Ghost World
Based off of the popular graphic novel.
Sometimes, the world is a weird place, and it is full of people that don't really fit in. "Ghost World" is a story about people who don't fit in, and they like it that way. The movie is a coming-of-age comedy with an indie feel and a terrific cast.
The movie follows best friends Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johannson¯) during the summer after their high school graduation. At first, they continue doing what they have always done such as people watching, making fun of people from their graduating class and trying desperately to stay out of the mainstream. As the summer goes on, however, the two girls start to grow apart, and they find out that life changes after high school.
One of the strengths of "Ghost World" is that it maintained the off-beat humor and political incorrectness of the original graphic novel. In the graduation scene, Enid and Rebecca complain about their graduation speaker who is in a wheelchair after suffering severe injuries from a car accident. Enid remarks, "I liked her better when she was an alcoholic crack addict! She gets in one car wreck and all of a sudden she's Little Miss Perfect and everybody loves her." These words sound harsh on paper, but when Enid says them, I bet that at least a few people silently agree with her.
Also, "Ghost World" has a wonderfully weird cast of minor characters. Steve Buscemi is hilarious as Seymour, the socially awkward jazz record collector, and the little-known Dave Sheridan plays an insane redneck with nunchucks, making one wonder why Sheridan isn't seen on screen more often. Bob Balaban and David Cross also make cameo appearances as Enid's inept father and Seymour's creepy friend.
"Ghost World"¯ is not a movie for everyone. Parts of it are slow-moving, and without a strong central plot, some viewers might lose interest. However, "Ghost World"¯ is a rewarding movie for people who like independent films, character-driven stories, and quirky characters.
Written by: Rachel Kolb
Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
Added: 6-Sep-2009
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