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Editorial Reviews
Review
charming... lovely and engaging... a sexy and charming love story --Kate Erbland, Film School Rejects
a charming intoxicating examination of intoxication --Britt Hayes, Gordon and the Whale
unflinching... raw and honest --Peter Debruge, Variety
a charming intoxicating examination of intoxication --Britt Hayes, Gordon and the Whale
unflinching... raw and honest --Peter Debruge, Variety
Product Description
Zach (Lukas Haas, INCEPTION, MARS ATTACKS!) seems to be living the Hollywood bachelor dream he s got a house in the hills, the phone numbers for dozens of beautiful women and a hard-partying lifestyle aided and abetted by his bartender pal, Dan (Jake Busey, ENEMY OF THE STATE, STARSHIP TROOPERS). It seems nothing can tie down this divorcée father, until he meets Crazy Eyes (Madeline Zima, CALIFORNICATION TV series, THE NANNY TV series) the one woman he can t have. As the two embark on a love-crazed, booze-fueled relationship, Zach s family issues begin to take center-stage, questioning whether or not this partying lost boy can step up to the challenge and become a man.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Young Alcoholics In Love: Amusing, But Not A Particularly In-Depth Character Study
October 3, 2012
Format:DVD
Adam Sherman's "Crazy Eyes" fits squarely into the sub-category of drama that features boozy reprobates as metaphors for the dissolution of the American dream. At best, these character stories can be hard hitting and disturbing. At worst, they can seem tired and self-involved. Truthfully, I'm no big fan of "Crazy Eyes." The movie itself is well made and some of the performances are nice, but what it really lacks (for me) is heart. This tale of wasted potential and unexplained privilege is a familiar one. I don't know why, exactly, I was supposed to care about the principle characters in "Crazy Eyes." They were not particularly likable, nor do they have to be, but they ALSO weren't developed with enough depth to make them compelling. That was the disconnect for me. When I think of the many powerful and challenging movies about alcoholic debauchery and codependency that I've seen through the years, I felt that "Crazy Eyes" just served up a lightweight version of other more affecting dramas.
It is nice, however, to see Lukas Haas in a prominent role. I've watched him grow up onscreen since "Witness" when he was eight, and he has a hangdog appeal that I really appreciate. Of course, every serious actor worth his salt has to make his "alcoholism" movie, so I don't fault Haas for taking on the challenge. Unfortunately, though, his character seemed rather ill-defined. Apparently he is incredibly wealthy, though he never seems to work. He isolates himself in a bar every night, but has a laundry list of girls to call at the drop of a hat. At once, he is presented as independent and rather well connected--but we never see any visible signs of this part of his life. The movie is a romance, of sorts, as Haas pursues Madeline Zima like she's the love of his life. He calls her "crazy eyes" and spends much of the movie trying to bed her. I guess it's a valiant effort, but she is certainly no prize. The two might deserve one another, but I was never truly invested in their relationship. The one effort the screenplay makes to humanize Haas is to showcase him in scenes with his son. Unfortunately, these encounters come across as entirely too scripted and unreal.
I didn't hate "Crazy Eyes," though, it just never connected with me as a love story or a character study. Moments can be quite amusing, but it never gelled into a cohesive whole. Haas and Zima are solid enough and I also liked Jake Busey and Tania Raymonde in supporting (but also underdeveloped) roles. In the end, the movie didn't amount to too much for me, but at least it had moments of humor. Near the end, however, Sherman seems to want to express some deep meaning with a musical montage featuring all of the lonely and despairing characters at their most vulnerable. The moment is so self-important and unearned that it dissolved any remaining good will I had toward the picture. The word "lovely" is emblazoned on the DVD cover by a minor critic. It's a strange blurb. Even if you like the movie, I can't imagine many would describe it in such terms! About 2 1/2 stars (for me), I'll round up for Haas. KGHarris, 10/12.
