Movie Guys: Get to know ‘Your Friends and Neighbors’

Friday, Sept. 4, 1998 | 10:16 a.m.

* Grades: Jeff, A; Dave, A.

* Starring: Amy Brennenman, Aaron Eckhart, Catherine Keener, Nastassja Kinski, Jason Patric and Ben Stiller.

* Director: Neil LaBute.

* Screenplay: Neil LaBute.

* Rated: R for profanity, brief nudity and adult themes.

* Running time: 100 minutes.

* Playing at: Regal Act III Village Square.

Synopsis:

"Your Friends and Neighbors" unearths the dark side and dark humor from the intimate relationships of three women and three men among today's upscale urbanites. In seeking the most basic human contact -- to connect with another person -- the characters find themselves misunderstood and betrayed.

Dave: It was just a year ago that first-time writer/director Neil LaBute shocked audiences with his deceitful, yet provocative "In the Company of Men," which explored the manipulative actions of two male business associates toward an unsuspecting vulnerable woman. The film won the Filmmakers Trophy Award at last year's Sundance Film Festival and brought with it a heap of controversial debate about the film's content and immoral characterizations. Now comes an even more brutal depiction of morality with his latest effort, "Your Friends and Neighbors."

Jeff:

The expression "tell it like it is" describes the brutally honest and candid opinion that LaBute displays toward husbands and wives, and between friends and neighbors. If you could have seen my expression during the film -- most of the time my jaw was scraping the bottom of the theater floor. LaBute pulls no punches and it's so refreshing. His dialogue spews from the screen like a cobra's venom and all within earshot are infected. He mixes and matches three groups of men and women and their desperate need for love and attention. In pursuit of that need, our group of treacherous lovebirds weaves a web of deceit and lies, revealing a dark side more noxious than the fumes in a freshly painted room.

Dave:

The film stars Jason Patric as a self-absorbed egotist; Ben Stiller and Catherine Keener as a shallow couple who abuse their respective boundaries; and "Company of Men's" Aaron Eckhart and Amy Brenneman as an unhappily wedded pair. Each performance is so genuine that you could swear that you know someone who is just like them. The standout, however, is Patric. His arrogance is so cold and repulsive, all you want to hear is more of his ludicrous philosophy on how "life is on my time." His abusive language is so threatening and his casual delivery so real, he commands your attention (unlike his last outing, in which he was stuck on an out-of-control cruise ship with Sandra Bullock in "Speed 2: Cruise Control").

Jeff:

As always, Dave, you're right. Patric was as cold and unfeeling as Stalin, screaming at his various ladies of the evening through his bathroom door, blaming them for all of his faults. Plus, his moment among his friends in the mens steam room -- revealing his best sexual encounter of all time -- will go down in movie history as the most controversial monologue ever.

I would have to say that the standout was Jerry, played by Ben Stiller. Jerry was the most insecure and, perhaps, the most deceptive and dishonest character within this group of bed-jumping lovers. Jerry was so annoying with his fast-paced, babbling, rapid-fire delivery that whenever he opened his mouth, he would reveal every intimate emotion. He never knew when to shut up!

Dave:

As Jeff knows, I'm a longtime fan of Stiller, so I'm glad to hear that Jeff has finally learned to appreciate his talents. You have no idea how many times I've had to defend Stiller from ridicule. "Your Friends and Neighbors" could be construed as a chauvinistic, slanderous picture that offers little more than a dark take on society. But that would be an unfair assessment.

Granted, it certainly does not make for an ideal date movie, but the film's no-holds barred representation of the actual evil-doings by everyday people will no doubt leave you discussing the very notion of morality. Even the instrumental version of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" in the opening credits defines the irony in the film's content. To put it simply, absolutely brilliant.

Jeff:

I think it's a great date movie, Dave. Men aren't the only pigs in this film. The women are just as evil as the men. I think that both sexes can appreciate the sinister content of the film, and at some point, they will turn to each other in their seat and say, "Hey! I know someone just like that!" And, that is the point: shocking human behavior that does exist in our lives but never in the movies.

LaBute approaches the direction by giving long, quiet pauses during discussions and almost never cutting back and forth. Instead, he chooses long takes (a la Woody Allen) to continue building tension. Remember, you are supposed to laugh out loud at hateful dialogue spoken within this group portrait of dysfunctional couples. Dave and I did.

This is a different kind of horror film, one in which you may identify a character with someone you know, but never yourself. Don't' miss one of the best films of the year, and be sure to take a date. You'll have an interesting conversation over coffee after the film is over.

(Movie Guys Note: Be sure to check out our exclusive interview with "Your Friends and Neighbors" director, Neil LaBute, in the Sept. 16 issue of Las Vegas Weekly.)

MOVIE BUZZ:

"Star Wars" prequel trailer news:

The wait could be over soon for those of us waiting breathlessly to see the trailer for "Star Wars: Episode One." However, the first place you'll be able to see it will not be at your local cineplex. An article in the upcoming issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine reports that the trailer for "Episode One" will first appear on the forthcoming "Star Wars: Behind the Magic" CD-ROM. Once all you "Star Wars" fans stop drooling, we can tell you that the CD-ROM is scheduled for a Sept. 24 release. May the Force be with You ... as long as you're Windows-compatable!

Pale flier:

Clint Eastwood is making his first venture into sci-fi with "Space Cowboys." This will most likely be Eastwood's next project for Warner Bros. Eastwood will produce, direct and star in the film. Reports say Eastwood is wooing Jack Nicholson and Sean Connery as potential co-stars. "Cowboys" is about a group of retired Air Force pilots who are recruited to fly the space shuttle. We prefer the title "Armageddon Old for This."

"Eyes Wide" Opens?:

Nearly two years after it began production in October 1996, Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" is finally moving toward a release date. Warner Bros. is anticipating a summer 1999 release. That date, however, remains tentative. A decision won't be made until Kubrick delivers his cut of the film and, as any Kubrick fan will tell you, that could take a very long time.

NAME THAT FLICK

Stop your whining! Last week everyone complained that the quote was too hard. Now you're all boasting how easy last week's quote was. SOMEBODY IS CONFUSING WHICH WEEK IT WAS! Anyway, the quote was: "What I do now, I do for the sake of the people of the world, but there is one man here on Earth who will never kneel before you."

The winner of the easy quote contest was Tony Lardomita, who smugly claimed "E.G. Marshall from 'Superman II.' " Way to go, Tony! Now, kneel before Zod! (That quote was dedicated to E. G. Marshall, who passed away last week. E.G. will be missed, but his movies live on!

Now, for this week, who said this and in what film: "I once stood exposed to the dragon's breath so that a man could lie one night with a woman. It took me nine months to recover, and all for this lunacy called love. This mad distemper that strikes down both beggar and king. Never again!"?

Does it sound familiar? If you think you know, call The Movie Guys Hotline at 225-9026 or e-mail us at movieguys5@ aol.com. Be sure to spell your name and leave your daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/ e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column for the entire Las Vegas Valley to read.

See you next week!

THE MOVIE GUYS, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears Fridays in the Sun (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Las Vegas Weekly magazine and watch their reviews every Friday on Channel 3's 11 p.m. newscast. Plus, check them out online at: www.lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/movies.

archive