- published: 05 Dec 2016
- views: 591
Happiness is a 1998 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Todd Solondz, that portrays the lives of three sisters, their families and those around them. The film was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival for "its bold tracking of controversial contemporary themes, richly-layered subtext, and remarkable fluidity of visual style," and the cast received the National Board of Review award for best ensemble performance.
The film spawned the pseudo-sequel Life During Wartime which premiered at the 2009 Venice Film Festival.
Trish Maplewood, the eldest Jordan sister, is an upper middle class housewife happily married to psychiatrist Bill Maplewood and has three children. Unbeknownst to Trish, however, Bill is a pedophile who is obsessed with 11-year-old Johnny Grasso, a classmate of their son, Billy. When Johnny comes to the Jordan house for a sleepover, Bill drugs and rapes him. Later, Bill learns that another boy, Ronald Farber, is home alone while his parents are away in Europe. Under the guise of attending a PTA meeting, Bill drives to the boy's house and rapes him as well. After Johnny is taken to the hospital and found to have been sexually abused, the police arrive at the Maplewood residence to question Bill. After alerting his wife to the police presence, Bill begins by asking the two detectives, "You said something about Ronald Farber?" The two detectives, looking puzzled, say nothing. Bill then stammers, "I mean, Johnny Grasso." Out on bail, he tearfully admits to Billy that he "fucked" the boys, that he enjoyed it, and that he would do it again. When Billy asks, "Would you ever fuck me?", his father replies, "No... I'd jerk off instead."
Actors: Tavis Urquhart (producer), Tavis Urquhart (writer), Tavis Urquhart (director), Jay Morrissey (actor), Zoe Coldham (producer), Al Moore (actor), Martin Blum (actor),
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Short,Actors: Marie Osmond (actress), Tyra Banks (actress), Gary Barlow (actor), Pete Waterman (actor), Matthew Kelly (actor), Carol Vorderman (actress), Will Young (actor), Jim Davidson (actor), Jarvis Cocker (actor), Amanda Barrie (actress), Robert Webb (actor), Jennie Bond (actress), Charlotte Church (actress), Katie Price (actress), Neil Fox (actor),
Genres: Documentary,Actors: Oge Okoye (actress), Olu Jacobs (actor), Ini Edo (actress), Ifeanyi Ogbonna (director), Ali Nuhu (actor), Stanley Ebonine (actor), Stanley Ebonine (producer), Uju Aroh (actress), Augusta Isaac (actress), Micheal Godson (actor), Ed Nnasor (actor), Nazareth Jesse (actress), Kelvin Uvo (actor), Chinedu Ejike Obim (writer), Lucy Awoji (writer),
Genres: Drama,Actors: Oge Okoye (actress), Olu Jacobs (actor), Ini Edo (actress), Ifeanyi Ogbonna (director), Ali Nuhu (actor), Stanley Ebonine (actor), Stanley Ebonine (producer), Uju Aroh (actress), Augusta Isaac (actress), Micheal Godson (actor), Ed Nnasor (actor), Nazareth Jesse (actress), Kelvin Uvo (actor), Chinedu Ejike Obim (writer), Lucy Awoji (writer),
Genres: Drama,Actors: Donald Fullilove (actor), Guthrie Lowe (composer), David Stay (actor), Richard McGregor (producer), Amy Bloom (actress), Salina Duplessis (actress), Edwin Arevalo (writer), Edwin Arevalo (producer), Edwin Arevalo (editor), Edwin Arevalo (director), Christine Springett (actress), Carolina Diaz (miscellaneous crew), Antonio Bunt (actor), Naomi Nektare (actress), Jose Nieto (producer),
Genres: Drama,Actors: Ray Felipe (miscellaneous crew), Marcelo Zarvos (composer), Sarah Michelle Gellar (actress), Kari Wuhrer (actress), Forest Whitaker (actor), Michael Barnes (miscellaneous crew), Julie Delpy (actress), Kelly Hu (actress), John Cho (actor), Brendan Fraser (actor), Kevin Bacon (actor), Andy Garcia (actor), Clark Gregg (actor), Miguel Gurza (miscellaneous crew), Pamela B. Green (miscellaneous crew),
Plot: A frustrated and clumsy bank clerk overhears the conversation of three coworkers in the toilet about a fix in a horse race, and bets a large amount. He loses the bet and owes the money to the dangerous and powerful mobster Fingers. A gangster who works for Fingers has the ability of foreseeing pieces of the future; he is assigned to collect money for the boss, with his troublemaker nephew Tony, and is beaten up by a gang. The manager of pop-star Trista loses her contract to Fingers without her agreement and she is threatened by the gangster. A dedicated doctor seeks a blood donor that might have a rare blood type to save the life of his secret and unrequited passion, a beautiful epidemiologist who's married to a friend.
