Running With Scissors (2006)reviewed by Benn "Where's the Humanity?" Farrell
In “Running With Scissors,” teenager Augusten Burroughs, played by Joseph Cross (Flags of Our Fathers), shares a variety of shocking and unfathomable stories from his journal writing, being the son of an alcoholic father, played by Alec Baldwin (The Departed), and having a mentally unstable mother, played by Annette Bening (American Beauty). After the separation of his parents, Burroughs is handed off into the care of his mother’s therapist, Dr. Finch, played by Brian Cox (Red Eye), and spends his adolescent years as a member of Finch’s bizarre extended family. Most situations in this picture are very sad; however, its saddest moments are its strongest, especially in the later half of the picture. The performances were outstanding, a benchmark for the year’s performances in general. Bening was a pinnacle of the ensemble. Cox, Baldwin, Cross, Gwenyth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes were freakin’ out of the park with what they brought to the film, but Bening was simply jaw-dropping. I hope she’s remembered come Oscar® time. “Running With Scissors” is a very tough movie to watch. It’s difficult to live these odd occurrences with a 14-year-old boy and feel his struggle to find a peaceful rhythm among it all. The picture is laugh out loud funny in several spots, and there are many of them. It certainly helps cope with how sad and depressing the picture can tend to be. Overall, I think this was one of the better movies of 2006. It’s interesting. It’s very emotionally strong and very humorous. Benn - Where's the Humanity?
This was a very, very funny and strange movie. It’s the definition of a DARK comedy.