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Overview

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Happiness, 1998

Starring: Dylan Baker, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Directed by: Todd Solondz

Written by: Todd Solondz

Language: English, Russian

Country: USA

Runtime: 134 min

MPAA Rating:

Rating:7.8

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Profile of Happiness

Happiness can be described as cynical, disturbing, and gloomy. The plot revolves around sexual abuse, an eccentric family, and a crumbling marriage. Its comic aspect comes from grossout humor and dark humor. Happiness's main genres are drama, comedy, and independent. In terms of style, it stars an ensemble cast and features realism. In approach, it is realistic. Happiness is slow paced. It is set, at least in part, in the suburbs. It is located in New Jersey. Happiness takes place in the 1990s. The movie has received attention for being controversial, essential viewing, and an award winner. Note that it involves sexual content and profanity.

Summary of Happiness

Building on the darkly comic angst of WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE, Todd Solondz's HAPPINESS conveys suburban desperation and frustration on a larger scale than his previous film. The ensemble cast of characters centers around the lives of three sisters: Joy (Jane Adams), an awkward, naive, and unlucky musician; Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle), a beautiful, self-obsessed writer; and Trish (Cynthia Stevenson), a conservative housewife who is married to Bill (Dylan Baker), a psychiatrist harboring an unhealthy fascination for young boys. Other dysfunctional characters include the sisters' unhappy parents, Lenny and Mona Jordan (Ben Gazzara and Louise Lasser), and the lonely, sex-obsessed Allen (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who lives next to Helen and goes to Bill for therapy.

At once both scathingly funny and shockingly bleak, HAPPINESS addresses subjects that most films are afraid to touch, including pedophilia and masturbation. Unapologetic and unflinching, Solondz's film features bold performances from the entire cast and makes for uneasy but intriguing viewing as it peers behind the fragile facade of the American dream.

Details

Language:	English, Russian
Country:	USA
Release date:	October 1998
Runtime:	134 min

Cast and Crew See all

Dylan Baker

as Bill Maplewood

Philip Seymour Hoffman

as Allen

Photos See all

Happiness (1998)

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Happiness: Home Video

Critics Reviews See all

Salon.com

A masterpiece. Full Review

|
by: Jonathan Lethem

The New York Times

It has taken only two films, "Welcome to the Dollhouse" and now Happiness, for Todd Solondz to establish his as one of the most lacerating, funny and distinctive voices in American film. Full Review

|
by: Elvis Mitchell

Users Reviews See all

A must-see, even if it just for the film's unique subject matter. Fully entertaining and funny.

Happiness is dark in outlook and its content is striking, yet at its core it is a black comedy and an effective one at that. Convincing performances throughout the cast, and namely by Dylan Baker as a psychiatrist and pedophile and by Phillip... Read and rate it

12.July.2011
|
by: Damon Williams
Damon Williams rated this movie10/10Must See

What a sad and depressing movie. I think it's supposed to be a black comedy but it left me with a "yuch" feeling, about the plots and everyone in it. Read and rate it

14.July.2010
|
by: Devon
Devon rated this movie0/10

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