Film Review: Ghost World (2001)

Screen adaptation of comic books are these days associated with superhero genre. At the turn of the millennium, however, film makers reflected more variety in works of Ninth Art being brought to screen. Sometimes their choice were underground cult comics which were adapted into “underground” cult films. One such examples could be found in Ghost World, 2001 drama directed by Terry Zwigoff.

The film is based on the eponymous 1997 graphic novel by Daniel Clowes. Protagonists are Enid (played by Thora Birch) and Rebecca (played by Scarlett Johansson), two 18-year best friends who have just graduated from high school and decided to, instead of going to college, find a job and rent apartment. While at school, they used to be rebellious outcasts, always ready to use their intellect to mercilessly mock teacher, “cool” schoolmates, popular girls and anything connected with the established order, which they call “ghost world”. But it soon turns out that Enid and Rebecca, while actually living together, have different priorities. Rebecca is much more serious in her intentions to earn money and actually work for a living, while Enid spends all of her time and energy setting up pranks directed at people around her. One of the latest victims is Seymour (played by Steve Buscemi), artist who is lured to mock date through lonely hearts ad in newspaper. Enid, while observing Seymour, soon realises that she actually has plenty of common with him, including love for 1920s jazz, and she becomes his friend.

Clowes’ graphic novel was hailed as one of the most perceptive works to capture anxieties and mindset of 1990s American teenagers. The script was co-written by Clowes and Zwigoff, the latter being quite familiar with underground comics milieu and having reached fame with Crumb, 1994 documentary dedicated to Zwigoff’s close friend, underground comics author R. Crumb. Anyone expecting another grand piece of cinema is going to be disappointed. Zwigoff lacks knack for pace and Ghost World seems like a very long film. He also employs unconventional narrative technique and refuses to use tight plot, which might confuse viewers. Same can be said about somewhat unexpected ending. What lifts this film over mediocrity is wonderful work of the film’s cast. Thora Birch, actress made famous by her work in Oscar-grabbing drama American Beauty, is truly impressive in the role of American teenager alienated from outside world and works wonders in the role that most of other actresses would turn into caricature. Scarlett Johansson, here at the start of her career, is also good but she is clearly overshadowed by Birch, partly because her own character isn’t developed enough. This is due to script switching focus from relationship between Enid and Rebecca to relationship between Enid and Seymour, which didn’t exist in the graphic novel. Seymour, whose character was partially based on Zwigoff himself, is played by Steve Buscemi, one of the most powerful character actors in past few decades. Buscemi again displays great skill and ability to catch audience’s attention and sympathy, this time by playing an anti-thesis of character he has played in Trees Lounge. Despite best efforts of the cast, Ghost World failed to connect with viewers outside snobbish critics’ establishment, but it could still be appreciated by those with the taste for strange world of cult cinema. Zwigoff would return to the works of Daniel Clowes with his 2006 adaptation of graphic novel Art School Confidential.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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