Storytelling (DVD)

If you like films that leave you thinking, you will like Storytelling. It came out in cinemas *today* although what with Harry Potter and soon to be released Lord of the Rings mania it may not be shown in many screens. Now I chose to see this film on chance. We were outside the cinema, looking up at the posters advertising the films. Well, I've seen Harry Potter and I hate action films, so the poster that screamed "Breaks every taboo!!" "Controversial!" "Sex, Race, Class, Celebrity" caught my eye as something that I might like. The poster pictures a large red book with various characters from the film standing ...  Read the complete review

Directed by Todd Solondz Storytelling is composed of two tales- one lasting an hour and one lasting half an hour. The first story is shorter and discusses many taboos of our society, disabled sexuality, rape and inter-racial and inter generational sexual relationship. The second type is on typical American family life- and is at times is purposely reminiscent of American Beauty. The first film is darker than the first, and the second is more humorous. Tale 1 is based around a creative writing class within American College, there are three main characters, Marcus (Leo Fitzpatrick ) who has Cerebral Palsy, his girlfriend( Selma Blair) Vi and their class ...  Read the complete review

You know, I must be unique among fans of arthouse cinema. I hated 'Happiness', director Todd Solondz's most successful film to date. 'Happiness' struck me as one of the most singularly unnecessary, self-indulgent, stultifyingly depressing and boring movies I have ever sat through. But, for me, Solondz's biggest crime was one of trying to be controversial solely for the sake of being controversial in order to garner more publicity. 'Happiness' addressed issues of paedophilia, masturbation and rape, with seemingly little attempt to examine the characters' motives. 'Storytelling' is fundamentally little different from ...  Read the complete review

After the critical successes of Welcome to the Dollhouse and Happiness, Storytelling is the next film to come from the writing and directing skills of Todd Solondz. Like his other films, it explores the darker side of human nature, with a splash of black humour, this time taking the them of how people are potrayed through stories, against a backdrop of high school and college. Storytelling is split into two parts. The first, shorter part, titled 'fiction', is a self-contained story about a college student, Vi (Selma Blair). She's in a relationship with Marcus (Leo Fitzpatrick), who has Cerebral Palsy, and taking a creative writing class with him. ...  Read the complete review