It is nice, however, to see Lukas Haas in a prominent role. I've watched him grow up onscreen since "Witness" when he was eight, and he has a hangdog appeal that I really appreciate. Of course, every serious actor worth his salt has to make his "alcoholism" movie, so I don't fault Haas for taking on the challenge. Unfortunately, though, his character seemed rather ill-defined. Apparently he is incredibly wealthy, though he never seems to work. He isolates himself in a bar every night, but has a laundry list of girls to call at the drop of a hat. At once, he is presented as independent and rather well connected--but we never see any visible signs of this part of his life. The movie is a romance, of sorts, as Haas pursues Madeline Zima like she's the love of his life. He calls her "crazy eyes" and spends much of the movie trying to bed her. I guess it's a valiant effort, but she is certainly no prize. The two might deserve one another, but I was never truly invested in their relationship. The one effort the screenplay makes to humanize Haas is to showcase him in scenes with his son. Unfortunately, these encounters come across as entirely too scripted and unreal.
I didn't hate "Crazy Eyes," though, it just never connected with me as a love story or a character study. Moments can be quite amusing, but it never gelled into a cohesive whole. Haas and Zima are solid enough and I also liked Jake Busey and Tania Raymonde in supporting (but also underdeveloped) roles. In the end, the movie didn't amount to too much for me, but at least it had moments of humor. Near the end, however, Sherman seems to want to express some deep meaning with a musical montage featuring all of the lonely and despairing characters at their most vulnerable. The moment is so self-important and unearned that it dissolved any remaining good will I had toward the picture. The word "lovely" is emblazoned on the DVD cover by a minor critic. It's a strange blurb. Even if you like the movie, I can't imagine many would describe it in such terms! About 2 1/2 stars (for me), I'll round up for Haas. KGHarris, 10/12.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Zach is currently living what he believes to be the 'Good Life.' He's living the Hollywood bachelor dream-come-true life, and has his own bartender pal right by his side. Top priority for Zach is Party Life with plenty to drink and lots of fun. Then, he meets a woman that he cannot have a relationship with, and the family drama begins, along with issues and challenges. Is he ready to grow-up and step into responsibility as an adult? This film is raw, honest, and entertaining. An Enjoyable love story with Great acting Performance. Highly Recommended!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a person who has been around many alcoholics and seen many stories about alcoholics, I do have to say that this movie is the best example of an alcoholic relationship that I have ever seen.
Zach is very wealthy, young entrepreneur that has made a ton of money and does not really have a life. The only life that Zach seems to have is drinking and having sex with women who only date him for his wealth. And along comes Crazy Eyes who Zach decides that he has to have sexually. Rebecca (Crazy Eyes) is determined that Zach will only be a friend and Zach is determined that Rebecca will be more.
What makes this movie interesting are the games that are played by Rebecca as she is determined to have Zach on her own terms. Becca believes that she is the better person because she is poorer than Zach, and as such she thinks she knows more about life than he does. Through the whole movie Becca criticizes and belittles Zach even though she does things that are just as bad, maybe even worse than Zach. In watching the movie, you never realize whether Becca is trying to convince Zach that she is a good person, or herself. Throughout the movie the watcher is forced to watch the most disturbing images of individuals throwing their lives away, it is a horror to watch but you are drawn to it.
Drunken bar fights, sex and endless betrayals of friends go on and on in an alternate universe that these drunks call lives. In the end, the movie is a very good study of people who are trying to be normal even though their addictions rule their every waking moment. This movie is a good study on why alcohol can be just as destructive as crack.
Zach is very wealthy, young entrepreneur that has made a ton of money and does not really have a life. The only life that Zach seems to have is drinking and having sex with women who only date him for his wealth. And along comes Crazy Eyes who Zach decides that he has to have sexually. Rebecca (Crazy Eyes) is determined that Zach will only be a friend and Zach is determined that Rebecca will be more.
What makes this movie interesting are the games that are played by Rebecca as she is determined to have Zach on her own terms. Becca believes that she is the better person because she is poorer than Zach, and as such she thinks she knows more about life than he does. Through the whole movie Becca criticizes and belittles Zach even though she does things that are just as bad, maybe even worse than Zach. In watching the movie, you never realize whether Becca is trying to convince Zach that she is a good person, or herself. Throughout the movie the watcher is forced to watch the most disturbing images of individuals throwing their lives away, it is a horror to watch but you are drawn to it.
Drunken bar fights, sex and endless betrayals of friends go on and on in an alternate universe that these drunks call lives. In the end, the movie is a very good study of people who are trying to be normal even though their addictions rule their every waking moment. This movie is a good study on why alcohol can be just as destructive as crack.
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