MOVIE REVIEW: Ghost World (2001)

Ghost World is a dark comedy, that caught me off-guard by how dark it actually was. Based on a comic book by Daniel Clowes, it follows the lives of two high-school graduates with nihilistic temperaments who are searching for meaning in their world. If you think of Scott Pilgrim as your direct definition of a comic-book film, Ghost World isn't like that. Rather, this film plays it (mostly) straight, and relies on it's dialogue, as well as some colorful sets and costume choices. While it didn't blow me away, in terms of the writing, I found the characters very intriguing and often very funny.

Enid and Rebecca have graduated high school, and rather than go to college, decide to spend the time they have in front of them figuring out what to do with their lives. Mainly, their favorite past time is torturing others with psychological pranks. Their schadenfreude antics lead them to Seymour, a 40-something single record collector whom Enid takes a keen interest in. Never feeling any sort of strong emotional connection to anyone like him before, Enid sets out to re-invent Seymour's life for the better, but faces the challenge that it puts upon her friendship with Rebecca, her relationship with her family, and her own self.

I find the characters in Ghost World fascinating, because they're unlike anyone I've ever met before, but are extremely believable. Enid herself reminds me of a cross between Holden Caulfield and Juno. In some ways, these characters represent the emotional pits of despair we've experienced from time-to-time. The acting at times is fantastic, especially from Thora Birch and Scarlet Johanssen, who have since gone on to do wonderful things in their craft. I can see some people considering the ending to be rather bleak, and I do wish the characters sought some type of resolution, but I'm not sure this was the kind of movie for that. In any case, if you like quirky dark comedies, Ghost World should do the trick.

7/10

Peace,
- Jon