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Six Degrees of Separation |
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Six Degrees of Separation
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by Mgm Entertainment
Sales Rank: 30655
Price: $19.98
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'the ultimate movie about the New York cult of class (Glamour), this rich and challenging cinematic treat (Playboy) is both a laugh-out-loud comedy and a biting social commentary about the separation between the 'haves and the 'have-nots. Will Smith gives a mightily impressive debut, Donald Sutherland is perfection and Oscar(r)-nominated* Stockard Channing moves from brilliance to somewhere above and beyond brilliance (CBS-TV) in a story that's all the more amazing because it's true! Posing as the son of Sidney Poitier, Paul (Smith) deftly penetrates the world of art-dealing urbanites Ouisa and Flan Kittredge (Channing and Sutherland). But as Paul's web of dropped names and near fame begins to unravel, he provides his hosts with much more than just theultimate cocktail party anecdotehe sets in motion a series of events that will alter the course of their lives forever. *1993: Actress
Viewer Reviews
I had heard many good things about `Six Degrees of Separation', especially when in regards to Will Smith's performance. Finally, a few nights back, I had the chance to check it out and I must say that Will Smith is not the only reason to watch this fantastic film; in fact there is so much good going here I'm shocked the only recognition the film received was a mere Best Actress nomination for Stockard Channing (who is phenomenal).
The film follows Louisa (Ouisa) and John (Flan) Kittredge as they recount their dealings with con-man Paul, a young African American who claims to be school friends with their children, and son of the famous Sidney Poitier. Paul shows up at their front door claiming to have been mugged. He's bleeding and says that his dear friends, Woody and Tess, told him that their parents were the kindest souls in the world, and so he knew where he needed to go. Ouisa and Flan immediately drop their plans for the evening and allow Paul to cook for them and shower them with stories of his life. They are fascinated by this young man, so much so that they offer him a room for the night; but upon their waking in the morning they find that Paul is not all that he seems.
What is so wonderful about this movie is that it brilliantly captures the root of the characters actions. It fleshes out the emotional turmoil these different class distinctions go through. It's not about money though; it's about that feeling of belonging.
Paul, a young troubled man, just wants to feel as though he has a family, people who love him, and so he cons wealthy parents who barely speak to their own children into speaking to him. He thrives off of their company, and he knows that they thrive off of his. Ouisa and Flan hardly see their own children, and this is especially difficult on Ouisa. She finds in Paul a part of herself, a parental longing, that she has been waiting to express for so long, and this becomes apparent even after Paul's façade is broken. Paul knows what he must do to gain her affection, and she is desperate to express it.
Some have baulked at the performances, claiming that they are over-the-top and unrealistic, but I think that those critics (see, I refer to my fellow reviewers as critics because in all honesty, that's what we are here) are missing the point. This is a film adaptation of a stage-play, and stage acting is much more theatrical than screen acting. `Six Degrees of Separation' carries the same feel as the play as apposed to keeping the story but changing the atmosphere (ala `Proof' or the recent `Bug'). When you watch `Six Degrees of Separation' you might as well be sitting in the theater, for the performances are as richly fulfilled as if they were performing for a live audience.
On that note.
Yes, Will Smith is fantastic. He really captures the air of someone who is faking his way into our hearts. I never once thought that his façade was real, and I think this helps add weight to the fact that these parents are desperately seeking his form of attention. They are longing for some interaction with their own children that they overlook any and all of inconsistencies in Paul's story just to keep him near to them. Channing is utterly brilliant here as well, truly capturing the plight of her character. Sutherland is also great as Flan, offsetting Ouisa's sentiment with that strong male logic that clouds over his emotional state. The supporting cast is fine indeed, Ian McKellen has a nice small role, but the three leads are truly the most memorable and make the biggest impression.
`Six Degrees of Separation' is a marvelous character study, a film that allows us to peer inside ourselves and find the parts of us that long to belong, and ultimately ask ourselves how far we'd be willing to go to attain the attention we so desperately desire.
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Six Degrees of Separation
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