Ghost World (2001)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Terry Zwigoff

Writers (WGA):

Daniel Clowes (comic book)
Daniel Clowes (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 October 2001 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Accentuate the negative.

Plot:

Enid and Rebecca are social outsiders who, after graduating from high school, play a mean prank on a middle-aged geek.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Friend | Art Class | Graduation | Record Collector

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 24 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

Thora Birch	...	Enid
Scarlett Johansson	...	Rebecca
Steve Buscemi	...	Seymour
Brad Renfro	...	Josh
Illeana Douglas	...	Roberta Allsworth
Bob Balaban	...	Enid's Dad
Stacey Travis	...	Dana
Charles C. Stevenson Jr.	...	Norman
Dave Sheridan	...	Doug
Tom McGowan	...	Joe
Debra Azar	...	Melora
Brian George	...	Sidewinder Boss
Pat Healy	...	John Ellis
Rini Bell	...	Graduation Speaker
T.J. Thyne	...	Todd
Ezra Buzzington	...	Weird Al
Lindsey Girardot	...	Vanilla - Graduation Rapper
Joy Bisco	...	Jade - Graduation Rapper
Venus DeMilo	...	Ebony - Graduation Rapper (as Venus DeMilo Thomas)
Ashley Peldon	...	Margaret - Art Class
Chachi Pittman	...	Phillip - Art Class
Janece Jordan	...	Black Girl - Art Class
Kaileigh Martin	...	Snotty Girl - Art Class
Alexander Fors	...	Hippy Boy - Art Class
Marc Vann	...	Jerome, the Angry Guy - Record Collector
James Sie	...	Steven, the Asian Guy - Record Collector
Paul Keith	...	Paul, the Fussy Guy - Record Collector
David Cross	...	Gerrold, the Pushy Guy - Record Collector
J.J. Bad Boy Jones	...	Fred Chatman - Blues Club (as J.J. 'Bad Boy' Jones)
Dylan Jones	...	Red-Haired Girl - Blues Club
Martin Grey	...	M.C. - Blues Club
Steve Pierson	...	Blueshammer Member - Blues Club
Jake La Botz	...	Blueshammer Member - Blues Club (as Jake LaBotz)
Johnny Irion	...	Blueshammer Member - Blues Club
Nate Wood	...	Blueshammer Member - Blues Club
Charles Schneider	...	Joey McCobb, the Stand Up Comic
Sid Hillman	...	Zine-O-Phobia Creep (as Sid Garza-Hillman)
Joshua Wheeler	...	Zine-O-Phobia Creep
Patrick Fischler	...	Masterpiece Video Clerk (as Patrick Fishler)
Daniel Graves	...	Masterpiece Video Customer
Matt Doherty	...	Masterpiece Video Employee
Joel Michaely	...	Porno Cashier
Debi Derryberry	...	Rude Coffee Customer
Joseph Sikora	...	Reggae Fan (as Joe Sikora)
Brett Gilbert	...	Alien Autopsy Guy
Alex Solowitz	...	Cineplex Manager
Tony Ketcham	...	Alcoholic Customer
Mary Bogue	...	Popcorn Customer
Brian Jacobs	...	Soda Customer
Patrick Yonally	...	Garage Sale Hipster
Lauren Bowles	...	Angry Garage Sale Woman
Lorna Scott	...	Phyllis, the Art Show Curator
Jeff Murray	...	Roberta's Colleague
Jerry Rector	...	Dana's Co-Worker
John Bunnell	...	Seymour's Boss (as Sheriff John Bunnell)
Diane Salinger	...	Psychiatrist
Anna Berger	...	Seymour's Mother
Bruce Glover	...	Feldman, the Wheel Chair Guy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Randall Barnwell	...	Walking Dead Man (uncredited)
Tracy Bennett	...	Defaced Magazine Photo (uncredited)
Joan M. Blair	...	Lady Crossing Street Slowly (uncredited)
Michael Chanslor	...	Orange Colored Sky Keyboarder, Graduation Band (uncredited)
Kacee DeMasi	...	Suicidal Mother (uncredited)
Teri Garr	...	Maxine (uncredited)
Alan Heitz	...	Driver (uncredited)
James Matusky	...	Reggae Fan #2 (uncredited)
Edward T. McAvoy	...	Mr. Satanist (uncredited)
Margaret Kontra Palmer	...	Lady at Garage Sale (uncredited)
Larry Parker	...	Orange Colored Sky Bassist, Graduation Band (uncredited)
Greg Wendell Reid	...	Yuppie #1 (uncredited)
Michelle Marie White	...	Mom in Convenience Store (uncredited)
Peter Yarrow	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Terry Zwigoff

