Amy WangWhat Is Happiness?
October 8th 2009 14:26
Happiness is 1998 film directed by cult film director Todd Solondz starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman as a creepy guy (his favourite type of role), John Lovitz as another creepy guy and just a whole array of great actors and actresses embodying sad, pathetic, suburban lifestyles. Instead of starting the film off like most Hollywood films do, Happiness begins with a solid message, that the people in the film are not heroes on a conquest for some treasure or a maiden. They are real people with real feeling and real needs and desires who often do not seek the happiness we seek, but seek in their own perverted way a form of immediate happiness. Happiness, being the title and being the main theme in the film is really explored to the core and is given a whole new definition by the time the film ends.
Solondz creates these characters as insight into our own lives and what we do to achieve happiness. What happiness is is individual to each person. What you seek for your own pleasure or enjoyment may be completely different to your friends, your family and almost every other person on the planet. Additionally, what seems to give people happiness, for example a family, a house, a secure job can all be destroyed within seconds. Then what is left? The bare self, stripped of what we thought would make us happy but in the end fails to ignite that joy. Happiness is a complex analysis and depiction of people, of their twisted lives and of great tension at times and frustration at the dead ends these characters all seem to be at. None are satisfied with themselves no matter where they are in their lives and seem to catch glimmers of hope only to be torn back down again.
Overall Plot:
Again, as I love to say, i don't want to say too much about this film just because I think it'll be interesting for the viewer to see each character reveal themselves. Each character is connected somehow to the next and throughout, they come into contact with one another unknowingly and affect eachothers' miserable lives. I'm making this film sound more pessimistic than it is. It really isn't a depressing film nor is it an inspiring film. It won't make you feel heavy and sad afterwards but at the same time it won't make you suddenly understand your own definition of happiness.
Strangely, I didn't quite know what or how to feel when the film ended. Throughout the film, you kind of embark on all these journeys in the least cliched way possible with these characters and experience what they experience. No matter how much in the wrong they are, you understand them and you want them to prevail. Thinking back to it, Todd Solondz achieves this by making these characters 3 dimensional. These characters would all be the 'bad guys' in other films, but in this one, they are the good guys. Maybe 'good' is too strong of a word but in this film, because they are placed into context, they have families and jobs and are seemingly harmless, we as the audience are drawn towards them and understand their side of the story.
One huge praise I must voice is the level of acting shown in the film. Todd Solondz really has a gift for casting as each and every character ranging from old to young, from primary to secondary character were all superbly cast. In particular, I felt Jane Adams who plays a 30 year old woman who lacks luck in the dating department did a stunning portrayal of the lifelessness and yet that glimmer of happiness when something goes right.
Stylistically, this film was very plain and I think this was a good choice on Solondz's behalf just because I think if the film had been so focused on camera angle and mise-en-scene, it would've taken away from the authenticity of the film. I think Solondz here does what Robert Altman does best, which is to concentrate on the characters and performance rather than the editing or the angles of the camera. Yet during the moments of tension, Solondz still manages to resonate this tension through the screen and onto the audience.
Overall, I think this film was a breath of fresh air. I believe no film has ever truly explored the concept of 'happiness' to the core as this film has and done it in such a style that is inventing and touching. This film is definitely not for the faint hearted, but is for anybody who wishes to understand the human psyche a little more and understand themselves in the process.
I give this film 4.5 STARS OUT OF 5
Peace.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Great Review of a very effective film.
For me it is the uncomfortable comedy of the piece that really surprises...tremendous performances all round and a daring study of the choices that we can not make.
Comment by Wilson Pon
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Comment by Amy Wang
Why So Cynical: The Unabashed Ravings of a Loudmouth Malcontent
Films, Films And More FIlms
Hey Wilson - Thanks! And yeah, happiness is so very different for each person and I do think ultimately, material goods are just a facade of happiness and cannot lead to true happiness.