Š-DR-HURLY BURLY (Hollywood Sunrise) -1998 de Anthony Drazan p13

24/10/2013 13:43 par tellurikwaves

Brilliant, but be warned, you must have a good command of English to understand what they are talking about...
(Une bonne traduction en français=Tchoolos)
Author: ZenShark from Pakistan
9 January 2007

HurlyBurly is one of those movies for me that i can watch over and over again, and each time see something different, each time connect to it in a different way. The movie captures one man's struggle for meaning and significance in his with a desperation that has rarely been caught on film before. The movie deals in archetypes, with nearly all the characters neatly sitting into one archetype or another. After watching the movie one cant help wonder which of the people he knows is like which of the characters in the movie.

The direction and cinematography are used to serve the characters, and thats what the movie is about, the characters. Nothing much happens in the movie, other than people meeting, and people talking. I always find brutally honest characters interesting to watch, and this entire movie might just be about that. The cast, and the acting is excellent.

Many people are bored by the movie because of its wordiness, and many people disparage it as a drug movie. Although the film is wordy, it is not a drug movie. I would say it is a philosophical movie if anything else. The movie forces you to be introspective, and the movie even acts like somewhat of a Rorschach test on the viewers. Some scenes, like the one where Eddie and Mickey describe the road trip, can be seen in different ways. I like to think that the way people understand this movie has a lot to do with the kind of people they are.

Do watch this movie, but remember that the movie is demanding. The characters talk fast, and talk a lot. The ideas expressed are complicated, and need to be thought about to be properly understood. In fact, watch this movie twice.

Š-DR-HURLY BURLY (Hollywood Sunrise) -1998 de Anthony Drazan p12

24/10/2013 13:24 par tellurikwaves

solid direction-terrific ensemble cast

Author: ween-3
7 August 1999

You liked "Glengarry Glen Ross"? (Nan pas du tout aîmé)You're gonna love THIS one. Kevin Spacey doing his patented "snide" riffs. Anna Paquin growing up and showing some range. Garry Shandling? Who knew? Meg Ryan finally playing something besides America's Sweetheart. Disturbingly funny in some sequences (particularly the Sean Penn-Chazz Palminteri duets) and laugh-out-loud vaudeville in others (the Spacey-Penn cell phone bit is an instant classic). The ensemble cast, with excellent direction, gets all the rhythms of the script. It may look a little over-the-top here and there but it seems to be a conscious choice by the director in this epic send-up of 80's Hollywood excess.

While it's readily apparent that no one is going to go home humming the tunes from this one, it's still a bit surprising that the film garnered no major nominations.Same deal as Glengarry ?  Give 'em a great ensemble in a black comedy with no discernible "star", a solid script andinventive direction and be prepared for the icy shoulder at Oscar time. It's an unjust world we live in. This movie deserves a wider audience but owing to the subject matter, it probably won't get one. But I'll give it an 85, Dick. It's got a great beat and you can dance to it!

Š-DR-HURLY BURLY (Hollywood Sunrise) -1998 de Anthony Drazan p11

24/10/2013 08:01 par tellurikwaves

Powerfully acted and compelling drama

Author: Ian Wallace (diwallace@email.com) from Ottawa, Canada
30 April 2000
Highlighted by emotional, believable performances by its cast (Sean Penn in particular is typically brilliant), Hurlyburly is not for everyone, but can be a powerful and compelling drama for those who approach it with an open mind. The film is frequently referred to as a comedy-drama, a misleading designation for what is a sometimes humorous, but ultimately emotional and sobering look at life in 1980s Hollywood. Particularly well-done are the cocaine-fuelled scenes which provide one of the most accurate depictions of the drug lifestyle and the effect it can have on interpersonal relationships. The film can seem over-the-top in parts, but the excess is necessary to convey the film's message. Emotional, witty, thought-provoking and on some levels deeply depressing, Hurlyburly is an underrated and under-appreciated character-driven drama that capitalizes on the talents of an all-star cast to deliver a top-notch product.

