I seem to remember some negativity towards this from critics when it came out. what gives? I just caught it and really liked it.
was it too similar to labute's other work? this is the first thing I've seen of his, having somehow managed to avoid "in the company of men" and "your friends and neighbors" all these years.
anyway it wasn't without flaws, certainly. I think the biggest one (besides the semi stagey nature of the film) was that what it illuminated wasn't really all that revelatory. it neither went into the social or the psychological "whys" of each issue... nor did offer any "solution" (terrible word choice, I know.)
labute may well have been saying this is just the way we are and there's nothing to be done. I'm not sure... he certainly seems cynical enough to have that viewpoint. anyway, it was sort of shallow in that sense, I guess. but still, this is an honest, entertaining, and intelligent dark comedy that concerns itself with themes revolving around relationships, image and art simultaneously. given the fact that any one of these issues would be basis enough for most scripts, I think he is to be applauded for intertwining all three at once.
In the end "The Shape of Things" may well only cover the shape of things... but it does so in a way that's more interesting than most other films out nowadays... I'd definitely recommend it.
was it too similar to labute's other work? this is the first thing I've seen of his, having somehow managed to avoid "in the company of men" and "your friends and neighbors" all these years.
anyway it wasn't without flaws, certainly. I think the biggest one (besides the semi stagey nature of the film) was that what it illuminated wasn't really all that revelatory. it neither went into the social or the psychological "whys" of each issue... nor did offer any "solution" (terrible word choice, I know.)
labute may well have been saying this is just the way we are and there's nothing to be done. I'm not sure... he certainly seems cynical enough to have that viewpoint. anyway, it was sort of shallow in that sense, I guess. but still, this is an honest, entertaining, and intelligent dark comedy that concerns itself with themes revolving around relationships, image and art simultaneously. given the fact that any one of these issues would be basis enough for most scripts, I think he is to be applauded for intertwining all three at once.
In the end "The Shape of Things" may well only cover the shape of things... but it does so in a way that's more interesting than most other films out nowadays... I'd definitely recommend it.
