Rating: 
Summary: Hurlyburly will make you Hurl...
Review: A movie about absolutely NOTHING ! What a genuine waste of talent from some of today's outstanding talented and superb actors. Each character suffers from the excesses of Hollywood and the movie industry ( or lack of). I had no sympathy for any of them. The only redemption would have been if all of the characters had snorted a big pile of coke ( which they did most of the time in the movie) and get it over with. Sure, this was not the movie to showcase the Spielbergs or Lucases of the filmmaking industry; but why another dark movie of the downside and sinister trap of the business. Nobody cares unless you're on the inside and can relate. The only characters with some redeeming qualities were those played by Meg Ryan and Kevin Spacey. Ryan can play characters from romantic to trashy.She can pout and be sexy about it or comical and still look and act great --She's still sexy ! Spacey always comes across as the intelligent character who knows more about what's going on in the movie even when his character was snorting coke. The only terrifying thing about his character was how much more blonde his hair was than Meg's. Don't let the cast ensemble or the rave reviews from film art critics get you to think this is a masterpiece. It's bad art imitating a rotten life or vice versa...
Rating:
Summary: Uh huh, it must be art.
Review: An "ensemble cast" wasting 126 minutes snorting coke and babbling incoherently. Boring losers in a story without grit. Occassionally it feels like something's almost there, but it never quite solidifies. Watch the first fifteen minutes, then fast forward to the end. A movie you won't feel obliged to pause when you leave the room.
Rating: 
Summary: As good as a filmed play can be...
Review: I saw this play in London (starring Rupert Graves and Jenny Agutter). This video is certainly a filmed stage play, which may not appeal to everybody. It's talky. Sometimes it feels a bit claustrophobic. But it's very intense, and it features a cast that could never be assembled on stage anywhere. Kevin Spacey, Sean Penn, Chazz Palminteri, Garry Shandling, Anna Paquin, and the great Robin Wright Penn. Let's see that cast on Broadway anytime soon! As for Meg Ryan, she is excellent (and in a difficult, somewhat underwritten role) in a cast that is otherwise great. For me, this is worth more than the entire output of Mr. Tarantino....
Rating:
Summary: Boring and pathetic
Review: It was a real effort to sit through the movie. These characters are not for real. I don't know whether the movie is bad because of the feelings of disgust it arises in me or because of the brilliant performance of the actors. I think it is just overacting, though.
Rating:
Summary: An insightful snapshot of the seedy side of Hollywood
Review: Hurlyburly begins slowly, because the premise rests upon an intricately drawn out character study, not only of individuals leading a life out of ballance, but also, necessarilly, of a culture that enables them to do so. There is no "unheard of occurence", and what plot there is is purely incidental, a barely meaningful byproduct of the real purpose of the movie: the study of a group of characters fleeing from their own consciousness by whatever means available. It is uncomfortable to watch, not only because their search for transcendence and meaning is doomed to fail, and fail embarassingly, but because their attempts are by in large life-negating. There is the obvious escape into substance abuse, marginalised sexual behaviours and the like, but more convincingly, the drug of choice seems to be the characters own perversions of philosophical thought, designed to absolve themselves of responsibility for being (ala Sartre), to trap them in their own reflection (ala Kierkegaard) and to set up house in the reflective mind so as not to be in the world itself living (ala Heidegger). The acting performances are electrifying! Contrary to some critique, Meg Ryan gives an outstanding performance; her humour in the role is less an extension of her "cute" persona, as a reflection of a hedonistic and yet ironic view. While one may objectively feel that the life of a drugged out sex addict, with poor self-protective skills, and parenting prectices that may only be classified as abusive is contemptible, nevertheless one is forced to give her grudging credit for an equanimious approach to life and healthy sense of irony. Penn gives one of the best performances i have ever seen from him, and Spacey, who may well serve as the group's plumb line, offers a piercing insigt into the films situation at the end. He wanders through the situations like a Greek chorus, righting the viewers perceptions, and offering a grounding figured bass counterpoint to the frenetic mental gyrations of the other characters. The movie's "turning point" is a poignant embodiment of Sartres notion of the anguish of man: the fear is not that one may fall, but that one may jump.
Rating: 
Summary: Something tells me I'm gonna have to see it again
Review: Well at first I hated the movie. I could not understand the point of the story. I thought that Kevin Spacey was wonderful, but then anything that he does is wonderful. Since I saw the movie I have reached an understanding of it. These people are not good people. They are not happy. They want to be happy but they continuously look for happiness in the wrong places. But in closing Kevin Spacey was terribly sexy. It is a must see for any Space-y-Cadet.
Rating:
Summary: Great flick!
Review: It doesn't surprise me that most people didn't like this film. The only reason is because they didn't get it. The writing is brilliant, the characters are original and completely realistic. Those who hated this probably watch "Feild of Dreams" over and over again. Ignore the bad reviews, and read between the lines, this is a great movie. Sean Penn does it again!
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST MOVIE EVER
Review: I loved this movie so much.It made sense and everything.You have to understand the meaning of life before you watch this movie.If you dont know the meaning of life then watch this movie and it will teach you.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome study of the human
Review: Awesome movie! Don't listen to the simpletons! I was glued to the screen for almost the whole movie. I must admit it did drag a bit at the end, but otherwise incredible performances.
Rating:
Summary: A solid film made *outside* the Hollywood system
Review: "Hurlyburly" turned out to be a pleasant surprise for me. I had read the play and was deeply depressed by it, not understanding the point of the play. Seeing it translated to the screen by actors who have fully realized their characters in their respective situations, I suddenly understood what the film is about. It's about people on a spiritual quest. Or at least one man, who tries to break out of his drug-hazed world, in order to understand if there is such a thing as fate, or a God, and if so, does He have plans for the lives of all? It is about alienation, both by technology, and social standing, and education, or lack thereof. Don't expect this film to spell out all it's meanings and explorations to you. It's up to the viewer to put the puzzle pieces together, and discover the meaning themselves. This is a smart film made for very little money, and a lot of hopes behind it. Fine acting by all, especially Sean Penn who brings dimensions of need, occasional sensibility, and selfishness to his turbulent role. Kevin Spacey makes a fine comic foil for most of the film, but has one instant of sheer emotional power as his conscience pays him an unexpected visit for one brief moment. I would definitely recommend the viewer watch the director's commentary on the DVD to better understand the film.
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