Ghost World

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Thora Birch Director: Terry Zwigoff Original UK Premiere: 2001 Dvd Release: 20th May, 2002 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: PAL, Widescreen, Region 2 Encoding Subtitled In: English

Article Index: [Background Info] [DVD Extras] [DVD Review] [Biographies] [Articles/Resources] [Link To This Article] Looking To Buy? Buy This DVD Here

Ghost World is a 2001 film by Terry Zwigoff, based on a graphic novel of the same name by Daniel Clowes. The film stars Thora Birch, Steve Buscemi & Scarlett Johansson. It is a satire on the vacuousness of pop culture which intentionally takes the ironic format of a teen film. The story focuses on the relationship of two teenage female friends who are somewhat outside of the normal high school social order in suburban Los Angeles. It is also the story of Enids growing relationship with fellow outsider Seymour, as well as the fact that the world & people around Enid are moving on without her. The opening sequence of the film includes a clip from the 1966 Bollywood musical Gumnaam, in which the famous singer Mohammed Rafi sings the lively dance tune Jaan Pehechaan Ho. Ghost World is a fairly close adaptation of a serial story that appeared in Eightball, but also includes some other material from other Eightball shorts such as Art School Confidential. In addition, the character played by Steve Buscemi was only a minor part of the comic & was made significant at Zwigoffs suggestion. Posters Of Ghost World

DVD Extras: Ghost World on disc comes with a standard range of special features, including a photo gallery , trailers & one subtitle option: English for the hard of hearing. In the section entitled Daniel Clowes’ Ghost World there's a tour of his old neighbourhood, the inspiration for the comic, in which the author states he never made anything up; a self portrait & Clowes talking about the process of turning his comic into a film--which is about as close as you will get on this disc to a commentary.

In an inspired opening, Ghost World begins with a montage from a 1960s Bollywood video & voyeuristic shots of the neighbours of the eponymous suburban town. This is teenage angst taken beyond the realms of the pure sexual frustration of American Pie, onto the level of displacement.

Just what lies in store for two girls after school has finished? Enid & Rebecca mull over life, love & the weird & wonderful inhabitants of the small town of Ghost World. But while Rebecca attempts to grow up by getting a job & an apartment, Enid is forced into summer Art School & begins a friendship with the sad loner Seymour , who has more of a relationship with his seven-inches than the human race. The girls relationship begins to strain & as the story progresses Rebecca appears in both Enid’s life & the film, less & less.

Based on the comics by Daniel Clowes, which have themselves been acclaimed as a modern-day Catcher in the Rye, & directed by Terry Zwigoff, Ghost World is a beautiful exploration of the confusions & choices faced by young adults. Although criticised for being slow in places, the films pace adds extra realism to its exposure of the constraints of small-town life. The poignant ending leaves us unsure about what’s next for Enid; though from what we’ve learnt through the course of the film, going it alone & making big decisions is the only way to reap the rewards in an uncertain life.

Scarlett Johansson is an American actress. Johansson is of Danish & Polish descent & is 5 feet, 4 inches tall. The granddaughter of writer Ejner Johansson, she graduated from The Professional Childrens School in Manhattan, New York City in 2002. Her roles include Grace MacLean in The Horse Whisperer ; Rebecca in Ghost World ; Charlotte in Lost in Translation ; Griet in Girl with a Pearl Earring ; & Francesca in The Perfect Score. All of these performances garnered positive critical notice. She was nominated for two best actress awards at the Golden Globes in 2003, one for drama & one for comedy. She was also nominated for best actress for both of those films at the BAFTAs & won best actress for Lost in Translation. She is also the voice of Princess Mindy in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. She has sometimes been credited as Scarlett Johansen or Scarlett Johanssen. Posters Of Scarlett Johansson

Editors Choice: Girl With A Pearl Earring, Lost In Translation, The Perfect Score, The Island, A Good Woman, Ghost World, Match Point, View DVDology

Terry Zwigoff is an American film-maker who is most famous for two widely-popular small budget films, both arising out of the world of underground comics : the documentary Crumb & the feature Ghost World. His first film was Louie Bluie, about a forgotten blues musician. His association with comics began in the 1970s when he moved to San Francisco & met Robert Crumb, who shared his interest in collecting pre-war American roots music ; At age 22, Zwigoff learned to play the cello & mandolin to join Crumbs string band, The Cheap Suit Serenaders. Zwigoff also is a member of the San Francisco instrumental trio, The Excitement Boys, which includes Rob Kerwin on fiddle & Craig Ventresco on guitar. In 2003, he directed Bad Santa, starring Billy Bob Thornton & John Ritter. Posters Of Ghost World

Editors Choice: Ghost World, Crumb, View DVDology

©2004-2008 DVDArk.co.uk