Hurlyburly

Released 1998
Stars Sean Penn, Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright Penn, Chazz Palminteri, Garry Shandling, Anna Paquin, Meg Ryan
Directed by Anthony Drazan

Hurlyburly is a talky film - the entire movie is constructed around lengthy sequences of dialogue where the characters talk and talk and talk, often saying nothing. However, because the vocal rhythms are so perfect, the words are so well-chosen, and the performances are so powerful, listening to so much talk is a pleasure, not a chore. It's possible to lose oneself in Hurlyburly, precisely because nearly every line has a hypnotic quality. The action and suspense is in the words, not the deeds. We don't wait to see what the characters will do next, we wait to hear what they will say next. As is often true of verbose movies, Hurlyburly is based on a play - in this case, David Rabe's blistering 1984 off-Broadway sensation.

Many viewers will have difficulty determining whether Hurlyburly is a black comedy or a tragedy. For, while the film contains its share of absurd and darkly comical moments, the overall portrait is a grim one. The characters are bottom-feeders - scum that prey off the weaknesses of others and revel in the bleakest aspects of the Hollywood culture. Hurlyburly would be easier to take if its portrayals weren't so dead-on.

Summary by James Berardinelli

This movie is hysterical at times and tedious at others, and I enjoyed it. David Rabe's dialogue is one of the reasons why. One of my favorite lines was from Eddie (Sean Penn), "No, I know what I'm saying. I don't know what I mean, but I know what I'm saying." The characters are addicts who do what addicts do best--get high. These addicts are more interesting than most, because they like to talk. They talk and talk and talk and talk, and it's amazing how they don't say anything. The cocaine revs up their brains, especially Eddie's. He's often on the verge of deep thoughts, but the drugs prevent him from completing them. Still, he never stops trying.

The film opens with a discussion between Eddie and Mickey (Kevin Spacey), which degenerates into Eddie badgering Mickey via cell phone for the rest of the day. It's one long argument that never stops, and it's hysterical. Another hilarious moment is when Artie (Garry Shandling) drops off a care package in the form of Anna Paquin. She's no more than a pet that they can use for sex. It's disturbing, but very funny. It's not all laughs, though, since drug stories are never pretty for long. Phil (Chazz Palminteri) is a frightening character who generates a lot of tension, and you know that situation will end badly. Also, there are times when it's not so fun to listen to these guys. They have the same conversations and emotions that spin endlessly, and we're privy to the tedium of their lives. The trick is to make this entertaining, and I believe "Hurlyburly" succeeds. It does so through dialogue and semantics, which is mostly interesting but can be a little overwhelming at times. Besides the dialogue, this movie is a must see for the performances. They're all good, but Sean Penn is amazing. Watch him degenerate as he gets high--it's a fascinating performance. --Bill Alward, March 29, 2002