Schizopolis (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

This is far and away the most unique and original movie I have ever seen. There is no close second place. Steven Soderbergh wrote, starred in, and directed this little-known masterpiece, and I am now a loyal fan. The caution on the box perhaps best summarizes the film: "Warning: All attempts at synopsizing the film have ended in failure and hospitalization." This is truth in advertising if I have ever seen it. Think of "Schizopolis" as a narcissistic, paranoid blend of equal parts "Head," "1984," "Monty Python's Flying Circus," and "Unarius."The film is absolutely impossible to categorize. It occurs in three principal acts, but they are all circular and the plots entangle themselves in the end in an almost Seinfeldesque manner. Steven Soderbergh stars as both Fletcher Munson and Dr. Jeffrey Korchek. Munson is a curiously self-absorbed speechwriter for New Age guru (and founder of "Eventualism") T. Azimuth Schwitters, while Korchek, a dentist with a Muzak fixation dominates act two by having an affair with Munson's disenchanted wife from act one. Throughout all this, local exterminator (and celebrity) Elmo Oxygen uses very unconventional pillow talk to seduce housewives while plotting against Schwitters. Eddie Jemison, noteworthy as "Nameless Numberhead Man," is the perfect comic foil for Munson.Although you will need to watch this movie several times to even scratch the surface of the nuances it contains, several themes are apparent, most notably the satirical approach to contemporary society which is infused throughout the film in many ways, most notably in the dialogue. When Munson greets his wife after work he says "Generic greeting," to which she replies "Generic greeting returned." Later in the film several other dialogue issues occur with Soderbergh's characters speaking in Japanese, French, and Italian seemingly at random and to great comic effect.From the outset, this film is highly segmented (much like an episode of "Monty Python's Flying Circus") and confrontational. There is even an explicit warning in the beginning which says "If you don't understand this film, it's your fault and not ours." This type of in-your-face humor is very uncommon and I simply loved it. The film is extremely difficult to follow if you are approaching it like a conventional movie with a well developed plot and characters, but if you can deal with the exceptional stream-of-consciousness, non sequitur humor that Soderbergh uses here, "Schizopolis" will become one of your favorites, too.I highly recommend this film.

Schizopolis is best watched four times because of it's non-linear plot. The film is divided into three chapters, and each chapter makes more sense if you've seen the other two. It's an independent art film, so you have to watch it in that context. I found it amusing and thought-provoking, but not a requirement for my ultimate DVD collection. I would check Netflix to see if the film can be found there before ordering the DVD.Let's be frank, this movie is weird. It explores human communication, or rather, the lack thereof, as characters speak in a bizarre word substitution cypher ("ambassador jumpsuit landmine!), converse not in natural words, but by stating the kinds of phrases they would be saying (Generic Greeting!), or by having characters' dialog dubbed in foreign languages. The film doesn't portray the events as they occur, rather it portrays them as each character experiences them. When dialog makes no sense to a character, nonsensical jibberish is heard by the audience, and so on.This film has a quirky sense of humor. It doesn't take itself very seriously at all and tends toward the amusingly bizarre.Filmed and set in the late '90's, the plot revolves around familiar yet quaint and outdated items. DVDs, cell phones and digital cameras are nowhere to be seen, while the plot relies heavily on VHS tapes, landline/cordless phones complete with long collapsible antennas, and 35mm film cameras. Bygone life experiences like mail-order porn and having film developed are integral to the plot. Several times I laughed to myself thinking "Oh man, I remember cassette tapes..."An amusing way to spend a few hours, I wouldn't say it's required watching.

Schizopolis isn't at all like any of Soderbergh's other films (Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Out of Sight, the 'Oceans' movies). The story goes that he made it due to his frustration with studio indifference and/or meddling and decided to do something cheap and fun on his own, even starring in it himself. It's his screwy sense of absurdist humor that comes through full-blown on this one. Schizopolis's fractured, non-linear narrative (something Soderbergh did later with The Limey) demands some attention, but from the very first scene, where the director warns you up front that if this movie confuses or disturbs you, it's your fault, not his, you'll be hooked. Or confused and disturbed. I highly recommend it.

This is not an "angry one-star review." One star is what this film deserves. Despite being priced like a filet, it's dog food for dogs whose owners don't like them. Soderbergh is usually a five-star director, but this is not a "disappointed one-star review." This movie is the reason why no one should ask an artist about physics, or art. It reveals how dumb smart people can be when they try to be smart... I'm sorry... I'm not doing a good job of explaining why no one should watch more than 15 minutes of this movie, and then only after its free... Let me try again... This movie sucks. It's worse than a film-school graduate-student project. It's not funny. It's infantile. It's not interesting. It tries to be cute. The tropes are worn so thin that it causes a film buff to shiver. And the people who gave this pile more than one star?! You are pathetic!... Again, usually good director for whom this pile makes me embarrassed. Make another "Side Effects." You made us hate that girl before we had any reason to hate her. You made a genius out of a dumb-cluck psychiatrist. But... Your no writer! (Yes! It should written, "You're no writer." That's an example of what you might think is funny but, actually, it isn't. Get it?)

Great price, horrible movie but my voice (and credits) was in it so I had to buy it

This is Soderberg at his most raw and experimental. I had been lookingto see this again since I first saw it on a whim when I worked at a video store. I am very glad I bought the criterion. It's absurdly profound.

Ignore the naysayers; they don't get it. This is a great film.Explores themes of communication, anxiety, neurosis, deception and the daily grind. The story is supported with a collage of ideas and skits which work well with the development of the main characters. The soundtrack is excellent too.Things you will need: a decent attention span + sense of humour.

a film that is seemingly "aware" of its ephemeral nature as a piece of fiction, but that deals with touchstones such as infidelity, mortality, purpose, religion, madness, paranoia, mundanity, identity, family in a hugely silly offhand knockabout way that somehow doesn't rob the subjects at hand of their due gravitas.the plot isn't linear (but it does have many amusing intricacies), the editing, performances and cinematography are playful, without being smug. not at all an impenetrable film as some would have you believe, and despite its jokey and sometimes sarcastic tone, it is not a film without heart or soul - i find it quite poignant, as it happens.it looks good (to the eyes - visually impressive) - the soundtrack is a hoot.apparently they haven't pressed any in a while. stupid move. excellent film.

Il prodotto, di buona qualità (l'avevo in cassetta e ovviamente in DVD è molto meglio), è arrivato in tempi rapidi.Lo consiglio a chi ama i Monty Phyton, Soderbergh, o a chi piace un certo tipo di comicità surreale.