The Shape Of Things

Rating:
Summary: lord henry wotton as a 21st century bohemian art student?
Review: "The Shape of Things" is a beautifully acted, 4 person cinema-play that is too intimate to be a film and too in-your-face to be very illuminating or fresh.

Adam, a happy, morally-together all-around good guy dork is befriended and ultimately seduced by Evelyn, a gorgeous, slightly-radical thrift-store-shopping art student who walks the fine edge between eccentric and sociopathic.

The Picture of Dorian Grey is a template that LaBute used unabashedly, Evelyn simultaneously taking the roles of Henry Wotton, The Tempter and Corrupter-- and Basil Hallward, The Sensitive Artist Using Life As A Canvas. Adam is quite obviously pre-and-post Dorian Grey, at first youthful innocence, and later a cold, past-salvation work of "Art" with a capital "A". She never cared for Adam, she only saw him as a tool with which to create her Important Statement about how we View Others to the Unenlightened Masses.

Evelyn uses Adam as a canvas to create her masterpiece (Aka her graduate thesis project). In retrospect, it's a madman's bet with his own alter-ego: I bet that I can use all my feminine wiles to take this nice, unique, moral guy and turn him into a mainstream, corrupt toy of my own creation.

Of course, the point is duly made and shoved into audiences faces like one of the experimental performance-art pieces that Evelyn takes Adam to. Adam morphs into a sort of post-modernist Dorian Grey, except it's his face which bears Evelyn's brushstrokes (right down to a nose job), instead of some canvas safely hidden in an old schoolroom.

The 4 (and only 4) actors portray their roles admirably. Especially Rachel Weisz, who is the central force of the entire film and makes you feel uncomfortable, angry, respectful and admiring simultaneously while making her point well enough to make you understand her position, even if you disagree.

Unfortunately, the film suffers from its own pretensions as much as anyone else's, and you start feeling towards the end that the movie itself is playing a trick on you just as Evelyn is-- it has no affection for its audience, and it doesn't really care if it breaks your heart or crushes any ideals. It only cares about being right and being shocking. I'm all for being right, even if it shocks people. But twisting reality to appear truthful just for the pleasure of pushing the limits of Beauty, Art and Truth is never enjoyable. The real bohemians would have disapproved. Oscar Wilde would have been amused.

Rating:
Summary: Rachel Weisz Is Great, The (Awfully Nasty & Stagy) Film Not
Review: 'The Shape of Things' has gifted acting talents marred by the self-indulgent director. I'm talking about Rachel Weisz and Neil LaBute, and if you love Ms. Weisz, anyway you like the film, no matter what taste it leaves in your mouth. One thing is clear; she can act, but has a straneg penchant for selecting the wrong project.

This film is based on the London stage production (in which Rachel Weisz was in), about four young art college students. Weisz is sexy and independent-thinking Evelyn, who meets an unassuming, slightly geeky boy Adam (Paul Rudd) in a museum. After the surprisingly light, casual conversations exchanged between them, they start to date each other.

Naturally, it is Evelyn who leads the relations between them, and she changes Adam into a more sophisticated, attractive guy. As this metamorphosis is going on, Adam's realtions with other friends (and a couple in love with one another) Jenny and Philip begin to be influenced, not always in a favorable way.

Neil LaBute loves controversial matters and shows it full-scale. I don't discuss the ending, or Evelyn's personality, but the origin of the film is too clear. 'The Shape of Things' is an inverted version of 'My Fair Lady' (to which the film refers briefly), and well, the diretor surely made the point.

But the film cannot hide its too stagy nature, and more damaging thing is, though the film is impressive in revealing the hidden (so he supposes) motives in our relations, more cool, rational thinking would inevitably lead you to the conclusion that the film's characters are just cyphers. If you know, directly or indirectly, someone who acts like Evelyn, please raise your hand. No one?

The good thing, and perhaps the only thing for you to see here, is the acting of Rachel Weisz. Her deft performance makes the character of Evelyn more human than the one found on Mr. LaBute's misguided script, and if you do not believe in the whole 'presentation' (which no college would allow, I am sure), Rachel Weisz barely makes you, giving a realistic touch to the otherwise monsterously incredible character.

Again, I say, Rachel Weisz's great acting is the only reason for you to see the film unless you want to see the 'Truths' about the manipulative relations between humans. No matter how these views in the film are distorted by someone's 'original' visions, her acting talent is a genuine one.

