether Enid likes it or not. More significantly, Enid meets Seymour (Steve Buscemi), a geeky record collector more than twice her age, and while they would seem to have little in common (and Rebecca thinks he's a creep), Enid discovers a kindred spirit in fellow misfit Seymour, who shares her disgust with the world around them, and a relationship begins to develop between the two. Ghost World is based on the award-winning graphic novel by comic artist Daniel Clowes, who also wrote the film's screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
feast for the eyes
Added 10/24/2009

chagelling story, dark sense of humor, next door characters and one of the greatest visual impact I've had. Np wonder why PRADA inspired one of its latest collections on the character played by Thora Birch.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Gen X: The Movie
Added 10/7/2009

I loved this flick. It's "Gen X: The Movie".

"So, Todd, what are you going to be when you grow up?"

"Well, I'm majoring in Business Administration, and thinking of minoring in Communications, so ..."

"See, that's exactly the type of thing we're trying to avoid."


This nails the Gen X, Douglas Coupland, Seattle, Nirvana, early - mid '90s mood perfectly: Indecision; disdain of corporate fakeness and conformity; nagging fear that you've somehow "missed the boat" in life; awareness that America is faltering, but yet nothing bad has really happened.

Yes, Scarlett Johansson went on to be a star, but Thora Birch steals the show.

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Meaningful and Moving observation of Alienation and Loneliness
Added 9/29/2009

In some ways, the film "Ghost World(2001)" is brilliant. Few films have captured on such a realistic and intimate level, the plight of so many people both lost and alone. It's a portrait of modern society that really should be discussed alot more than it is.

The plot follows two High School pals(Thora Birch and Scarlet Johansson) and there travels into adult life and responsibility. The film begins very humorously with the sardonic duo's comments on the plastic people that occupy everyday society, both biting and honest. However, there maturity,and ultimately, purpose is challenged, when one of there pranks goes awry on a lonely record collector played by Steve Buscemi. After this encounter, the duo become more seperate. Johansson begins to mellow out and finds a job and responsibility, while Birch attempts to find her place in the world as everything chnages around her.

The acting in "Ghost World" is among the best presented this decade. Birch and Johansson are both excellent and it was not surprising to see them gain careers from this picture. They are both funny and exceptionally beautiful young women which sets a basis for one of the film's thesis', particularly in Birch's case. Birch is an exceptionally pretty and very well formed young woman who can't seem to find friends or a date. Men barely notice her and it's based more around her choice of clothing and intellectual side than anything. Birch's subtle signs of loneliness are very real and reflect many young people that i've known. Her seemingly sardonic asides and attitude merely masking her yearning for acceptance and love that she only encounters seldomly. The eventual relationship she has with Buscemi's character is very heartfelt and moving throughout and forms one of the anchors to the picture.

Johansson's character is representive of that character that many of us have to become in order to survive in society. While intelligent and looking down ona grea number of society, she ultimately is forced to conform to survive and her needs and interests change as a result. She becomes largely absent from the second half of the picture but her friendship with Birch is important and moving nonetheless. The subtle farewell scene they have at the conclusion is so quietly painful.

Buscemi deserved an Oscar for this, his best role. An almost clueless loner who collects records and old paraphenalia, admitting that they act as a replacement for the lack of people within his life. He is a realistic and sympathetic character and always interesting throughout. The actor has made a career out of playing eccentrics and weirdos and while some may classify his character as a "weirdo", he's really one of the most normal and human characters i've seen depicted in cinema in quite some time.

This is an exceptionally well directed film and thankfully never falls to the excessive fast-paced editing and new age nonsense that distracts from so many modern productions. It's well paced and always is the film entertaining and enthralling.
It's unfortunate that the ending is so ambiguous. While, it is understandable what the author's intentions may have been, that of having Birch either drift away from life and dissapear and/or be swallowed up in the shallow recesses of mature monotony, this does not make a fully suitable ending. After two hours with these characters, the final seven minutes of the film are somewhat dissapointing, even if they can be forgiveable.

