Running with Scissors(film)
Running with Scissors | |
---|---|
Directed by | Ryan Murphy |
Screenplay by | Ryan Murphy |
Based on | Running with Scissors byAugusten Burroughs |
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Cinematography | Christopher Baffa |
Edited by | Byron Smith, ACE |
Music by | James S. Levine |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release date |
|
Running time | 116 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $7 million[1] |
Running with Scissorsis a 2006 Americancomedy dramafilm written and directed byRyan Murphy,based onAugusten Burroughs' 2002memoir of the same name,and starringJoseph Cross,Annette Bening,Brian Cox,Joseph Fiennes,Evan Rachel Wood,Alec Baldwin,Jill ClayburghandGwyneth Paltrow.The semi-autobiographical account of Burroughs' childhood (when his real name was still Christopher Robison), based on hisbest-sellingbook, received mixed reviews as a film.
Plot
[edit]Augusten Burroughs' mother, Deirdre, who wishes to become a famous poet, suffers from severe mood swings and erratic behavior. Augusten's alcoholic father, Norman, proves to be of no help. By the time he is a teenager, Norman has moved out and Deirdre sends Augusten to live with her psychiatrist, Dr. Finch, who becomes his legal guardian. Dr. Finch is the eccentric patriarch of an oddball family, which consists of his submissive wife Agnes, religious older daughter Hope, and his rebellious younger daughter Natalie, who is slightly older than Augusten.
Augusten finds it hard to adjust to living with the Finches and the irregular weekend visits home with his increasingly unsound mother. After confessing to Natalie that he is gay, Augusten befriends Neil Bookman, Finch's patient and adopted 33-year-old son. The two begin an erratic sexual relationship quickly after meeting; Augusten is 14 at the time.
Consistent with aconfidence gameseen with the family of Neil—and with a 41-year-old patient who abused Natalie, and with young adult patient Dorothy Ambrose—Dr. Finch manipulates Deirdre into signing over her child support money to him. By the time of Augusten's 15th birthday, Deirdre has established a relationship with her living companion Dorothy ( "I've always wanted a daughter" ), leaving Augusten feeling like his mother no longer wants him, while also dealing with the negative effects of Neil'sschizophreniaand Dorothy's animosity.
A few years later, the still-teenaged Augusten leaves for New York to become a writer. He says goodbye to his mother and goes to the bus station. Agnes, with whom he has developed a caring relationship, arrives and gives him the money she has saved.
In a mid-credits vignette, it is shown that Dr. Finch lost his license due to insurance fraud and died in 2000, Agnes went to work in a nursing home, Natalie earned a degree in psychology, Hope worked with her dad until his death, Norman re-established contact with Augusten before he died in 2005, Deirdre remains estranged from her son, Neil was never heard from again, and Augusten (the real Augusten, seen onscreen sitting beside the actor playing Augusten) wrote a book.
Cast
[edit]- Joseph CrossasAugusten Burroughs
- Jack Kaeding as 6-year-old Augusten
- Annette Beningas Deirdre Burroughs
- Brian Coxas Dr. Finch
- Joseph Fiennesas Neil Bookman
- Evan Rachel Woodas Natalie Finch
- Alec Baldwinas Norman Burroughs
- Jill Clayburghas Agnes Finch
- Gwyneth Paltrowas Hope Finch
- Gabrielle Unionas Dorothy Ambrose
- Patrick Wilsonas Michael Shephard
- Kristin Chenowethas Fern Stewart
- Dagmara Dominczykas Suzanne
- Colleen Campas Joan
- Augusten Burroughs(uncredited) as himself
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]Thereview aggregatorwebsiteMetacriticgaveRunning with Scissorsa score of 52 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[2]OnRotten Tomatoes,the film holds a 31% approval rating, based on 133 reviews, with an average score of 5/10. The site's consensus states: "Despite a few great performances, the film lacks the sincerity and emotional edge of Burroughs' well-loved memoir."[3]
Accolades
[edit]Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Boston Society of Film Critics | Best Supporting Actor | Alec Baldwin | 2nd place |
Critics' Choice Movie Awards | Best Young Performer | Joseph Cross | Nominated |
GLAAD Media Award | Outstanding Film – Wide Release | Nominated | |
Golden Globe Award | Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy | Annette Bening | Nominated |
Hollywood Film Awards | Breakthrough Directing | Ryan Murphy | Won |
Satellite Award | Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Joseph Cross | Won |
Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Annette Bening | Nominated | |
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Annette Bening | Won |
Best Supporting Actress | Jill Clayburgh | Nominated | |
Best Overlooked Film | Won |
Soundtrack
[edit]The soundtrack for the film was released on September 26, 2006, a month prior to the film's release.[4]
- "Pick Up the Pieces"–Average White Band
- "Blinded by the Light"–Manfred Mann's Earth Band
- "The Things We Do for Love"–10cc
- "Mr. Blue" –Catherine Feeny
- "One Less Bell to Answer"–The 5th Dimension
- "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás"(Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps) –Nat King Cole
- "Poetry Man"–Phoebe Snow
- "Bennie and the Jets"–Elton John
- "Year of the Cat"–Al Stewart
- "O Tannenbaum"–Vince Guaraldi Trio
- "A Great Ocean Liner" –James S. Levine
- "Stardust"–Nat King Cole
- "Teach Your Children"–Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
An adaptation ofTelepopmusik's "Another Day" was also an underlying theme that recurred several times throughout the film. "Waltz for Debby","Very Early ", and" Re: Person I Knew ", byBill Evansare used in the film as well. The song playing in the "Stew" scene is "d-moll" by the duo Tosca from their albumDelhi 9;this theme is repeated throughout the film.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Running with Scissors (2006)".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedOctober 27,2014.
- ^"Running with Scissors Reviews".Metacritic.RetrievedDecember 25,2013.
- ^"Running with Scissors (2006)".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedJune 30,2014.
- ^"Running with Scissors".Amazon.
External links
[edit]- 2006 films
- 2000s American films
- 2000s English-language films
- 2006 comedy-drama films
- 2006 directorial debut films
- 2006 LGBTQ-related films
- 2000s coming-of-age comedy-drama films
- American coming-of-age comedy-drama films
- American LGBTQ-related films
- Comedy-drama films based on actual events
- Films about dysfunctional families
- Films about psychiatry
- Films based on memoirs
- Films directed by Ryan Murphy (producer)
- Films produced by Brad Pitt
- Films produced by Dede Gardner
- Films produced by Ryan Murphy (producer)
- Films set in the 1970s
- Films set in Massachusetts
- Films shot in Los Angeles
- Films with screenplays by Ryan Murphy (producer)
- Gay-related films
- Lesbian-related films
- LGBTQ-related black comedy films
- LGBTQ-related coming-of-age comedy-drama films
- LGBTQ-related films based on actual events
- Plan B Entertainment films
- TriStar Pictures films
- Films produced by Brad Grey
- English-language comedy-drama films