So first Cusack, then the film. Halfway through High Fidelity, I wanted to put myself out of my misery. Cusack plays a self-absorbed loser-type, or to put it another way, he is what happens when an asshole loses all hope/energy, and just pities himself constantly (for not having a girl) instead of criticizing himself. Turns out this is the guy he plays in almost every film. (Sure Thing comes to mind, though that movie got the Hollywood ending so he actually ends up with a girl.) I hate that guy! So naturally I was expecting more of the same from The Grifters, but to tell you the truth, I was pleasantly surprised. His character was definitely a down guy (grifter means con artist), with lots of troubles, but he didn't seem to harp on anything too much--he actually seemed to have a little determination to clean up his mess. I still was slightly annoyed though. So there it is, take a picture, I doubt it will ever happen again.
Now the film. I'm 23 so I figure I get to be both serious and sophomoric:
Serious-- The movie achieves that "cool" aura. To put it in a nut shell, the colors and camera angles convey well the style of a noir, and a thriller. Bernstein's score is enough 80's to be cool in that 80's way, but not enough to be too dated. It really supports the thriller aspect of the film and shows that he truly is heir apparent to Bernard Herrmann (Psycho, 1960). And aside from Cusack, I really like the other two main characters. Huston has something about her, and she plays those eery scenes (not going to spoil it) really well. And Benning gives us a lot in this movie in terms of character.
Sophomoric-- Benning really gives us "a lot" in the form of, well, getting naked A LOT. Sorry to alienate you folks who thought I had a brain only. Anyway to continue, Cusack's misfortunes seem almost fun to watch--Ha. And even the veteran Angelica Huston turned my head a few times. Not nearly as much as Benning!!!
Weighing all the good stuff against Cusack, it gets a 7/10.
Now the film. I'm 23 so I figure I get to be both serious and sophomoric:
Serious-- The movie achieves that "cool" aura. To put it in a nut shell, the colors and camera angles convey well the style of a noir, and a thriller. Bernstein's score is enough 80's to be cool in that 80's way, but not enough to be too dated. It really supports the thriller aspect of the film and shows that he truly is heir apparent to Bernard Herrmann (Psycho, 1960). And aside from Cusack, I really like the other two main characters. Huston has something about her, and she plays those eery scenes (not going to spoil it) really well. And Benning gives us a lot in this movie in terms of character.
Sophomoric-- Benning really gives us "a lot" in the form of, well, getting naked A LOT. Sorry to alienate you folks who thought I had a brain only. Anyway to continue, Cusack's misfortunes seem almost fun to watch--Ha. And even the veteran Angelica Huston turned my head a few times. Not nearly as much as Benning!!!
Weighing all the good stuff against Cusack, it gets a 7/10.