Despite this ending though, "Ghost World" still ranks as one of the most intelligent and best acted films of this decade and is highly reccomended for fans of Dark Comedy and Existentionalist Cinema.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
good
Added 8/25/2009

i received my order fast and in good shape. i would do business with them again
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Wait, this isn't another pointless teen movie!
Added 3/29/2009

Well I had heard that this was a good movie. I saw it for 4.99 and decided to get it. During the first 10 minutes I was almost sure I wouldn't like it. It seemed like your average movie made now a days. After a while though I got drawn in to the story. It is about two girls who are best friends. It is the day of their high school graduation. They are a lot alike. They are also planning on moving into a place together. So everything is fine and good. That is until some things happen that make them realize that they are both different people. Some of the things are one of the girls can not keep a job. So she has no money to pay rent. Also, the same girl starts talking to this guy she meets. She sees him selling records and finds out he is a neat guy. Things happen with him and her while her friends has a job and looks for a place to live. There is a lot more to the movie. But I'm not one to give away the story. So, buy it. You can find it so inexpensive. I usually sell movies when I am finished watching them. This one though was so good, it has found a place in my collection.

Also, the soundtrack is really good. It has some older blues stuff. So those who pay attention to that sort of thing, or music lovers. Will enjoy it for that reason as well.

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
feast for the eyes
Added 10/24/2009

chagelling story, dark sense of humor, next door characters and one of the greatest visual impact I've had. Np wonder why PRADA inspired one of its latest collections on the character played by Thora Birch.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Gen X: The Movie
Added 10/7/2009

I loved this flick. It's "Gen X: The Movie".

"So, Todd, what are you going to be when you grow up?"

"Well, I'm majoring in Business Administration, and thinking of minoring in Communications, so ..."

"See, that's exactly the type of thing we're trying to avoid."


This nails the Gen X, Douglas Coupland, Seattle, Nirvana, early - mid '90s mood perfectly: Indecision; disdain of corporate fakeness and conformity; nagging fear that you've somehow "missed the boat" in life; awareness that America is faltering, but yet nothing bad has really happened.

Yes, Scarlett Johansson went on to be a star, but Thora Birch steals the show.

1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Meaningful and Moving observation of Alienation and Loneliness
Added 9/29/2009

In some ways, the film "Ghost World(2001)" is brilliant. Few films have captured on such a realistic and intimate level, the plight of so many people both lost and alone. It's a portrait of modern society that really should be discussed alot more than it is.

The plot follows two High School pals(Thora Birch and Scarlet Johansson) and there travels into adult life and responsibility. The film begins very humorously with the sardonic duo's comments on the plastic people that occupy everyday society, both biting and honest. However, there maturity,and ultimately, purpose is challenged, when one of there pranks goes awry on a lonely record collector played by Steve Buscemi. After this encounter, the duo become more seperate. Johansson begins to mellow out and finds a job and responsibility, while Birch attempts to find her place in the world as everything chnages around her.

The acting in "Ghost World" is among the best presented this decade. Birch and Johansson are both excellent and it was not surprising to see them gain careers from this picture. They are both funny and exceptionally beautiful young women which sets a basis for one of the film's thesis', particularly in Birch's case. Birch is an exceptionally pretty and very well formed young woman who can't seem to find friends or a date. Men barely notice her and it's based more around her choice of clothing and intellectual side than anything. Birch's subtle signs of loneliness are very real and reflect many young people that i've known. Her seemingly sardonic asides and attitude merely masking her yearning for acceptance and love that she only encounters seldomly. The eventual relationship she has with Buscemi's character is very heartfelt and moving throughout and forms one of the anchors to the picture.

Johansson's character is representive of that character that many of us have to become in order to survive in society. While intelligent and looking down ona grea number of society, she ultimately is forced to conform to survive and her needs and interests change as a result. She becomes largely absent from the second half of the picture but her friendship with Birch is important and moving nonetheless. The subtle farewell scene they have at the conclusion is so quietly painful.

Buscemi deserved an Oscar for this, his best role. An almost clueless loner who collects records and old paraphenalia, admitting that they act as a replacement for the lack of people within his life. He is a realistic and sympathetic character and always interesting throughout. The actor has made a career out of playing eccentrics and weirdos and while some may classify his character as a "weirdo", he's really one of the most normal and human characters i've seen depicted in cinema in quite some time.

This is an exceptionally well directed film and thankfully never falls to the excessive fast-paced editing and new age nonsense that distracts from so many modern productions. It's well paced and always is the film entertaining and enthralling.
It's unfortunate that the ending is so ambiguous. While, it is understandable what the author's intentions may have been, that of having Birch either drift away from life and dissapear and/or be swallowed up in the shallow recesses of mature monotony, this does not make a fully suitable ending. After two hours with these characters, the final seven minutes of the film are somewhat dissapointing, even if they can be forgiveable.

Despite this ending though, "Ghost World" still ranks as one of the most intelligent and best acted films of this decade and is highly reccomended for fans of Dark Comedy and Existentionalist Cinema.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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