Ghost World (US)

What the hell is this? Is it a teenage comedy? A drama? A sophisticated look at our society? A truly touching story? Or is it just a mixture of weird characters, no plot whatsoever and no sense at all? Well, I believe the answer is clear. This is a pathetic waste of 111 minutes.
The video transfer is ok. While the image is clear of any compression signs, several scenes seem a bit blurry.
The DD 5.1 soundtrack is flat, as you can expect from a dialog driven movie. There is an occasional usage of the surrounds during the (boring) music scenes.
The menus are animated with sound.
The extras include a behind the scenes look, 4 deleted and extended scenes and a so-called nostalgic music video.
Bottom line - I really don`t know how can anyone in his right mind appreciate this piece of trash. A total BOMB. One to avoid.

A fantastic film. Based on a comic by cult cartoonist Daniel Clowes, it`s a story of loneliness and isolation, of what it feels like to feel affinity with no-one. Enid and Rebecca are high-school dropouts trying to come to terms with the real world, and Enid`s inability to immerse herself into the suburbian fantasy causes her to drift away from Rebecca, and towards record-collecting loner Seymour. Together they despair at the world around them and how it represses individuality in favour of mindless tedium and conformity.

Despite this it is often a very funny film. The dialogue is tight, and brilliantly cynical. The humour is subtle and never shoved in your face, this is no comedy along the lines of American Pie. Thora Birch and Steve Buscemi both turn in fantastic and very human perfomances, above even their usual high standards.

Regarding the DVD, the transfer is generally excellent, highlighting the rich colour and impressive cinematography. The atmosphere of Enid`s suburbian prison is realised perfectly, and the quality of the picture helps bring this out. Sound is fine, although there isn`t much use for Dolby 5.1 in a film of this kind. The added features are also fairly perfunctory, but the shorts with Daniel Clowes are interesting. It would really have benefited from a commentry track, given how much the director and writer obviously put into the film.

However what we`re here for is the film, and you will find little to touch it. It`s a rare treat in the current glut of samey, formulaic films. It doesn`t rely on plot, but rather on creating a rich atmosphere and strong, carefully crafted characters. At turns very funny and deeply touching. A truly great film.