Happiness
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Movie Reviews of Happiness
Movie Review: An incredible, albeit very dark film
Summary: 5 Stars
Happiness is, without a doubt, one of the most twisted, disturbing films I've ever seen. But it's also one of the best films I've ever seen. From the opening dinner scene to the closing dinner scene, Happiness doesn't fail to shock the viewer. There are scenes that will make you laugh, scenes that will make you cringe, and scenes that will make you depressed. In fact, my two favourite scenes of all time are in this movie. The first is the scene where Dylan Baker confesses to his son that he is a pedophile. This scene will simply break your heart. And the second scene which I love is when, near the end, Ben Gazzara puts salt on his food. I'm not gonna reveal why this is such a powerful scene. Watch the movie, and find out why. Happiness has been criticized by many people for being too disturbing, and for dealing with topics that shouldn't be dealt with (pedophilia, for instance). Well, the fact is, stuff like this does happen in the real world. And this is what makes Happiness such a great film: many of the characters have a dark secret, but on the surface, they seem like normal people. Simply put, Happiness is one of the top ten movies of the 90's, and one the every fan of cinema should see.Movie Review: A challenging masterwork of pure genius
Summary: 5 Stars
Happiness is not a film for everyone; no doubt there are countless people who will find the subject matter in this movie offensive, so much so that they refuse to watch it. To them, I say that the material is SUPPOSED to be offensive, and to dismiss this film on those grounds is to deny yourself of one of the greatest films ever committed to celluloid. Happiness tells the interweaving tales of miserable people in miserable lives, failing miserably in their attempts to live out their dreams of happiness. Some of the characters are shallow, others deluded, and still others inhuman sociopaths. But what is remarkable about Solondz's writing and direction is that even the most reprehensible characters are painted with warm tones of humanity. A compulsive pedophile is also a loving father. An aggressive obscene phone caller is just a frail man who wants to be loved, but doesn't know how to reach out to others. It is this discordant duality that drives this film, providing laughs in the face of misfortune, and sympathy when there should be disgust. The result is a disturbing and profoundly affecting film that stays in your memory for weeks to come. Happiness is truly a landmark film.Movie Review: One of the blackest comedies..
Summary: 5 Stars
I Love this movie. I'm a HUGE fan of Todd Solondz. He always has such a great take on serious subject matter, for instance pedophilia and murder and suicide like in this flick. The opening scene is sooo hilarious, thanks to Jon Lovitz's performance. He has such a great line when he's telling Joy she's horrible, "You're s***, I'm champagne." And the whole family dynamic and how it's thrown up in hte air and turned upside down. The stereotypical nuclear family with a pedophile as a father, drugging his family to have his way with his son's friend. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is tremendous, he's the epitamy of pathetic. A charachter so boring even his therapist zones out on his session thinking of what he needs from the market. Being so frightend to talk to the beautiful woman next door, but calls her obsessivly. It has such a great cast, even the kids in the film are good. I find that every Solondz flick has good child actors, who could forget Heather Matterazzo in Welcome to the Dollhouse. Jared Harris is also good in this movie, he's such a chameleon. I highly recommend this film, if you're into extremely black comedy and aren't offended easily. Then by all means check out this movie.Movie Review: The Blackest of Black Comedies
Summary: 5 Stars
There are few movies today that really dive into the evils of our society. Happiness does this better than any movie to date. This film is disturbing in its subject matter, but the fact that you might actually know people like the characters in the film is even more disturbing. Solondz is not only out to shock you, but to make the viewer realize that these subjects he portrays in the film are actually happening. There are pedofiles out there, maybe nextdoor to you, maybe in your family. Children are thinking about masturbation at a young age. Relationships are ending in divorce. Happiness shows how cold people can be in today's society. This film will make you wince in some scenes, as well as laugh your head off. Most of the humor in my opinion comes from the music score. The film has all this chaos going on, and the music comes in as if everything is peachy, but isn't that how society is? People put on a mask from reality to hide their demons from the general public. This film is great in every aspect: acting, directing, and especially writing. Go see this film, expand your horizons and open your mind.Movie Review: Disturbingly funny
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is certainly not for the weak hearted or weak minded. I tried to rent this after a few students suggested "You'd Like it" and had no luck finding it anywhere, BlockBuster carries it in Canada but not the US. That's a good sign that I won't have to sit through some Sleepless in seatle, jerry Maguire, Titanic sort of torture. Well I was finally able to find small DVD rental store that had it. It is as others have said, "F'd up", but that doesn't mean its bad. It contains one of the best cinematic lines I've ever heard in a movie, a short conversation at the end of the movie between the father and son, that I can't say here because Amazon would censor me. The whole series of private conversations between father and son are amazing, amazingly disturbing and/or funny depending on your view.This movie isn't for people who take titles literally, If you thought Bambi was a disturbing movie, DONT RENT/BUY this. If you like quality alternative flicks and can stomach the topic of Pedophilia(there is nothing graphic in the movie) give this movie a chance. The NC-17 rating is a joke.