click on image to see previewGhost World was made released in 2001 as a collaboration of Daniel Clowes and Terry Zwiggof. Daniel Clowes had written 'Ghost World' as a comic book which was later made into the film. He co-wrote the script alongside Zwiggof, who directed the film. Daniel Clowes also wrote the comic 'Art School Confidential' which was later made into a film of the same title. They made the film with an aim at trying to depict daily life of the so-called "social outcasts." The film doesn't really have climactic movements. Watching it makes you kinda feel like you're just following these girls around and seeing what they do with their time. The film's actors are relatively known, but mostly in the independent world. The film stars Thora Birch (American Beauty) plays the lead alongside Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation) with Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs)in the lead male role.
The films centers around Enid and Rebecca, two teenage girls that have just graduated high school and are in the process of "growing up." They plan on moving in together and are trying to figure out what they're going to do with their lives. Rebecca is a little more subtle and has a steady job and is psyched to get stuff for her new apartment. Enid is a little lost and not too sure what she wants. To bide their time, they bother their friend at the local gas station about getting rides around town and make up wild stories about strangers and follow them. To amuse themselves, they respond to an ad in the personal section of the paper and hide out, watching their nerdy victim as he embarrasses himself waiting for a date that doesn't exist. They then follow him to his house and visit him at his rummage sale on a later day. This man, Seymour, becomes Enid's new interest, eventually developing on a very personal level. The more Seymour and Enid's nerdy relationship grows, the more Enid and Rebecca part ways.
The film is very edgy in the sense that you sort of see into the minds of the "strange" people that normally stand out when you walk into a crowded place. Enid has a very rebellious character just basically doing whatever she wants, whenever she wants. Rebecca is more laid back is more willing to conform and enjoy herself. Seymour is about forty and is a total geek who cuts himself off socially and spends his time collecting old blues records. I also thought this film was very independent-esque in the the sense that it relies more on dialogue and the girls' quirky characters rather than an action-oriented plot line.
2 comments:
I find it interesting that your blog on Ghost World is right on top of the blog about Juno! As you said, Ghost World was released in 2001 while Juno was released recently, but these two films seem pretty similar to me in a lot ways. When I first saw Juno it reminded me of Ghost World and I'm kind surprised that more films like these haven't been made by Hollywood yet. Both Ghost World and Juno are films that could be considered controversial but at the same time have a hint of light hearted humor that make the films more acceptable to a wider audience. They both also seem to appeal to large groups of people and different niches. They have an "indie" "artsy" feeling to them, as the directors use exaggerated sets and bright colors and aesthetics that are foreign to many typical Hollywood films. The use of the sarcastic and controversial teenager who likes music or art to carry the story is also employed. While both stories revolve around a controversial teen (ie sleeping with an older man or having a teenage pregnancy) the films are lighthearted in certain ways, filled with sarcasm and wit through the eyes of a young adult, that somehow make it acceptable to a larger audience.
I feel like we'll start to see more films like this creeping into hollywood. The "controversial" indie art film with broad commercial appeal that's not too threatening...
It seems to me that movies about high school kids that aren’t all glitter and gold, but rather kids with real issues or are just plain and ordinary, or even weird, have a more indy film feel to them, even if they are not independent. Mean Girls was about popular girls at a high school, and that film was obviously studio produced with big stars. Films like Napoleon Dynamite or Ghost World on the other hand were independent films were stories about the ugly side of high school. What does this say about cinema as a whole? Are all those popular and glamorous kids from high school destined to shine in life like a star in Hollywood? Or are the average kids out there going to be struggling filmmakers or whatever else in life, but have the satisfaction that they are still good, just not to the masses? I sure hope this isn’t the case, but it seems like a common underlying message in cinema.
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