Š-DR-HURLY BURLY (Hollywood Sunrise) -1998 de Anthony Drazan p10

24/10/2013 07:52 par tellurikwaves

You'll either love it or hate it

Author: Eagle1-6
25 July 1999

This is definitely not a movie for everyone. Heavy drug use, discomfiting sexual situations, bad language, violence, a talky, "stagey" atmosphere, and generally despicable characters. Even if you like the actors involved, this may still not be the movie for you (my aunt rented itfor my uncle and herself on the strength of Kevin Spacey's name, and he still hasn't forgiven her).

Having said that, I really liked this movie. I never saw the play, but when I read through it, I thought it was the most misogynistic piece of garbage I had ever encountered. Seeing it on screen, though, was a completely different experience. I felt that I understood what theplaywright was trying to get at: namely, that this is a piece about how "Eddie, through the death of Phil, is saved from being Mickey." In short, a spiritual redemption of sorts.

Performances are uniformly strong. I have never been a big Sean Penn fan, but I thought he did a more than competent job with Eddie, particularly in the later scenes where he veers between arrogance and pathos. Kevin Spacey seemed uncomfortable with some aspects of the dialogue (i.e. "blah blah blah" etc.), but otherwise did his usual masterful job, in a role which raises the same questions that many of us would like to ask of him.

The role of Donna was, I felt, disfigured by the many cuts in the script--she is more of a victim than a wanton, IMHO--thus, the best thing I can say about Anna Paquin's performance is that she did well with what she was given. I had no strong objections to any of the other casting choices, except for Meg Ryan as Bonnie, who apparently cannot even play a stripper without resorting to her usual cutesy mannerisms.

FWIW, I liked the director's technical choice of "opening" the scenes by putting the conversations on cell phones, etc. However, I would have willingly sacrificed some of the added dialogue for some of the original lines that got cut. Final analysis: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and plan to buy it when it comes out on video. (Mwoouais pas facile de s'y r'trouver dans ton "mishmash" vieux)

y a rienŠ-DR-HURLY BURLY (Hollywood Sunrise) -1998 de Anthony Drazan p9

24/10/2013 07:34 par tellurikwaves

Don't take it literally

Author: JohnSelf from Washington, DC
7 May 2002

This was an incredibly interesting movie. Besides an exceptional cast, the dialogue is sharp and witty and there are some very intriguing issues raised. However, it seems that these positive points are lost on most viewers. My guess is it's because you cannot remain a passive viewer or an idiot and expect to find any redeeming qualities in this movie. On the surface, Hurlyburly is populated by extremely unsympathetic characters that become more debased as the movie progresses. Eddie (Penn) provides the central thrust of the movie. Eddie is also almost continually snorting coke that fuels extended often seemingly disjointed dialogue.

But most of the meaning is lost and the movie can become a bit tedious if you take this dialogue literally. The drugs and depravity serve to create a plausible environment for the expression of a much greater range of thoughts and emotions. It would be hard to swallow Eddie's neurosis and paranoia if he wasn't high all the time. And, Eddie's drug addled observations and frustrations are the glue of the movie. The drugs provide the writer with a device to verbalise many thoughts that normally would not be uttered aloud. More traditionally this type of problem might be solved by using a narrator. Eddie's problems and fears are not all that different from most people ... they are just extremely amplified.

Š-DR-HURLY BURLY (Hollywood Sunrise) -1998 de Anthony Drazan p8

24/10/2013 07:23 par tellurikwaves

Review
Author: anonymous from San Rafael, California
2 January 1999

This is a recipe for filmmaking at its finest... Get a dialog driven play, get the playwright to pen it for the screen, and toss in two of the most intense and talented actors (Kevin Spacey and Sean Penn) in the business, supported by a very talented and surprising cast. What do you get? Hurlyburly! Billed as a black comedy, this is more what I would term "black hole" comedy. It is VERY dark, very disturbing, and the humor comes from the characters' need to lighten up a moment or to justify their actions. This film is NOT for everyone...

