Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Sony
EAN: 0043396159136
Format: AC-3
Item Dimensions: Array
Label: Sony Pictures
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
MPN: COLD15913D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Region Code: 99
Release Date: 2007-02-06
Running Time: 122
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: 2006-10-27

Based on the personal memoirs of Augusten Burroughs, Running with Scissors is a wickedly funny, brave and moving tale of surviving a most unusual childhood. Augusten's (Joseph Cross) mother (Annette Bening) is a deluded aspiring post with bipolar disorder whose marriage to his dad (Alec Baldwin) is in ruins. Soon, she is seeing a very eccentric therapist named Dr. Finch (Brian Cox), while Augusten is left in the care of Finch's wackly family, including his tightly-wound daughter (Gwyneth Paltrow). Abandoned by his parents and adopted by the Finches, he finds a kindred spirit in youngest daughter Natalie (Even Rachel Wood) and motherly support from Finch's long suffering wife Agnes (Jill Clayburgh). Constantly recording the events of his life in his journals as a way to cope, Augusten finds himself avoiding school, learning about love from an older man (Joseph Fiennes), and making big decisions at the tender age of fifteen.
Annette Bening is the stand-out highlight in this dysfunctional "family" comedy based on the bestselling memoir by Augusten Burroughs. Although fans of the book may be slightly disappointed with the film's uneven and somewhat campy rendition of Burroughs' twisted adolescence in the 1970s, there's plenty of pleasure to be found in the work of an excellent cast led by Bening, who gives a subtle dare-to-hate-me performance as Burroughs' mother Diedre, a would-be poet who's so aloof about her teenage son Augusten (played by fresh-faced newcomer Joseph Cross, from Flags of Our Fathers) that she allows him to be legally adopted into the eccentric family of her psychiatrist, Dr. Finch (Brian Cox). As the half-crazed Finch overmedicates Diedre into a haze of semi-conscious madness, he also turns Augusten's life upside down while his wife (Jill Clayburgh) and daughters (Gwyneth Paltrow, Evan Rachel Wood) indulge their own eccentricities and Augusten enters into an intimate relationship with one of Finch's adopted patients (played by Joseph Fiennes).

As adapted and directed by Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy, Running with Scissors lacks the singular voice of Burroughs' dryly comedic first-person narrative, but even as the film struggles to find a consistent tone, it's so full of wacky behavior that you can't help laughing. It's a messy, patchwork quilt of a movie, blessed by authentically garish '70s production design and a soundtrack of familiar '70s hits. In rendering Burroughs' indelible portrait of weak, irresponsible adults and the people they victimize, Murphy and his well-chosen cast (which also includes Alec Baldwin as Diedre's ex-husband) find moments of touching pathos amidst the madness. For her part, Bening delivers an acclaimed performance that gives the film a dramatic weight it otherwise lacks. The rest is for anyone who enjoys a laugh at the freak-show expense of damaged and damaging characters. --Jeff Shannon

Stills from Running with Scissors (click for larger image)

