Running with Scissors

"Where would we be without our painful childhoods?"

Disfunction just got wackier in "Running with Scissors" based on the memoirs, by the same name, from the main character Augusten Burroughs.

Augusten (Cross) never had a chance to have a normal/supportive family. His mother Deirdre (Bening) is a wannabe writer with many neurosies. His father Norman (Baldwin) is an alcoholic who treats his family with indifference. Deirdre confides in Augusten often and the two are very close. But then Deirdre begins therapy with Dr. Finch (Cox). Dr. Finch has unusual methods and eventually causes Deirdre to end her marriage and have her son live with the Finch family. The Finches live in a run-down, hideous pink mansion where anything goes. His wife, Agnes (Clayburgh) watches a horro-soap opera and eats dog kibble. His older daughter Hope (Paltrow) worships her fathers work and communes with her cat, Freud. And his younger daughter Natalie (Wood) tries to break free from the madness by being rebellious. Their Christmas tree has been up for the last two years, and their kitchen table is covered in stuff... While living with the Finches Augusten begins a relationship with a much older (about 15 years older) man, Neil Bookman (Fiennes). Neil is a schizophrenic patient of Dr. Finch, who has violent tendencies.

Everyone is searching for meaning and happiness in life. His father stays away and his mother sinks into drug addiction. And while the Finches are a unique family, they allow Augusten to have a place to belong. He develops close relations with Agnes, who encourages his dreams, and Natalie, who teaches him how to live.

Based on the reviews I had read about this film, it sounded horrible. But curiousity got the better of me... This is not the typical family film. All of the characters are horribly flawed. They make mistakes. And in the end things aren't wrapped up neatly...but there is a beauty in the way the story is told. And after you adjust to the crazy, there are some tender moments between characters. Augusten wrote memoirs which this film is based on and apparently he wrote other highly personal books, which I am now interested in reading. It is hard to explain this film, but I think it is worthwhile...it leaves an impression with you, so that hours later you are still trying to work out this film. It isn't glamourized and it isn't trying to show any character in an uber positive or uber negative light...it is just showing what Augusten saw and felt, and in that way it is very moving. The relationship between Augusten and Neil is weird, but it seems to work...I think the more frightening relationships are the ones Deirdre has post-Norman (her husband).

--: It will have you laughing out loud, cringing, and near tears...I don't know where to classify it, but I think this is the type of film that you have to WANT to see...and it isn't for the faint-of-heart

Running with Scissors (2006) 116 minutes
Rating: R for strong language and elements of sexuality, violence and substance abuse

Director: Ryan Murphy

Starring: Annette Bening as Deirdre Burroughs

Brian Cox as Dr. Finch

Joseph Fiennes as Neil Bookman

Evan Rachel Wood as Natalie Finch

Alec Baldwin as Norman Burroughs

Joseph Cross as Augusten Burroughs

Jill Clayburgh as Agnes Finch
Gwyneth Paltrow as Hope Finch

Gabrielle Union as Dorothy