If you're looking for anything truly humorous, this isn't the film. But if you want to see amazing acting and professionals who work well together, this is your film. Read other reviews with cautions on this film--don't confuse the tone of someone who hates what the characters stand for, what they believe in, and how they behave with the quality of the work done by the entire cast.

Š-DR-HURLY BURLY (Hollywood Sunrise) -1998 de Anthony Drazan p7

24/10/2013 07:14 par tellurikwaves

An Underrated and Relatively Unknown Film

Author: Jaturday from United States
3 December 2006

I remember watching Sean Penn walking up to the podium, accepting his Best Actor Academy Award for his (in my opinion) decent and somewhat accomplished role in Mystic River, and thought to myself the award was more of an achievement for his body of work rather than for the particular film. His role in Hurlyburly is far more impressive than the Jersey-speaking gangster in Great Clint's emotional waterfall of a film.

I've always been a fan of Hurlyburly since seeing a heavily edited version of it for the first time on UPN years ago, mainly for its writing and acting performances. The entire ensemble is wonderful - Penn, Spacey, and Palminteri especially - and the writing is believable and clear cut, even though I've never met or been exposed to anyone even close to characters like the ones depicted in the film. The low rating on IMDb surprised me, but maybe I can see why the majority of people either don't like or are rather indifferent about the film. The film-making is not ground breaking by any means, but the content and passion exuded from the actors involved stand out amongst other films like it that heavily rely on idiosyncratic and interesting dialogue. I'd like to see Rabe's stage version to see how he nails it - because the movie is a treat for anyone who enjoys a dose of something slightly off-beat and different.

Š-DR-HURLY BURLY (Hollywood Sunrise) -1998 de Anthony Drazan p6

24/10/2013 07:03 par tellurikwaves

La critique des spectateurs d'ImDB

Brilliant writing, marvelous and memorable performances round out the craftsmanship of this film

Author: lornespry from Japan
6 June 2006

For many movie fans who truly love the art of film, a good screenplay is the jeweled movement on which marvelous films turn and pivot. They remain with you as memorable experiences, be they like Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove, Gandhi, or The Maltese Falcon. The genre hardly matters;good screen play is an essential in even the action movie. Too bad so much mediocre screen writing abounds when good talent seems so obtainable.

'Hurlyburly' was adapted from the play for the screen by the author. In a word, it is brilliant. The acting is superb in every character, and the casting was perfect. Once again, Sean Penn gives a performance that is indicative of his paramount position as one of the very best actors of his generation — a superlative star given any generation.

I can just imagine that this film has made some pretty bad friends in some quarters — and in both genders. There is no hiding the fact that this sort of world exists to some extent anywhere a group of hedonistic, single males (or men who think that they are still single) gather to hang out, relax or party. But a viewer will be missing the point if she/he thinks that 's all there is — gratuitous, reckless living.

Marshall McLuan's theory of amputation kept occurring to me after watching the film — the idea that with each additional machine in our culture we are being cut off from our humanity. This is a psychodrama that does not resort to the unspoken, latent trauma that lurks in thepast to trouble our characters. Something in Eddie is more truncated than broken, and although he doesn't know what it is, he is intensely aware that it is causing him despair, loneliness and pain. The drugs maybe both cause and effect. Beyond the pain itself, he is completely unsure about what he thinks he is supposed to feel. Some considerable irony floats around this issue, and to the director's credit it is revealed with cunning grace.

This film demonstrates that amidst all the lowest common denominating crud, American mainstream cinema is occasionally distributing intriguing works of art. This may not be the film to purposely chose on a sad evening of angst and regret, but if you were to catch it at such a moment, the performances might sweep you up, and the film that was a play could beguile you. I gave it an unequivocal 10 for the same reasons your movie guide gives 5's for the films that I would love to have in my tape and disk library.

