Running with Scissors (2006)

Director:

Ryan Murphy

Writers (WGA):

Ryan Murphy (screenplay)
Augusten Burroughs (book)

Release Date:

27 October 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Ever have one of those lives?

Plot:

Young Augusten Burroughs (Cross) absorbs experiences that could make for a shocking memoir: the son of an alcoholic father (Baldwin) and an unstable mother (Bening), he's handed off to his mother's therapist, Dr. Finch (Cox), and spends his adolescent years as a member of Finch's bizarre extended family.

Plot Keywords:

Dysfunctional Family | Racist Comment | Hot Pants | Family | Lesbian Kiss

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Annette Bening	...	Deirdre Burroughs
Brian Cox	...	Dr. Finch
Joseph Fiennes	...	Neil Bookman
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Natalie Finch
Alec Baldwin	...	Norman Burroughs
Joseph Cross	...	Augusten Burroughs
Jill Clayburgh	...	Agnes Finch
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Hope Finch
Gabrielle Union	...	Dorothy
Patrick Wilson	...	Michael Shephard
Kristin Chenoweth	...	Fern Stewart
Dagmara Dominczyk	...	Suzanne
Colleen Camp	...	Joan
Jack Kaeding	...	Six-Year-Old Augusten Burroughs
Gabriel Guedj	...	Poo

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and elements of sexuality, violence and substance abuse.

Runtime:

USA:122 min (DVD) | Argentina:116 min | USA:116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | New Zealand:R16 | USA:R | UK:15 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-15 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Australia:MA | Ireland:16 | Netherlands:6 | Malaysia:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Plan B Entertainment

Trivia:

Julianne Moore was originally attached to play Deirdre Burroughs.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the first scene with Deirdre's poetry circle, set in 1978, Dierdre says that Anne Sexton gave a poetry recital the week before. Sexton died in 1974.

Quotes:

Deirdre Burroughs: Augusten. Don't smoke my cigarettes. You have a pack of your own.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Alec Baldwin/Christina Aguilera (#32.5)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Waltz for Debby

Horrifically Hilarious

Black comedies can be very subjective to an audience. Running With Scissors isn't for everyone. The humor comes from the often shocking dysfunction the characters struggle with. Annette Bening plays a woman so selfish, egotistical and full of anger that she would destroy her family to satisfy her needs. Ms. Bening's performance is raw and spontaneous. Brian Cox plays the doctor she turns to who may or may not be an out and out quack, another stellar performance. Natalie Rachel Ward stands out as the doctors younger daughter while Gweneth Paltrow seems lost amongst the fine acting surrounding her, and although it is always good to see Jill Clayburgh in anything, I was not as impressed with her as I have been in the past. Alec Baldwins turn as Bening's husband is small, but he holds his own. In the midst of all the over the top, almost Gothic insanity is Bening and Baldwin's son, based on the author, subtly played by Joseph Cross. Patrick Wilson has a difficult time with a difficult character, another victim of the doctor's "treatment".

I would agree with another commenter who stated that the director Brian Murphy uses every trick in the book when it comes to film making and then some. I fully expected a musical number or a dream sequence. As evidenced in Nip Tuck, Murphy relies on music to enhance a mood. The art direction and costumes capture the seventies and all it's weirdness. As others have said RWS also reminded me of American Beauty in it's anti-American dream nature. This movie covers dark territory, doesn't have obvious comedy and doesn't follow any typical scenario although it did suffer from "sappy" moments. I can guarantee that you'll walk out of the theater happy that you aren't anyone in the film.