Writing credits (WGA)
Daniel Clowes		(comic book)
Daniel Clowes		(written by) &
Terry Zwigoff		(written by)

Produced by
Pippa Cross	....	executive producer
Janette Day	....	executive producer
Lianne Halfon	....	producer
Barbara A. Hall	....	line producer
John Malkovich	....	producer
Russell Smith	....	producer
Jonathan Weisgal	....	producer: front end credits
Michael Shamberg	....	executive producer: Jersey Shore (uncredited)

Original Music by
David Kitay

Cinematography by
Affonso Beato		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Carole Kravetz		(as Carole Kravetz-Aykanian)
Michael R. Miller

Casting by
Cassandra Kulukundis

Production Design by
Edward T. McAvoy

Art Direction by
Alan E. Muraoka

Set Decoration by
Lisa Fischer

Costume Design by
Mary Zophres

Makeup Department
Vickie Mynes	....	hair stylist
Emjay Olson	....	hair department head
James Ryder	....	makeup department head
Amy Schmiederer	....	key makeup artist
Carol F. Doran	....	wig maker (uncredited)

Production Management
Tad Driscoll	....	unit production manager
Robert Hoffman	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Susie Balaban	....	second second assistant director
Haze J.F. Bergeron III	....	first assistant director: additional photography
William Paul Clark	....	first assistant director
Dawn Massaro	....	second assistant director
Otto Michael Penzato	....	second assistant director: additional photography

Art Department
James Arrigo	....	propmaker foreman (as Jim Arrigo)
Peter Bankins	....	property master
Robert Bankins	....	assistant property master
David Brace	....	lead man
Daniel Clowes	....	scrapbook artist: Cook's Chicken
Paul Cohen	....	construction coordinator (as Paul Z. Cohen)
Sophie Crumb	....	sketchbook: Enid
Kris Fuller	....	set dresser
Richard Hart	....	propmaker foreman
Holiday Landa	....	art department coordinator
John Rankin	....	set dresser
Robert Lee Robinson	....	set dresser (as Bob Robertson)
Liz Shaner	....	lead scenic
Eddie Tique	....	set dresser
Chris Buchinsky	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Charles Schneider	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Franklin Bergad	....	supervising sound editor (as David Bergad)
Mark Berger	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator
Kat Craig	....	utility sound
Piotr Filipowski	....	sound effects editor
Anna Geyer	....	assistant dialogue editor
Chris Gridley	....	assistant sound editor
Nathan Gunn	....	assistant sound editor
John Nutt	....	supervising sound editor
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Rinella	....	foley mixer
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator
Patti Tauscher	....	foley editor
Mark Weingarten	....	sound

Special Effects by
Ron Bolanowski	....	special effects coordinator
Michael Duenas	....	special effects (as Mike Duenas)

Visual Effects by
Al Magliochetti	....	visual effects supervisor
Ziad Seirafi	....	CGI supervisor
Devin Uzan	....	digital compositor
Dan Walker	....	digial opticals
Christopher Dusendschon	....	digital imaging: THDX (uncredited)

Stunts
John Branagan	....	stunts
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt coordinator (as Charlie Croughwell)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Babineaux	....	best boy electric
Leo Behar	....	grip
Tracy Bennett	....	still photographer
Jack English	....	chief lighting technician
Erik A. Erichsen	....	lamp operator (as Erik Erichsen)
Rick Guertin	....	grip
Robert Lackey	....	lamp operator
Michael Levine	....	camera operator
Victor Macias	....	grip
Nino Neuboeck	....	first assistant camera
David W. Nims	....	key grip (as David Nims)
Michael Ottevanger	....	video engineer
Rico Priem	....	grip
Felipe Reinheimer	....	second assistant camera
Nancy Schreiber	....	additional photographer
Edmondo Sepulveda	....	dolly grip (as Edmundo Sepulveda)
Chris Thornton	....	best boy grip
Stephen Thorp	....	lamp operator (as Steve Thorp)
Toby Tucker	....	loader
Bennie Zura	....	lamp operator (as Ben Zura)

