Happiness
1998 Directed by Todd Solondz
Synopsis
Three middle-class New Jersey sisters all have their problems with their families and sex lives.
Cast
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"I'm not laughing AT you. I'm laughing WITH you."
"But I'm not laughing."Is it fucked up that I laughed my way through all of this?
Is it fucked up that I think the line "I'm champagne. YOU'RE shit!" is the greatest way to tell off your ex I've ever heard?
Is it fucked up that I thought that scene of the kid asking his dad "What does cum mean?" is the strangest and funniest thing I've seen in a movie?
Is it fucked up that I think the Russian Guy is one of the coolest motherfuckers put on screen?
And when Philip Seymour Hoffman came on the wall...I puked a little.
Seriously, don't eat while watching this. I'll never… -
It's like unintentionally burping mid-conversation.
It's like having to go to the bathroom really badly while you're stuck in traffic.
It's like walking in on your parents while they're doing the nasty.
It's like misreading an invitation and mistakenly thinking you're going to a costume party.
It's like watching porn with your grandparents.
And I love every single second of it.
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Why did I watch this? I'm a masochist. While watching Happiness, I felt dirty, broken, disturbed, and uncomfortable. I also laughed out loud multiple times, followed by long periods of me hating myself. I used to think I liked dark comedy… but now I'm not so sure. Everyone is great in it, it's brilliantly written, it's tonally jarring, and it's really well-done. It doesn't make light of the extremely heavy subject matter at hand, which would've made it easy to hate this film. In case you're unsure what it's about, it tells the story of a troubled therapist who moonlights as a child rapist. He's married to a woman who has two sisters, one of whom is a narcissistic writer…
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As soon as I’ve finished writing this review, I’m going to get straight on the phone to Trading Standards to file a complaint about the title of this film. Having done that I’m then going to crack open a bottle of valium and wash a few of them down with a pint or two of brandy. I mean fuck me, this film is hard work. You know how they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover? Well whatever you do, don’t judge Happiness by its title because it’s one of the biggest misnomers known to man and
of all the emotions you could feasibly experience, I very much doubt that happiness (or indeed any will to carry… -
The most inappropriately-named film of all time? I'm sure you guys can probably think of better though.
So I was recommended this film by Hollie Horror on a thread that escapes me now. Having only seen one other Solondz film, nothing could have prepared me for the sordid nature that makes want to have a wash.
We have a variety of intrinsically-linked souls who are struggling with their various and sometimes utterly repugnant urges.This is very dark despite all the wanking and the final moment which provides an odd American Pie-style moment of comic relief.
"I came..." Ugh.
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This films makes me feel like an uncomfortably filthy, disgusting, sloppy pervert.
That's probably the best compliment I can ever give a film.
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Incredibly dark comedy dealing with pedophiles, serial killers, and a dysfunctional family. One of my favorite films from the 90's, a near masterpiece.
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Film 6/100 of the June Challenge
Although well written, humorous, and nicely acted, Happiness disappointed me due to its sluggish pacing, uninteresting plot, and purposely awkward situations. I mean at first it was funny and clever, but the constant weirdness between all the characters in this world grows tired and becomes a bit boring to watch. I really wanted to like this movie and there is some stuff to like within this film, but it just didn't work for me. Nothing felt genuine and truthful. I imagine the director just wrote and directed a bunch of strange set pieces and seamed it together loosely without much emotion or urgency unlike similar films The Ice Storm and American Beauty. It's a shame.
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I can appreciate having watched this film, but I had trouble finding anything in this film to enjoy.
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Bizzare but very very watchable
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Brutal, depressing and uncompromising, Happiness is not an easy watch. It is, however, a fascinating character study of despair performed impeccably by an ensemble cast. Well worth seeking out, but the paedophile storyline is very full on.
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A delicious, completely satisfying meal that makes Life During Wartime look like cold leftovers (though I suppose it's worth a re-watch now).
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This movie is so fucked up. But it is brilliantly done. Holy fuck.
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I felt like I needed a shower after watching this but. If you are able to find this NC-17 movie anywhere it is worth your time because Todd Solondz just does everything right.
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Pedophilia.
Phone-sex.
Murder.All with an ironic smile!
For a movie so negative and sure of itself, Happiness is compulsively watchable. Its one of those films where the actors disappear into their roles and racy dialogue, so I couldn't even name the players off the top of my head save for Philip Seymour Hoffman, who is somewhat overexposed in indie dramas. He's a great actor though, and so is everyone else.
This film is sure to remain controversial for years, and it's not hard to see why. The characters are all underdogs in the most desperate of ways, seeking contentment through means that wouldn't cross the average persons mind even once. There are no clear villains which only adds to…