More Running with Scissors on Amazon.com

The Book

More Films staring Annette Bening

More Films about Eccentric Families

Customer Rating:
Summary: Running With Scissors
Comment: This movie was very different from what I would usually watch, but I did enjoy it quite a lot. It was recommended to me by a friend as otherwise I doubt that I would have ever ordered it. I have watched it a couple of times now and I do recommend it to anyone with an open mind as it is a bit strange but has a great cast of actors. I especially enjoyed the ending as I feel it has a happy one which I always like.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A non stop nostalgic "Manic" blast
Comment: Running with Scissors has become one of my favorite movies.
It's characters are as colorful as a box of crayola crayons and twice as fun.
The story is heartbreaking as well as heart warming,all set to a fantastic Seventies Soundtrack.
It's hard to pick out a Stand out because their all so wonderful.
Although In my opinion Rachel Evan Wood and Jill Clayburgh were the most effective in their roles.Jill Clayburgh could have overplayed her role but she didn't she was subtle yet very effective as the neglected eccentric housewife Agnes.Rachel Evan Wood is always a delight to watch,no exception here.
Joseph Fiennes also gives a wonderful performance as the schizophrenic homosexual "Neil Bookman" who although a tortured soul shows a tender childlike side that we all can relate to.
Joseph Cross as Augustin Burroughs is charming and a joy to watch.
Annette Benning was the only person nominated and it was for a Golden Globe,.
I would have to disagree and give the others mentioned a Nod as well.
The music and songs fit so well with the scenes that you find yourself anticipating the music as much as the scenario itself.If you have ever thought you or your family were eccentric or out of the "so called" Norm you will really get a kick out of this movie.
This is definitely in my top 20 films of all time.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not worth your time
Comment: There were small elements of the story that I appreciated, but not enough of them to make it worthwhile to watch the whole movie- and usually I really love artistic independent-type films. It drags on and on in really odd directions with no real punchline. Weird.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Running with Scissors - The Movie
Comment: I was somewhat disappointed in this movie. I felt the book was far more intense and gave you a deeper understanding of Augusten's life. Although there was an excellent cast in the movie, it just didn't match the intensity and craziness that was in the book. Had I not read the book first, I may have appreciated the movie more. I give the movie a B-.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Nightmare On Shrink Street
Comment: Based on Augusten Burroughs' 2002 memoir about his dysfunctional childhood, "Running With Scissors" (2006), is like a blend of "The Upside of Anger"(2005) and "Tideland" (2005). The film was not commercial enough for widespread theatrical release but has built up a decent size cult following and probably sold some books. If you don't like the film (or at least relate to it) it is probably because your family was not dysfunctional enough.

As Paul Newman discovered when he made "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" (1972), stories about mentally disturbed mothers engaging in screaming matches don't make for upbeat movies; even with a theme of a child successfully overcoming adversity. So director Ryan Murphy was tasked by his producer with the objective of lightening up his screen adaptation of "Scissors." Unfortunately he was not entirely successful and the obvious comedic elements are awkwardly inserted and don't really work, as comedy anyway.

Fortunately (at least for those able to relate to the film) his production designer and his post-production team save the day and the film achieves a nice lyrical quality. So watch for those moments that work best. These are the intricately edited montages matched to the playing of popular songs from the period (the film is set in the 1970's) including "Bennie and the Jets", "The Year of the Cat", and "Blinded by the Light". My favorite is the match-cut screams at about the midway point of the story. The film's final credits go out to "Teach Your Children", a little too obvious perhaps but a good match with the ironic tone that flows throughout the film.

Momma's boy Augusten (Joseph Cross) is sent to live with his mother's well-intentioned but deeply disturbed psychiatrist Dr. Finch (Brian Cox), so basket case Mom (Annette Bening) can be properly sedated and focus on her bad poetry. Dr. Finch's household is a product of his own extreme weirdness, and is housed in a dilapidated pink mansion under the constant threat of IRS repossession. Rebellious daughter Natalie (Evan Rachel Wood basically playing her "Upside of Anger" character but with mega eye makeup), her Bible-directed sister (Gwyneth Paltrow-who nicely teases her role), his kibble-snacking wife Agnes (nicely underplayed by Jill Clayburgh), and a 35 year-old prone to violence adopted son (Joseph Fiennes).

Augusten's mother is not a one dimensional Mommie Dearest. She's a complicated bundle of unfulfilled ambition with the occasional lucid moments when she is not pumped full tranquilizers. As the story moves forward she goes from being an Auntie Mame toward her adoring child to a self-absorbed free spirit. There is an anti-permissiveness subtext in much of this, with Augusten yearning for rules and structure in place of constant (usually unpleasant) surprises.

Everyone in the cast delivers first-rate performances. If you can relate to the material, focus in on the best individual sequences, and overlook the director's inability to find a precise focus you should enjoy the film.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

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