Casting Department
John Barba	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
María Aguilar	....	costume supervisor (as Maria Aguilar)
Marilyne Kohn	....	wardrobe assistant
Cookie Lopez	....	set costumer
Cynthia Freund	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Blake Maniquis	....	first assistant editor
Bob McMillian	....	color timer (as Robert McMillan)
Nick Moore	....	additional editor
Vincent Mourou	....	assistant conforming editor

Music Department
Melissa Axelrod	....	music consultant
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance
Michael Boustead	....	music editor
Jon-Erik Kellso	....	musician
David Kitay	....	conductor
Chris McGeary	....	music editor
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator
Lonnie Sill	....	music consultant
Greg Townley	....	music engineer
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer
Roy B. Yokelson	....	period music recreation recording engineer
William Levine	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Tim Abbatoye	....	transportation coordinator
Caey Boden	....	driver
Mark L. Hendrix	....	transportation captain (as Mark Hendrix)
John Ornstein	....	driver
Brett Round	....	driver
Leo Schaible	....	driver
Laree Scrignolli	....	driver (as Laree Sgrignoli)
Greg Stuckey	....	driver
Randy L. Thiedeman	....	driver (as Randy Thiedeman)
Warren Welsh	....	driver
Clint White	....	driver (as Klint White)

Other crew
Gerard Averill	....	location manager
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Erin Borel	....	assistant accountant
Robert D. Brugger	....	set medic
Scott Challgren	....	special promotion
Bianca Escobar	....	director: experimental short film segment
Bianca Escobar	....	intern
Laura Gary	....	studio teacher
Kevin Goldblum	....	production assistant
Brendan Gregory	....	assistant to producers
Judy Heinzen	....	assistant location manager
Heath Howard	....	production assistant
Carrie Mae Jones	....	production assistant
Michael J. Kelly	....	assistant location manager
Danny Muscoplat	....	production assistant
Ronit Ravich-Boss	....	script supervisor
Debra Sanderson	....	clearance
Sarah Scarlett	....	production coordinator
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Meline von Brentano	....	assistant: Mr. Zwigoff
John Frost	....	interstitial radio and tv background voices (uncredited)

Thanks
Robert Crumb	....	thanks
Sophie Crumb	....	thanks
Mark Everett	....	special thanks (as E)
Don Knotts	....	thanks
Aline Kominsky	....	thanks (as Aline Crumb)
David Wirtschafter	....	thanks (as Dave Wirtschafter)

Production Companies

• Advanced Medien
• Capitol Films
• Granada Film Productions
• Mr. Mudd
• United Artists

Distributors

• United Artists (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Granada Films (2001-2002) (Non-USA) (theatrical) (sales)
• Advanced (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Icon Film Distribution (2001) (UK) (theatrical)
• Capitol Films (2001) (UK) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2002) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Triangelfilm (2002) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Fandango (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Kulturföreningen Kedjan (2002) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• SPI International (2001) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• LW Editora (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment AB (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universum Film (UFA) (200?) (Germany) (DVD)
• Yorin (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (broadcast premiere)

Other Companies

• Separate Cinema Archive  image licensing
• American Stock Photo  thanks (as American Stock Photography)
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Custom Film Effects  opticals
• D.E.S.  avid and telecine services
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color (as Deluxe)
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints (as Deluxe)
• Digital Film Labs  digital enhancements
• Entertainment Clearances  script research
• Film Bank  thanks
• International Recording Co.  adr facilities and services
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies
• Leonetti Company  grip and lighting equipment
• MPRM Public Relations  publicity
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• RD Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound post-production services
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound re-recording
• Title House Digital  main and end titles

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA | UK | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Finland:K-7 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #37596)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Advanced Medien

Trivia:

The Coon Chicken Inn was a real restaurant chain, founded in 1925 in Salt Lake City. However it folded in the late '50s and never changed its name to Cook Chicken, as in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Enid and Rebecca are laughing at Seymour's name, Rebecca puts her hand over her mouth. In the next shot she has her arms crossed.

