Challenging films are films, that when watched with an open mind, usually tend to impress me and make me feel entertained in a way perhaps you don't normally get from any other film. I admire films that aren't afraid to let their quirky-ness and originality stand out, and the films of Todd Solondz are no exception to this aspect. I love to the deepest descent that he manages perfectly too have the ability to present us with the most outrageous, shocking, and even in this case controversial situation, but at the same time gives us an extraordinary and moving piece that we can't forget whether we like it or not. So loving the films of Todd Solondz I came into "Happiness" hoping for the best, although if you've heard anything about the film it may be enough to scare you away, it almost did me.
The thing that makes "Happiness" so outrageous and controversial is too many the pedophile aspect, but also perhaps how in the end we feel a strange sense of sympathy and even sorrow for a character like him, or an obscene phone caller, even for a dirty old man leaving his wife for younger women. "Happiness" doesn't glorify these ordeals, but instead in a very twisted sort of way kind of sort of turn them in to a joke, the kind where you don't know if it's okay to laugh, and if you do you feel even worse. "Happiness" manages to give us a devilishly indulging time that honestly some would do best to avoid. However I must say it's a film you don't really want to admit to yourself that you're enjoying so much, seeing how in certain scenes you can't help but feel pretty darn disturbed. The delicious diabolical humor is absolutely awesome; I like the feeling of that sort of uncomfortable humor they strongly use in this film.
The film deals with the lives of three sisters, so in a way the film is three different stories. The first deals with Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle), whose neighbor is an obscene phone caller who says sexual slurs in the calls to express his lonely sexual desire and even repression. The film gives this character (played perfectly by Phillip Seymour Hoffman), an extremely fragile soul, whom we want to see succeed and find his happiness, it gets even tragically sweet at times. The Second sister Joy is the somewhat down on her luck one, she stills lives with her parents (who are in the middle of a separation) and isn't entirely open to love. I must say Jane Adam's gives a great performance, however I didn't really feel all that much sympathy or compassion for her, perhaps because she really didn't come as a person who deals with a lot. Then there is Trish who is the perfect stay at home wife, and her scenes are the scenes that will disturb you seeing how her husband Bill (played all too tragically realistic by Dylan Baker) is secretly a pedophile. Perhaps her life does focus more on Bill (as does the film), and the film doesn't shy away from the ugly truth. It's very disturbing when his pedophile side comes out (such as when he talks to his sexually curious son Billy). However honestly underneath it all it's sort of hard for us (the audience) to admit that we have a hidden liking towards him. The guilty part of it all is how we the viewer are repulsed, disturbed, but yet ironically indulged in the film. You can't look away even if you want too, but you can't, unless you're like mega sensitive towards kids or whatever. He actually is a good dad (even though it may have been his pedophile side talking), but we can't help but feel a small happiness when his son owns up to him the way he does.
The direction and writing is extraordinary, and even better the performances are brilliant. I love how each woman manages to each give a different stand out performance, and stay true to their characters, as does everybody else in the film. I must say I also really admired the acting from the very brave roles such as Billy (Rufus Read), Bill (Dylan Baker), and Kristina (Camryn Manheim). It took guts to take on such roles, and why they (or anybody else in this film) didn't get Oscar nominations or recognition is beyond me.
Overall I'm going to say one thing only about this film, although extraordinary and very wonderful it's a movie that is not, I repeat NOT for everybody. I would only recommend it if you are aware of some of Todd Solondz other deep meaning films (such as Palindromes or Storytelling) than you'll have an idea of what you'd get in too. I also strongly recommend to those who love films that challenge you, or that you're not afraid to be felt uncomfortable or even disturbed by a films dramatic subject matter. "Happiness" is a truly magnificent little film, sure very uncomfortable, but its disturbing-ness I think just enhances to the experience, and even enjoyment of this film for those who like that kind of thrill from films.
The thing that makes "Happiness" so outrageous and controversial is too many the pedophile aspect, but also perhaps how in the end we feel a strange sense of sympathy and even sorrow for a character like him, or an obscene phone caller, even for a dirty old man leaving his wife for younger women. "Happiness" doesn't glorify these ordeals, but instead in a very twisted sort of way kind of sort of turn them in to a joke, the kind where you don't know if it's okay to laugh, and if you do you feel even worse. "Happiness" manages to give us a devilishly indulging time that honestly some would do best to avoid. However I must say it's a film you don't really want to admit to yourself that you're enjoying so much, seeing how in certain scenes you can't help but feel pretty darn disturbed. The delicious diabolical humor is absolutely awesome; I like the feeling of that sort of uncomfortable humor they strongly use in this film.
The film deals with the lives of three sisters, so in a way the film is three different stories. The first deals with Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle), whose neighbor is an obscene phone caller who says sexual slurs in the calls to express his lonely sexual desire and even repression. The film gives this character (played perfectly by Phillip Seymour Hoffman), an extremely fragile soul, whom we want to see succeed and find his happiness, it gets even tragically sweet at times. The Second sister Joy is the somewhat down on her luck one, she stills lives with her parents (who are in the middle of a separation) and isn't entirely open to love. I must say Jane Adam's gives a great performance, however I didn't really feel all that much sympathy or compassion for her, perhaps because she really didn't come as a person who deals with a lot. Then there is Trish who is the perfect stay at home wife, and her scenes are the scenes that will disturb you seeing how her husband Bill (played all too tragically realistic by Dylan Baker) is secretly a pedophile. Perhaps her life does focus more on Bill (as does the film), and the film doesn't shy away from the ugly truth. It's very disturbing when his pedophile side comes out (such as when he talks to his sexually curious son Billy). However honestly underneath it all it's sort of hard for us (the audience) to admit that we have a hidden liking towards him. The guilty part of it all is how we the viewer are repulsed, disturbed, but yet ironically indulged in the film. You can't look away even if you want too, but you can't, unless you're like mega sensitive towards kids or whatever. He actually is a good dad (even though it may have been his pedophile side talking), but we can't help but feel a small happiness when his son owns up to him the way he does.
The direction and writing is extraordinary, and even better the performances are brilliant. I love how each woman manages to each give a different stand out performance, and stay true to their characters, as does everybody else in the film. I must say I also really admired the acting from the very brave roles such as Billy (Rufus Read), Bill (Dylan Baker), and Kristina (Camryn Manheim). It took guts to take on such roles, and why they (or anybody else in this film) didn't get Oscar nominations or recognition is beyond me.
Overall I'm going to say one thing only about this film, although extraordinary and very wonderful it's a movie that is not, I repeat NOT for everybody. I would only recommend it if you are aware of some of Todd Solondz other deep meaning films (such as Palindromes or Storytelling) than you'll have an idea of what you'd get in too. I also strongly recommend to those who love films that challenge you, or that you're not afraid to be felt uncomfortable or even disturbed by a films dramatic subject matter. "Happiness" is a truly magnificent little film, sure very uncomfortable, but its disturbing-ness I think just enhances to the experience, and even enjoyment of this film for those who like that kind of thrill from films.