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Less Than Zero
1987
Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis which follows three friends who are finding their way in the fast lane on the fastest track of all - overprivileged Beverly Hills. Their friendship is put under a strain however, when one develops a helpless addiction to cocaine. Read more
| Starring | Andrew McCarthy, Robert Downey Jr., James Spader, Nicholas Pryor |
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| Director | Marek Kanievska |
| Genres | Drama |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Long before American Psycho made the transition to the big screen this equally nihilistic Bret Easton Ellis novel appeared, mapping out the fag end of 1980s yuppie-dom with its tale of Beverly Hills rich kids spaced out on drugs and drifting from sports cars to nightclubs. Unusually strong material for a studio movie, although the more controversial aspects of Ellis's book were toned down to benefit a rather conventional love story, Another Country director Marek Kanievska handles his cast well, drawing exceptional performances from James Spader as a smarmy pusher and Robert Downey Jr in an art-imitating-life role as a desperate addict. Still, compared to the absorbing Christiane F, this anti-drugs message film too often resembles an R-rated episode of Beverly Hills 90210.
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Limp attempt to film a best-selling novel of the blank generation, concentrating not so much on the despair and self-pity of the participants as on their enviable life-style.
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"...Stylishness that is quite spectacular....Downey gives a performance that is desperately moving..."
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Dark tale of the upper class junkie
A depressing film about a young man who drowns himself in the world of addiction and nobody could draw him out of his mess.
James Spader is the ... more -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
lesson to all drug abusers!
ALTHOUGH I ENJOYED THIS FILM BECAUSE OF THE IMPECCABLE ACTING, IT WASN'T THE EASIEST TO WATCH AND DESERVED ITS '18' RATING. THE STORY OF ... more
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3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
ellis must not be really happy
I wouldn't say it's a bad movie since it's kinda entertaining but having read the book, I felt the film completely failed in rendering Ellis' ... more
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Totally agree with the customer from London - the film was a bit cheesy and didn't reflect the mood of the book at all. But what film ever does???? Nice ... more
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
lesson to all drug abusers!
ALTHOUGH I ENJOYED THIS FILM BECAUSE OF THE IMPECCABLE ACTING, IT WASN'T THE EASIEST TO WATCH AND DESERVED ITS '18' RATING. THE STORY OF ... more
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Dark tale of the upper class junkie
A depressing film about a young man who drowns himself in the world of addiction and nobody could draw him out of his mess.
James Spader is the ... more -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
lesson to all drug abusers!
ALTHOUGH I ENJOYED THIS FILM BECAUSE OF THE IMPECCABLE ACTING, IT WASN'T THE EASIEST TO WATCH AND DESERVED ITS '18' RATING. THE STORY OF ... more
-
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
ellis must not be really happy
I wouldn't say it's a bad movie since it's kinda entertaining but having read the book, I felt the film completely failed in rendering Ellis' ... more
-
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Totally agree with the customer from London - the film was a bit cheesy and didn't reflect the mood of the book at all. But what film ever does???? Nice ... more
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
No less than perfect............ sheer genius......
A masterclass of film making, combining the disturbing and evocative screenplay of one of Americas best writers, with the sheer talents of Americas finest ... more
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Things have changed
I heard of this film when I was young, but never knew anymore about it. I realise now it's based on a Brett Easten Ellis novel, so ... more
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
True work of art........
this is a stunning film, outstanding lead actors, bring to life this brutal and fragile story ....
very emotional and moving, this will stick in ... more -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
No cars merging on the freeway here...
I probably can't review this film objectively because it is based (supposedly) on my favourite novel. If you see this film hoping for it to be faithful to ... more
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Disappointingly shallow
Given the quality of the subsequent Bret Easton Ellis adaptations American Psycho and The Rules of Attraction, Less Than Zero was quite a disappointment.
<... more -
A fair attempt but with pulled teeth
If I hadn't read the source novel I could have called this a dark and fitting reposte to so many of those Bart Pack Hughes movies of the mid eighties. It ... more
Critics' reviews (4)
-
Long before American Psycho made the transition to the big screen this equally nihilistic Bret Easton Ellis novel appeared, mapping out the fag end of 1980s yuppie-dom with its tale of Beverly Hills rich kids spaced out on drugs and drifting from sports cars to nightclubs. Unusually strong material for a studio movie, although the more controversial aspects of Ellis's book were toned down to benefit a rather conventional love story, Another Country director Marek Kanievska handles his cast well, drawing exceptional performances from James Spader as a smarmy pusher and Robert Downey Jr in an art-imitating-life role as a desperate addict. Still, compared to the absorbing Christiane F, this anti-drugs message film too often resembles an R-rated episode of Beverly Hills 90210.
-
Limp attempt to film a best-selling novel of the blank generation, concentrating not so much on the despair and self-pity of the participants as on their enviable life-style.
-
"...Stylishness that is quite spectacular....Downey gives a performance that is desperately moving..."
-
"...[Spader] is terrifically smarmy....Visually, the picture is a treat..."
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Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis which follows three friends who are finding their way in the fast lane on the fastest track of all - overprivileged Beverly Hills. Their friendship is put ... -
56.6% from 3 members
78.4% from 25 members