Quotes:

Enid: Josh, he's nobody's boyfriend, he's just this guy that Becky and I like to torture.

Movie Connections:

References 8½ (1963)

Soundtrack:

I Must Have It

For those of us who tire of standard teen movies, here's the film to make our day. **** (out of four)

GHOST WORLD / (2001) **** (out of four)

For those of us who tire of standard teen movies, here's the film to brighten our day. It's a monkey wrench in the cranks of the tedious genre that features actors in their mid-twenties portraying stereotypical high-school characters shamelessly indulging predictable plots of frivolous romance. Where most movies set in high schools find resolve in romantics, "Ghost World" dares to be different.

Yet it contains all the usual ingredients-aimless main characters, one-dimensional side characters, high school graduation, moronic parents, sexual revelations, a romance-but it tastes different. This movie doesn't believe high school is the root of youth complications; it knows that school isn't where the confusion lies-it's after graduation when the complexities begin.

The movie opens as a high school senior dances along with a music video. Sounds like a typical teenager? Well, not really. The music this girl listens to isn't exactly mainstream. Nothing about Enid (Thora Birch from "American Beauty") is ordinary.

The same goes for her best friend, Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson). She is slightly more focused than the aimless Enid, but, as they graduate from high school in the opening scenes, neither of them know what they want out of life.

Rebecca and Enid find interesting people to follow, exploit, and embarrass, just for their own leisure, but even this loses its edge. Making the most (or least) of their situation, the girls stumble upon an outstandingly pathetic personal ad. As a joke, they respond. However, when they meet this man, Enid becomes infatuated with him.

In their post high school days, Enid and Rebecca find themselves slowly drifting apart. Rebecca is eager to get an apartment and get on with her life, while Enid lives by the day, following one infatuation after another. As their attitudes gradually change from cynical to sober, Enid and Rebecca's emerging differences become blatantly obvious, but painfully realized.

"Ghost World" refers to the world in which these characters live, a town slowly being overcome by shopping malls and coffee shops; a town that slowly loses its distinctions and becomes a ghost of what it once was.

My small town of Mason, MI speaks for itself. Once a minuscule farming suburb of the state's capital, it's now a breeding ground for new subdivisions, factories, stores, gas stations, trailer parks, and businesses. Before you know it, it will be a densely populated city like the capital itself.

"Ghost World" makes harsh points, but it never loses its sense of humor. Enid is so full of bitter cynicism that we have to laugh. She indulges the dialogue. It's often tactlessly frank, savoring every opportunity to bash, thrash, ridicule, or insult anyone or anything for any reason.

Society tends to repress our caustic desire to insult a fellow man, but "Ghost World" doesn't hesitate. It takes a lot of risks, but never steps in the wrong direction. It connects us with these characters. They are so casually antisocial that we can't help but to love them. At times, the movie doesn't require dialogue. It simply examines the character's surroundings. We get to know these people so well, we know exactly what they're thinking before they say it. They are a part of our instincts to react on impulse.

But a character is only as good as the actor behind it. "Ghost World" features enormously engaging performances. Brad Renfro gives his nobody store clerk a raw blandness. Illeana Douglas injects a kind of controlled eccentricity into her role as an art teacher. Steve Buscemi creates a hopeless record player collector out of repressed emotion, and lack thereof.

Scarlett Johansson gives Rebecca a dry, depressed mood. Thora Birch steals the whole show with a straightforward, fearless performance. Although the movie never defines the relationship between Enid and Rebecca, the actors themselves make it clear. They create an enticing charisma that gradually turns to an awkward tension.

"Ghost World" captures part of our journey from childhood to adulthood with poetic grace and cynical wit. Though it's not really a coming-of-age film, where a young character finally takes a place in the world. Enid never finds her place, decides her future, or chooses a path. By the end of the story, she simply becomes aware of her possible options. This movie is just the beginning of her story.