Keywords: 360-degree-well-shot, 4-stories, abortion, airport, alley, attempted-suicide, autograph, backstage, bag-of-money, bankActors: Christy Cabanne (director), George Beranger (actor), Monte Blue (actor), Augustus Carney (actor), Augustus Carney (actor), Robert Edeson (actor), Robert Edeson (actor), Elmo Lincoln (actor), Allan Sears (actor), Allan Sears (actor), Mildred Harris (actress), Christy Cabanne (writer), Frank E. Woods (writer), George Beranger (actor), Juanita Hansen (actress),
Plot: The Prologue shows man as 'Power,' garbed in Greek-classic costume, standing at the parting of life's highway. One road leads to 'Success' - the other to ''Failure'. He (Power) is confronted by a figure emblematic of 'Pleasure,' who points to out to him "the easiest way," then 'Ignorance' leads him to the end of the road. where 'Destruction' stands. The classic figures disappear and the story begins: 'Power-The Absentee' leaves his factory in charge of his manager 'Might." who wrecks the property in order that his wife, 'Extravagance," and his daughter, 'Vanity,' may devote themselves to lives of selfish pleasure. It is only when 'Justice,' the office stenographer. forces 'Power' to right the harm done to his employees that he sees the error in believing that 'Might' is right. Then comes the realization that 'Justice' should go hand-in-hand with 'Power," and so they are wed, and 'Ambition,''Opportunity' and 'Success' array themselves on his side.
Keywords: 1900s, absentee-owner, allegory, ambition, confrontation, crossroads, daughter, deceit, deception, decisionThe lives of several individuals intertwine as they go about their lives in their own unique ways, engaging in acts society as a whole might find disturbing in a desperate search for human connection.
From Todd Solondz, director of the acclaimed WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE. Meet three sisters in search of happiness amidst their angst. There's Joy (Jane Adams from TV's HUNG) who is on a rebound, Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle), a glamorous writer looking for excitement with a crank caller (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and Trish (Cynthia Stevenson from TV's ACCORDING TO JIM), the housewife who appears to have it all but is hiding secrets of her own.
Here is my take on Todd Solondz's darkly comical masterpiece known as 'Happiness' - a film that deserves and requires attention. Obviously, this analysis contains a handful of spoilers, as well as two clips with slight audio synchronisation issues... for which I completely blame Sony Vegas. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my monotone voice!
Happiness (1998) is an unflinching, satirical punch in the face from groundbreaking director Todd Solondz. Not for the faint of heart, it remains one of the most poignant social critiques in decades.
REMEMBER: All clips belong to their respective owners (praise Todd Solondz for creating this masterpiece, and, seriously, watch the f*cking movie! 11/10)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Movies covered in this part: 00:57 Megan Is Missing (2011) 03:13 Threads (1984) 05:01 Pink Flamingos (1972) 07:17 À l'Intérieur (2007) 09:36 Happiness (1998) 11:22 Funny Games (1997) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All the movies covered in all the parts: Part 1: http://youtu.be/sZbX1_aCvsg The Last House On The Left (1972) Antichrist (2009) Martyrs (2008) Audition (2001) Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Part 2: http://youtu.be/CbbyRZCPgKo I Spit On Your Grave (1978) A Clockwork Orange (1971) Irréversible (2002) Men Behind The Sun (1988) Salò, Or The 120 Days Of Sodom (1975) Part 3: http://youtu.be/iNwPH2-iZmc The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009) The Human Centipe...
Directed by Todd Solondz Written by Todd Solondz Starring Jane Adams, Jon Lovitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman I don't feel good. Rating: 4/4
To be without desire
Destroys a different style
To let her pass you by
It's no good
If only we could walk away
With all this out my way
To be without you
It's no good
To grab the biggest cake
Gives life its zest and taste
This is the truth, my friend
It's not good
Happiness is success
Success brings hope