Š-DR-HURLY BURLY (Hollywood Sunrise) -1998 de Anthony Drazan p5

24/10/2013 06:12 par tellurikwaves

La critique de James Berardinelli (fin)
Sean Penn gives a towering, intense performance as Eddie, getting into the character's skin and inhabiting him completely. It's an amazing turn and a frighteningly believable portrayal of an opportunist on the edge. Penn brings layers to his desperation that many lesser actors cannot conceive of, much less craft on the screen. Penn's three male co-stars -- Chazz Palminteri as the talentless actor whose chief ability is to whack people(women in particular) Kevin Spacey as the amoral but amusing Mickey, who's never without a dry comeback, and Gary Shandling as the oily Artie - are capable of holding their own in scenes with him, which is a testament to the strength of their performances.

On the female side, there are two successful examples of casting against type. Those who think of Meg Ryan as all sugar and spice will be surprised to see her in this role, where she radiates a slutty sexuality. And Anna Paquin (The Piano, Fly Away Home), perhaps following in Christina Ricci's footsteps, is effective as a vapid, oversexed girl who trades her body for a bed. Actually, it's almost a shame that Ryan and Paquin are so good - they make us want to see more of their characters.

Many viewers will have difficulty determining whether Hurlyburly is a black comedy or a tragedy. For, while the film contains its share of absurd and darkly comical moments, the overall portrait is a grim one. The characters are bottom-feeders - scum that prey off the weaknesses of others and revel in the bleakest aspects of the Hollywood culture. Hurlyburly would be easier to take if its portrayals weren't so dead-on. As with Your Friends and Neighbors, it's understandable if movie-goers leave the theater feeling unclean. 120 minutes with these people is enough to taint even the sunniest optimist.

My only complaint about the film is that it runs a little too long (although, at two hours, it's only two-thirds the length of the play). During the last half hour, as Eddie's search for meaning in life reaches its climax, the energy level drops off. With a little judicious pruning, Hurlyburly could have been even more powerful and disturbing than it is. Still, in a case like this, when every line is crafted (not just written), an unwillingness to cut is understandable. And, for the sheer pleasure of watching such virtuoso performances, it's worth the extra time.

Š-DR-HURLY BURLY (Hollywood Sunrise) -1998 de Anthony Drazan p4

24/10/2013 06:04 par tellurikwaves

La critique de James Berardinelli (2)
Hurlyburly is likely to be named by some viewers as an exercise in misogyny, but the characters display that trait, not the movie. These four men are among the least likable individuals to populate a movie screen this year, and Drazan makes no attempt to hide their shortcomings.

Hardly a scene goes by when someone isn't snorting cocaine or spewing angry epithets. Eddie, Mickey, Phil, and Artie are misanthropes -hateful people who, by their own admission,are"self-absorbed and distracted "Eddie is in the midst of a search for himself,but everything and everyone around him is shallow and pointless. As one character notes, Eddie surrounds himself with losers so that no matter how far he falls, there will always be someone in his immediate circle who is lower.

The dialogue is consistently brilliant. Both the words and the cadence are reminiscent of David Mamet, and it's always fascinating to see where seemingly-normal conversations go as the characters follow trains of thought onto bizarre tangents. There's never a lack of things to say -these characters don't shut up. The question of whether to eat at a Chinese or French restaurant develops into a passionate fight over fidelity. A darkly humorous story about oral sex ends with a shocking revelation.

And one particular exchange between Eddie and Mickey about the latter's relationship with Darlene extends over several face-to-face meetings and phone conversations, winding seamlessly from scene to scene. However, well-written dialogue is only fifty percent of why Hurlyburly works. The other major factor is the acting. This film is a showcase for several actors, and arguably contains the best ensemble participation of the year.