Storytelling
Unrated and R-Rated Versions
From the director of Happiness and Welcome to the Dollhouse comes the comedy that shines a light on the dark side of human behavior. Take a journey from innocence to experience, kindness to cruelty and love to hate with an emotionally needy college student (Selma Blair) and a dysfunctional family man (John Goodman) as they learn some of life's most difficult lessons. Masterfully balancing both fact and fiction, acclaimed writer-director Todd Solondz uses razor sharp wit and an observing eye to cut open his characters and skewer the American dream.
Member Reviews
Ouch - RobBC
Life imitates art...then art turns around and kicks life in the balls in Todd Solondz’s mean-spirited pair of tales mocking artistic narcissism and upper class complacency. In the first part a young woman composes a heartfelt story based on a disturbing sexual encounter she had with the professor teaching her creative writing class. When she presents it to her classmates, however, she doesn’t quite get the reaction she was hoping for. In the second part a wannabe director tries to make a serious documentary on a troubled teenager but his motives become suspect after it is shown to a test audience. Solondz explores the various ways we lie to others, and to ourselves, as we try to reconcile the differences between the person we actually are, and the person we believe we should be. Along the way he employs his signature brand of caustic humour, whether it be a derisive allusion to "American Beauty" or the cutting remarks of a blissfully self-absorbed child; the latter becoming the very embodiment of the director’s own world-weary cynicism. Unlike his previous films which elicited some degree of sympathy for the characters, Storytelling goes straight for the jugular and takes no prisoners. In fact the final scene is a firm F. U. to filmmakers and audiences alike...followed by a jaunty little closing song that pokes fun at the movie itself. This is the type of film Michael Haneke would make if he had a sense of humour, but Solondz’s tone is just too bitter to pull it off completely. Instead of the biting satire it could have been he delivers a cruel and sarcastic polemic instead. There are still some brilliant moments here, but he’s done better.Polished Solondz - Spumco
Released in 2001, this is no more shocking than anything you'd see on Robot Chicken or Moral Orel today. The difference between Storytelling and lowbrow Adult Swim fare is that Storytelling is rooted in cliche with a kernel of sincerity. Solondz has an eye for suburban subjects like no other, except possibly David O. Russell, only unlike Russell I wouldn't imagine that Solondz takes himself (or his subjects) too seriously. Since he himself hails from Jersey, is a vegetarian, was at one point an aspiring student film maker; his subjects are really just different incarnations of himself.
Now that we've gotten all of that out of the way, I'd like to say that this is my favourite Solondz film for its merciless aptness. Anyone who has taken an English Literature or creative writing class (or any general humanities course come to think of it) will recognize how spot-on many of the characters are. To say that these people are offensive one-dimensional parodies is unfair, and Selma Blair's Vi is an especially excellent example of the human depth in these characters. Blair's portrayal of Vi displays layers upon layers of rationalization, naivete, idealism, and emotion. Even the sadistic professor in the "Fiction" portion has layers. The subtle inclusions of his writing career (why would a Pulitzer Prize winning author be relegated to what looks like a third tier college?) made me wonder how he ended up such a manipulative bastard. The film doesn't hit us over the head with these details; it simply states them as they come along truthfully, even nonchalantly. I appreciate that because it's got a bland realness very few films succeed in achieving. It's extremely rare that I see a movie where I'm not keenly aware of the character points I'm being fed for the sake of plot development.
I found the "Non-Fiction" portion a bit less provocative but lighter. Why hasn't anyone mentioned how good Mikey is? This kid turns in an INCREDIBLE performance.Worth Reading Twice - WorkingProfessional
Todd Solondz' distinctly different take on suburban American life has always been a welcome change when seeking out an edgy, odd film. While being pleasantly satisfied with past slices of dark humor in Palindromes, Happiness and Welcome To The Dollhouse, I feel Storytelling's early disturbing nature makes it harder to come out of to find the humor in the second half. The two-tier story is interesting and a unique method, yet giving the film a simple once over does not seem fulfilling enough. It took a lot of personal desire to enjoy the entirety to seek the big picture meaning, thus I recommend a re-watch to those misunderstanding or not enjoying the piece. While the film is not Solondz' finest, it is still far better than the forced "original" pictures being released by most "indie" filmmakers today.
Member Reviews
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Ouch - RobBC
Life imitates art...then art turns around and kicks life in the balls in Todd Solondz’s mean-spirited pair of tales mocking artistic narcissism and upper class complacency. In the first part a young woman composes a heartfelt story based on a disturbing sexual ...Polished Solondz - Spumco
Released in 2001, this is no more shocking than anything you'd see on Robot Chicken or Moral Orel today. The difference between Storytelling and lowbrow Adult Swim fare is that Storytelling is rooted in cliche with a kernel of sincerity. Solondz has an eye ...Worth Reading Twice - WorkingProfessional
Todd Solondz' distinctly different take on suburban American life has always been a welcome change when seeking out an edgy, odd film. While being pleasantly satisfied with past slices of dark humor in Palindromes, Happiness and Welcome To The Dollhouse, I ...