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Six Degrees Of Separation
1993
Fifth Avenue socialite Ouisa Kittredge (Stockard Channing) and her purveyor of high-art husband Flan (Donald Sutherland), are pedigree parents of "two at Harvard and one at Groton." But the privileged insular world inhabited by the Kittredge family, as well as their public status as distinguished arbiters of culture, makes them .. Read more
| Starring | Stockard Channing, Will Smith, Donald Sutherland, Ian McKellen |
|---|---|
| Director | Fred Schepisi |
| Genres | Comedy |
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Six Degrees Of Separation
Fifth Avenue socialite Ouisa Kittredge (Stockard Channing) and her purveyor of high-art husband Flan (Donald Sutherland), are pedigree parents of "two at Harvard and one at Groton." But the privileged insular world inhabited by the Kittredge family, as well as their public status as distinguished arbiters of culture, makes them easy prey for a consummate con-artist like Paul (Will Smith). One night, he mysteriously shows up at their front door--injured and bleeding--claiming to be Sidney Poitier's son and a close college crony of the Kittredges' Ivy League progeny. Impressing Ouisa and Flan with his articulate literary expositions, Paul proves to be a sharp-witted, learned young man with epicurean taste and surprising culinary skill. His highbrow facade is so charmingly persuasive, Paul soon has the Kittredges loaning him money, putting him up for the night and taking satisfaction in his appraisal of their posh lifestyle. Much to the Kittredge's shock Paul is revealed to be a highly persuasive con-man, who has charmed his way into many upper-crust homes along the upper East side with his wit and insider knowledge. As Paul's plot unravels he becomes an urban legend of the upper crust, a witty anecdote to banter about at cocktail parties. However, he has a profound effect on the many individuals who encounter him, linking them in their shared experience.
This film version of John Guare's highly successful stage play features remarkable ensemble acting and incredibly witty dialogue with an insider's ear for the excesses and delights of upper crust Manhattan.
| Starring | Stockard Channing, Will Smith, Donald Sutherland, Ian McKellen, Mary Beth Hurt, Bruce Davison, Heather Graham, Anthony Michael Hall, Richard Masur, Eric Thal, Anthony Rapp, Catherine Kellner, Osgood Perkins, Chuck Close |
|---|---|
| Director | Fred Schepisi |
| Studio | MGM ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 47 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 22 Sep 2003 Production year: 1993 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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As an alien-chaser in Independence Day and Men in Black, Will Smith served notice on Eddie Murphy that he was the new, smarter, cheekier black kid on the block. But, with this earlier bourgeois satire, he had already displayed the talents that were to elevate him to the superstar stratosphere. As the young man who talks his way into the rich New York household of liberal-minded art dealer Donald Sutherland and his wife Stockard Channing by pretending to be the friend of their student children, Smith is as busy as a gadfly. John Guare has perhaps been too careful in transferring his play to the screen and Fred Schepisi's direction is too safe for a real sarcastic sting, but Smith's performance shines above these limitations, transcending the too-glib spelling-out of the gulf between integrity and hypocrisy.
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Witty, complex, always engrossing study of identity and more; the key moment comes as the con man lectures his captive audience, complacent in their belief in themselves and their understanding of culture, on the death of the imagination Ð and fools them.
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Most helpful member's review
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12 out of 12 people found this review helpful
Makes you think
This film is the story of an unexplained young man (Will Smith)breaking in to the wealthy world of New York. The mysterious stranger weaves in and out of the plot, which also focusses on reactions to him, and what these reactions show.
Much more than a mystery the film examines prejudice, society and truth. It cuts to the heart of characters. As Stockard Channing's character remarks - we make people into anecdotes but there is really far more to them. Can we ever really explain people?
This film was originally a play and parts of it, especially the beginning, reflect that. It requires a bit of concentration to begin with, but is worth watching, and thought provoking. -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
turned out better than expected
started watching this and suddenly I was hooked - intrigued - thought the ending was sad - it occured to me at the end that it may well have been a stage play as the scenes were pretty long indoors with not many on location however this did not spoil the film in fact it made me realise the strength of the acting - a good film but probably not one to watch again for a long time or until my memory fades about the ending
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