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Ghost World
2001
Terry Zwigoff finally follows up his 1994 breakout success, CRUMB, with this infectious, insightful, and ultimately sad look at teenage angst and boredom in suburbia that recalls such films as WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE and RUSHMORE as well as MTV's excellent DARIA series. The screenplay, written by Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes, is .. Read more
| Starring | Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Brad Renfro |
|---|---|
| Director | Terry Zwigoff |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama |
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Ghost World
Terry Zwigoff finally follows up his 1994 breakout success, CRUMB, with this infectious, insightful, and ultimately sad look at teenage angst and boredom in suburbia that recalls such films as WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE and RUSHMORE as well as MTV's excellent DARIA series. The screenplay, written by Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes, is based on Clowes's underground comic book, GHOST WORLD. Best friends Enid and Rebecca have graduated from high school, and now they need to figure out what comes next. Rebecca gets a menial job at a coffee shop and starts looking for an apartment, while Enid wallows in her miserable (Daria-like) worldview, in which all jobs are sellouts and nearly all people are creeps, geeks, and losers. But when she plays a practical joke on the biggest dud of them all, Seymour, a lonely man who lives only for his collection of classic 78s, her life gets turned upside as she finds herself needing him in ways she never thought possible. Thora Birch (Enid) and Steve Buscemi (Seymour) are nothing short of marvelous in their complex roles, and they receive ample support from Scarlet Johansson, Bob Balaban, Teri Garr, Brad Renfro, Illeana Douglas, and the great David Cross. The excellent soundtrack includes songs by Skip James, Blueshammer, the Buzzcocks, Lionel Belasco, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, and Mohammed Rafi, among others. Note to Buscemi fans: There's a small bit at the end of the credits, so stick around.
| Starring | Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Brad Renfro, Illeana Douglas, Bob Balaban |
|---|---|
| Director | Terry Zwigoff |
| Studio | ICON HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 50 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 20 May 2002 Production year: 2001 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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Having achieved critical acclaim for his documentary Crumb about American underground artist Robert Crumb, director Terry Zwigoff continues his comic book connection with this celluloid interpretation of cartoonist Daniel Clowes's cult classic Ghost World. A scathing yet affectionate send-up of modern American culture, it traces the attempts of teenage misfit Enid (Thora Birch) and her more level-headed friend Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) to survive life after high school. Imparting quirkiness and intelligence to the generally dumbed-down genre of the teen movie, Zwigoff delivers a poignant but darkly comic overview of human behaviour as he homes in on a cast of oddballs and eccentrics pigeonholed by society's prejudices. Though hampered by occasional self-conscious kookiness, the sharp dialogue and endearing performances from the likes of Steve Buscemi prevent Ghost World from slipping into the category of disposable entertainment. However, for all its bite, Zwigoff's comedy won't appeal to many beyond the young and trendy.
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Witty, perceptive comedy of the confusions of adolescence, experiments in love, and the discovery of a wider world beyond the restrictions of suburbia.
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Most helpful member's review
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18 out of 18 people found this review helpful
A welcome, refreshing tale of two best friends coping with life after high school. Thora Birch is mesmerising as Enid, the main protagonist who pours scorn on fast food, contemporary music and those who don't make her grade. If you're tired of movies where good looking guys fall for perfect girls, usually followed by predictable third acts that pan out exactly the way you thought, then Ghost World gives you a fresh spin on that formula. Steve Buscemi is as great as ever as the geeky record collector while Bob Balaban is delightful as Enid's ineffectual dad. Good direction by Crumb's Terry Zwigoff makes this well worth renting.
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Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Deserves a chance
What is so interesting about this film is that nothing really interesting happens in it yet I wasn't bored. Thora (Hocus Pocus) Birch - who I personally think is all too often understated - is genius as Enid, one half of a pair of high school misfits, who plays a trick with the help of best Friend, Scarlett Johansson (spelling?) on unsuspecting and slightly oddball record collector, Steve Buscemi.
If you want excitement and suspense, this is not one of those films nor is it your typical teenage, lipstick, boys, and beautiful clothes type film. Instead it is an unfashionable trip through a 'decide for yourself what happens' type film that may just leave you feeling a little unsatisfied because it does not conform to the usual 'everything'll be be alright at the end' type movie which I found highly refreshing. I thoroughly enjoyed this film as did my boyfriend.
Also worth a mention is the soundtrack to the film. Like Enid, I found myself mesmerised by the achingly beautiful voice of Skip James singing 'Devil got my woman'. -
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