Rating:
Summary: **CRUEL INTENTIONS**
Review: A surprise ending puts everything into prospective with "The Shape of Things", ..add a standout performance by Rachel Weisz and you've got yourself a very satisfying movie. I know I'm jumping on the bandwagon by praising Rachel Weisz for her superior performance, but she is worth all the hoopla. Even if you end up disliking the movie, you can't say anything bad about her performance. The fact is, you really don't realize how great her work here is until the ending. Sure she's good through-out the whole film, but in the end you'll say.. Oh my God! I compare this movie to CRUEL INTENTIONS.. not because I think they're alike, because they are not. It's more like CRUEL INTENTIONS would have been a perfect title for this film. If you've seen it you know why I think that. If you haven't seen it, check it out and you'll find out why. BOTTOMLINE: A good film w/ even better performances and a unexpected finale.

Rating:
Summary: Great Film powered by a powerful performance by Rachel Weisz
Review: A top-notch movie that not only puts the fear in you about the relationship you are in but makes you question your motives in the process. Every thing in this film puts in question the power struggles we face in the relationships we are in and makes us face ourselves as human beings. Neil LaBute not only creates a movie that so exposes the nerves and muscles of relationships, but exposes the hypocrisy of the society they dwell in as well. Rachel Weisz not only floors you with her powerful performance as Evelyn but also makes you question your own morality in the process by her character view of the world. No one is innocent in this movie, and even though Evelyn may seem immoral, she might also be the most moral character of the entire film because she at least does not hide her views of the world. Which makes her sort of a beacon of truth, even though her views are as disturbing as they are immoral.

I dare anyone to not come out of this film a different person that the one who started to watch it. It will not only blow you away but floor you as well with it's ending.

Thank you Neil Labute and Rachel Weisz for such breathtaking and powerful movie.

Rating:
Summary: Well, I'd do what Evelyn said too!
Review: Actually, I found this to be rather pointed. An MFA student (Evelyn) who reminded me of many pomo chicks I have known, decides to see how completely she can get a guy (Adam) to change for her- from his image to his friends. This was as drastic as it was because he had no idea they didn't have a real relationship and that she was doing everything she was doing in order to document it and then put it on display- but really it was just illustrating the nature of many relationships hyperbolically. The actress made a really good sociopath.. woooo. And c'mon, the guy did look better later- but his "before" photo was like one of those from a magazine makeover where they mess up their hair first and put them against a paste-colored background so Evelyn kinda cheated

Rating:
Summary: The amazing performance of Rachel Weisz will floor you.
Review: Dark and comic look into relationships may be mean spirited in places but does get the point across with a real poignancy that is valid in more ways than one. All the actors are great here, but its Rachel Weisz who not only steals the show in more ways than one but also gives you a depth not seen in a performance in quite some time. Her performance is not only spectacular but haunting as well, and will stay with you after its done. The ending will knock you right out of your chair, and leave you cold.

That what good movies should do.

Rating:
Summary: A great satire made by a great performance by Rachel Weisz
Review: Fantastic satire about the minefield of relationships that really makes you think about the people around you. Rachel Weisz proves once again to be the best versatile actress we have around with a powerful performance that seduces as well as scares the willies out of you. She makes this film hands down with her talent and she will have you talking with your partner well after the film is over. The rest of the cast is just as great with Paul Rudd giving a great transformation on screen from geek to hunk. This was one of the best films that I have seen in a long time, and I hope Rachel Weisz and director Neil LaBute work together again.

Rating:
Summary: Neil LaBute is back in fine form, thanks to Rachel Weisz.
Review: Fine adaptation of his off Broadway play still has it's stage metaphor intact and is a bit stiff in places but is still a fine film thanks to the strong performance of Rachel Weisz, who clearly makes this film a real treat to see. Her performance is great, and she is a real acting force to be reckoned with. Paul Rudd ,Gretchen Mol and Fred Weller give great performances as well, and the ending is a real shocker.

See it, and talk with someone you love afterwards.

Rating:
Summary: Fine cruelty
Review: Gretchen Mol and Paul Rudd star in "The Shape of Things". Mol plays a college student who takes her obsession with art over the edge. While correcting a "fake art" sculpture in a museum, she meets one of the employees, played by Paul Rudd. One is popular, one isn't due to appearances. The two begin dating. Their relationship turns intense very quickly as the guy quickly changes his looks. Many more people start finding him highly attractive. Many intensities erupt time by time.

