Truly Dreadful Film

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

How sad is this?

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Augusten Burroughs (Joseph Cross) comes from an unhappy family. His father (Alec Baldwin) loves his booze, his mother (Annette Bening) is a temperamental aspiring poet with psychological issues, most likely bipolar of nature. Augusten is much closer to his mom than his dad. His mother decides that the family should see a psychiatrist, Dr Finch, to solve their problems. The outcome is that his parents get divorced, mother starts living on her own and poor Augusten moves in with the Finch family, after being adopted by Dr Finch.Augusten keeps a journal, giving us an indication how the lad tries to cope with this environment, and the people he meets and how they relate and react to each other. For most of the film it makes for engrossing viewing.If you thought that Augusten's mother had issues, wait until you meet the Finch family: From their stoic mother Agnes (Jill Clayburgh), the nun-like eldest daughter, Hope (Gwyneth Paltrow), the younger rebellious daughter Natalie (Evan Rachel Wood) to the eccentric Dr Finch himself (Brian Cox), they are part of one unorthodox family. To call their household chaotic, would be an understatement. Enjoying the erratic behaviour of this odd family is part of the fun of watching this film. I am not going to add detail and spoil it for those who still have to watch this movie. Suffice to say, if you love the bizarre (including below-the-belt humour), you will most likely enjoy this film.Technically this is a fine film with great soundtrack, cinematography and set. I just loved that chaotic house with its unimaginable range of paraphernalia.The character of Augusten is well-developed and three-dimensional. His mother is a more complex person, yet the effect of her bipolar condition is effectively portrayed. Although not playing a major role his confused, booze-loving dad is also well-presented. I found the acting by all accomplished, but special mention must be made of Annette Bening and Brian Cox who really excelled. Joseph Cross also acted well, and this brings me to my only serious bit of criticism, and that concerns the casting. Augusten is suppose to be fourteen and later fifteen according to the book and film, yet he is played by a clearly much older Cross, who was close to 20 when filming took place. A younger actor playing the protagonist would have generated more sympathy for the vulnerable lad; Cross comes through as a less vulnerable, rather independent young adult. The strong points of the film fortunately outweigh this negative aspect. This is a coming-of-age film with a difference, and worth watching. 7/10.

School-loathing gay teenager in 1978 is adopted into the bizarre family of his mother's psychiatrist after her marriage fails and she embraces lesbianism; the doctor--who has a sad-sack wife and two troubled teenage daughters--is a pill-pushing purveyor of the Primal Scream method...and is also in danger of losing his mansion to the IRS. Absurdist tragicomedy from Augusten Burroughs' book, "Running with Scissors: A Memoir", adapted by the director, Ryan Murphy, and smothered in pop music, pop psychology and pop witticisms. The whole damn thing is made into bubblegum. Performances by the talented cast carry many of the scenes, and yet the characters come from the same jaded, cynical mold (so much so, they wear themselves out and wear the audience down in equal measure). Murphy is the kind of filmmaker who loves a good hug between eccentric or eclectic people, but his cinematic style and handling of the narrative are shallow (to be charitable). The humor isn't derived from the characters, just their idiosyncrasies. It's all behavior. What Murphy finds funny is a theatrical sort of deadpan--incredulous expressionism--which makes the movie and nearly everyone in it seem smug (with the exception of Jill Clayburgh as the doctor's wife, who has two or three really terrific moments). It's meant to be precocious; it is instead merely precious. ** from ****

The source material is a darkly funny, but insightful memoir about a troubled childhood, and mental illness. When his parents divorce, Augusten Burroughs is sent to live with his mother's therapist and eccentric family. The action revolves around Augusten growing up in the house and his crumbling relationship with his mother. The movie, produced, written, and directed by Ryan Murphy, has some excellent performances and moments that ring extremely true. But while certainly not horrible or unwatchable, it does not do the memoir full justice. Murphy's writing and direction tend to under serve the emotional undercurrents and overplay the comedic surface. Resulting is a movie that is stuck between dark comedy and intense drama without a real blending of either. As Augusten's mentally ailing mother Dierdre, Anette Bening nails it. So vivid is both the emotional and physical deterioration of her character, to which Bening adds to her slimly written arc. Also impressive is Jill Claybourgh. She plays Dr. Finch's wife, turning in a remarkably layered performance in a minor role. Evan Rachel wood gives her part equal parts spunk and weight, giving the third stand-out performance. The rest of the cast all range from serviceable (Gwenyth Paltrow in a thankless role) to good (Alec Baldwin). As Augusten himself, Joseph Cross is great, but his character becomes more of a spectator, to which any actor would have trouble working with.If Murphy had just given his vision a bit more development, I think this one really could have been something wonderful - a darkly comic, but deeply felt film about the trouble of growing up amongst dysfunction - you can sense the faithful intent in everything. Instead, crucial emotional scenes get streamlined into montages set to the pop hits of the period -1970's, characters are left underdeveloped, leaving the story to not really go anywhere. It's entertaining enough at the funny parts, and Bening is really excellent, but there's not much else to grasp onto.

I am a big movie fan. I like movies of all types. This is arguably the worst movie I've ever seen.I get that it follows the book closely, which raises the point that not everything should be made into a movie. Especially since the authenticity of the experiences in the book have been called into question more than once.These characters are not quirky, they are mentally ill. The things that happen are not funny, they are disturbing; especially considering they are supposed to be true.This movie had the feel of The Royal Tenenbaums, another movie I hated, only Running With Scissors was even more dysfunctional and less funny.I will never get those hours back. I wanted to wash my brain after watching.