Fear, Anxiety & Depression

I guess it makes sense in a weird way that this, the debut that he disowns, would be my favorite Solondz film. It's basically just as mean-spirited as his later work, albeit presented in a more overtly campy '80s PoMo way that i have a huge soft spot for, but more importantly he inserts himself amidst his usual assortment of grotesque caricatures as probably the most obnoxious of them all (he comes across like Woody Allen from hell), adding a much needed element of self-criticism.

It’s like what if a dude thought he was Woody Allen interacted with people as if he was in a Hal Hartley movie. That’s going to be a lot of people’s personal hell but I had fun. It is very rough around the edges but the music is good and it does kind of set a template for a lot of 90’s indie comedy cinema. Stanley Tucci as the playwright who has it all but pretends to want less is just a scene stealing delight

Definitely feels like a student film or a guy just kind of drowning in his influences while trying to figure his vision out. Could be worse influences to crib from. Acerbic and witty. Catchy song too

At first, this is like watching an extremely manic Woody Allen movie--to whom this owes a substantial debt. But once you adjust to its sensibility--a kind of hysterical, slapstick black humor--there are some very funny moments. It's fun to see a young Stanley Tucci (with, well, more hair). I'm glad Solondz didn't give up--and eventually settled down a bit.

Very solid first movie. Solondz’s facial expressions are golden, I laughed a lot and his dark comedy is already there, making you feel uncomfortable with everybody being pathethic and/or an asshole. Also I absolutely adore everything that the girl wore, I need that “HATE” dress

Endearingly odd debut for Solondz feels at times more like a testing ground for ideas than a properly developed film, but what is here works so well it's hard to complain. Solondz's wonderful lead performance (a kind of schlubbier Woody Allen) is the stand-out, but the supporting cast work well to bring life to their gallery of grotesques (with Tucci's Alan Alda-ish foil performance very funny). Some beautiful sight gags, especially the opener involving a pane of glass.

59.000