The producer, the director, and the writer creatively film this movie. Everyone gives their unique outlooks. Paul Rudd acts his role wonderfully. The one complaint is that the screenplay often stretches certain scenes too long. This causes numerous unnecessary repetative scenes. Besides this, "The Shape of Things" is enjoyable viewing for the audience. Many shocking scenes keep everyone watching closely until the shocking end.

Rating:
Summary: More verbal gymnastics and phony posturing from Neil LaBute
Review: I can walk a mile with the self-obsessed dramantics of writer/director Neil LaBute, but no further. Labute's latest, "The Shape of Things" is over hill and dale, hither and yon, and back in the weeds. It's a movie that means to say a lot, but not for the record, per se -- it means to say it so you can hear it, and get disoriented on your way home.

It bares a mean-spirited resemblance to Labute's explosive debuts, "In the Company of Men" and "Your Friends and Neighbors," which were both hits among the bright and hip, mostly as guilty pleasures -- we intellectuals get off on cruelty and sexual perversion. Who among the fans of "Neighbors" didn't have a quiet fascination for Jason Patric's confession of rape? Who among the fans of "Men" didn't get a jolt as the deaf girl bawls on the bed? Labute's talent is folding the viewer into the conspiracy with wit and nihilism; just when we thought those qualities defined the him, he directed "Nurse Betty" and "Persuasion," dark-but-good-natured movies skewing closer to the mainstream.

"The Shape of Things" is a return to staged form, adapted from LaBute's play, which struck gold in London, but suffered lukewarm reaction in New York, in part because of 9/11. Both the play and movie are too much -- snarky, muddled posturing on the battle of the sexes, art and morality allegorically stilted in biblical themes. But the play better fulfills our expectations as a long meditation on themes -- this is what plays do, given they can't move around. It's two hours verbal gymnastics, a class, really, with a professional devil's advocate, but it's manageable.

The movie stinks. A film is meant to breathe, and LaBute won't give it air; "The Shape of Things" has one cue after another, on the walls, in the dialogue, in the staging of a scene. All that's missing is the beep from one of those grade school projectors.

The basic story follows the relationship of Adam (Paul Rudd), a shlumpy security guard, and Evelyn (Rachel Weisz), an art student. Evelyn meets Adam as she's about to deface a statue, Adam lets her, and Evelyn changes Adam in ways he never dreamed possible. He loses weight. He gets a nose job. He changes wardrobe. He has sex (yes, this is one of those "never dreamed possible" things). He gets Evelyn's initials (EAT...get it?) tattooed to his hip.

He wonders why Evelyn chose him. We don't. Evelyn has a plan, and it ain't hard to see.

A requisite of a movie, any story really, is that it be about something. And "The Shape of Things" is about a lot, and it is about them in ever-complicating ways. By movie's end, when Evelyn makes her soapbox speech, we understand she is not a stock villain, or even a woman, but a position, that, depending on the reviewer, LaBute does or does not believe in. And that's what the movie's really about -- finding LaBute's voice amidst all of this, tracking every nuance, every loaded phrase, every poster on the wall. For my money, I don't think LaBute personally cares -- he plays both sides against the middle and laughs at the reactions. "The Shape of Things" is a deliberate, cryptic ploy. I imagine we can't possibly know how deep it all goes for Neil LaBute.

"In the Company of Men" and "Your Friends and Neighbors" were not all that different, but they were entertaining and skillfully acted. "The Shape of Things" is not. Weisz has the heaviest burden as the "seductive" Evelyn, and boy, if this is seduction. Weisz rails so hard against conventional sexuality -- she's all risk, no demure -- that Rudd's Adam has to be a whipping boy, and so he is, in the kind of bland performances Rudd always delivers. Gretchen Mol and Fred Weller round out the main cast as Adam's friends, and only Mol seems to play a character we recognize.

When "In the Company of Men" debuted, it sent a shockwave across America's cinematic landscape -- here was a new talent, in the mold of David Mamet, who could really make sparks fly. "Your Friends and Neighbors" confirmed the talent. Whereas Mamet carried past his forays into the con genre, LaBute is stuck on his same dreary themes of dehumanization. Okay, okay, okay already, we've got the point -- if there is a point anymore. And if Labute wants to be the class intellectual above reproach, fine by me. But I'm not buying anymore.