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Hurlyburly (1998) More at IMDbPro »

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175 comments in total

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22 out of 29 people found the following comment useful :-
Review, 2 January 1999
Author: anonymous from San Rafael, California

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.

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19 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :-
You'll either love it or hate it, 25 July 1999

Author: Eagle1-6

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 it for 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 the playwright 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,

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13 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Don't take it literally, 7 May 2002

Author: JohnSelf from Washington, DC

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.

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16 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :-
Powerfully acted and compelling drama, 30 April 2000
Author: Ian Wallace (diwallace@email.com) from Ottawa, Canada

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.

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9 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
Great movie, more theatrical than cinematic, 15 December 2004

Author: imdb-5032 from amsterdam

A touching movie about friendship and dependency viewed through the distorting lens of rampant nihilism.

There's a theatrical eloquence to the dialogue that lends it mesmerizing power. It has a literary quality that some people will find unbearably pretentious, but which I found deeply moving.

The movie starts out with a fast paced barrage of hilarious absurdities. As it gets slower and more ponderous it sometimes veers off course, but in a sense this just deepens the sense of human frailty. Similarly the somewhat grasping conclusion does not significantly detract from the film's main thrust.

Acting by Kevin Spacey, Sean Penn and Garry Shandling is absolutely top notch. Chazz Palminteri isn't always as convincing. Excellent showing by Meg Ryan.

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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Everything Pertains, 20 May 2001
Author: tedg (tedg@FilmsFolded.com) from Virginia Beach

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Spoilers herein.

`Trainspotting' meets `The Big Kahuna' meets `The Ice Storm.'

Sean Penn is the best actor in film, period. He is one of the few actors who can act several roles simultaneously. Kevin Spacey is the best ensemble leader in film today. Though here he does his old wise man character, he knows how to project his being into the actors around.

You'll want to see this just to watch the craft. But the pacing is tedious. Some of the language is brilliant, And the basic notion, of obsessive self-referential examination is rich, but the enterprise fails because of the misunderstanding of time.

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10 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :-
solid direction-terrific ensemble cast, 7 August 1999

Author: ween-3

You liked "Glengarry Glen Ross"? 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 and inventive 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!

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9 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
great flick, 16 September 2003
Author: (jimmyhopps1@hotmail.com) from New York

a lot of the negative reviews of this movie are a consequence of the viewers simply not enjoying this type of work. it aint a happy movie and its not for everyone. if you've never spent serious time in NYC, LA, SF or some similar city, then you probably do not 1) know and interact with people like this on a regular basis, 2) understand the true to life social context of the scenes/plot or 3) comprehend the use of drugs amongst nearly every ladder rung within certain industries and hence can't recognize that the writer/director is making a parody of it all. the writing is clearly very witty (you try writing it) and if you know people like those portrayed, then you would also see that the acting also first rate. if you don't like this because of its repetitive babble, self absorbed characters, harsh realities and use of nose candy then perhaps you just don't know that this movie is a near documentary. i recommend you visit your friends in any big city and see if you can't get to a few banker / journalist / academic / consulting / advertising / acting parties. experience, re-watch, then review.

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5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Talk is NOT cheep, 10 September 2001

Author: Steve Harris (Petruchio) from Newfoundland

In a HurleyBurley world with HurleyBurley people, talk is NOT cheep. Cocaine, Marijuana and alcohol give the briliantly portrayed characters the power of speech. No... this movie is not about drugs and alcohol. This movie is about ideas and theories on life. I myself have to admit that not all of what was discussed in this movie was not understood by ME, but on the other hand, I think that's the beauty of the script. Who knows the secrets of the world? No-one knows all, yet we all have theories on our own existances... or existance as a whole.

Joel Siegal from GOOD MORNING AMERICA notes that "This Cast makes you wish they gave an Oscar for ensemble acting.". I totally agree with this statement. A wonderful cast has come together on this movie and I have come from it blown away by their abilities. It takes a tough mind and will for an actor to spend a whole movie talking, and by that I mean, no car chases or things blowing up. No special effects or thrilling scenes of aliens and monstars. It was speech and these actors spoke brilliantly. It was wonderfully casted and these people brought this original script to life. I can't wait to watch it again... and again... and again... and I can do that because I own it myself.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE!!!, 19 September 2004

Author: Matt Emery from Australia

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Don't be fooled by the negative opinions about this movie!

*** Warning, the following may contain slight spoilers *** Following this band of ironically (in?)compatible group of friends as they confront each other to the point where they question if their friendships are really worth the effort! And if so, is it based on anything that ISN'T self serving? And could it possibly be out of kinship and love?

I think this movie questions the value of friendships, and creates a subtle mirror for us to evaluate our own friendships.

I felt pity for all the characters in their bid to find love through means of friends, drugs, sex, hookers and girlfriends. Somehow they seemed hopelessly stuck in their emptiness.

A brilliantly acted film... i'm sure the actors were delighted to able to cut their teeth on something involving long dialogs and stage-like drama.

Don't miss it! 8/10

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