Films Outside the Loop Jeanne Chappé

This was an extremely disturbing film to watch but I was mesmerized from the beginning until the shocking and hysterical ending. The characters in this film seem to perceive that their behavior is fairly normal. Perhaps we all do the same thing. That is a most frightening concept to me.

This film was written and directed by Todd Solondz ("Welcome to the Dollhouse"). This film won at both the Cannes Film Festival (International Critic's Prize) and the Toronto International Film Festival (Metro Media Prize).

This is an ensemble piece with three sisters at the center of the story. The three sisters are Joy (Jane Adams), Trish (Cynthia Stevenson) and Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle). All three of them look anorexic. Their parents, Mona (Louise Lasser) and Lenny (Ben Gazzara), are attempting (unsuccessfully) to get a divorce after 40 years of marriage.

Joy is still living at home. She writes poetry and lives a very solitary existence. Trish is a strident housewife with three children and she assumes that her marriage is happy without actually communicating with her husband, Bill (Dylan Baker). Helen is a professional woman with money and fame.

Helen's neighbor, Allen (Philip Seymour Hoffman), is a computer geek who has the hots for her. He starts making obscene phone calls to her BUT she uses *69 and calls him back! She is extremely turned on until she meets him. Allen then turns to Kristina (Camryn Manheim) who has dismembered the doorman. She is another one of Allen's neighbors and she has the hots for him. Ziplock baggies come in handy.

There are several stories that intertwine throughout this film. Joy's brief 'relationship' with a Russian immigrant is horribly hilarious.

All of the people in this film have one thing in common. They are all extremely lonely people who long for love.

The most interesting and the most appalling character is Bill. He is a pedophile. Bill's sexual discussions with his son are both enthralling and disgusting.

This film is definitely not for children and probably not for a number of adults, either. I found it fascinating and it did stay with me for days on end.........

Runtime: 2:20

This film is available on DVD, VHS, cable or satellite.

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