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Whit Stillman (
Barcelona,
Last Days of Disco) enters Woody Allen territory in his talky yet articulate debut, creating a stinging exposé of self-important upper-class socialites and the head games they play, during their Christmas vacation in Manhattan. Witty and cynical, Stillman captures this odd subculture with sly observation and occasional sympathy--sort of a fascinating anthropological study of adolescent preppies. His young subjects, spoiled by their silver spoons, still lack life experience and, thus, emotional maturity or social grace. They pass time idly discussing Jane Austen (a tip of the hat to the master of social-manner comedies), Marxism, and other philosophies, dressing up for parties and undressing during strip poker, and gossiping about the romantic pairings for the upcoming debutante ball. Stillman smartly offers up Tom (Edward Clements), a middle-class loner who's slowly adopted into the clique, as an audience identification reference, making the events seem even stranger and funnier from his point of view. But Tom's far from perfect himself. As the innocent, easily manipulated Audrey (Carolyn Farina) begins to fall in love with him, Tom's boorish, hurtful responses make him appear as juvenile as the rest. Concurrently, it also jolts the group with a much-needed taste of reality, and the film with unpredictable poignancy, suggesting that at least one may grow from the experience. In his first opportunity as director, Stillman pulls wonderful performances from his unknown cast. Especially memorable are Christopher Eigeman as the sarcastically perceptive snob, Nick, and Taylor Nichols playing the philosophical, anxiety-ridden Charlie.
--Dave McCoy
Product Description
One of the most the most significant achievements of the American independent film movement of the 1990s writer-director Whit Stillman's debut Metropolitan is a sparkling comedic chronicle of a middle-class young man's romantic misadventures among New York City's debutante society. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Stillman's deft literate script and hilariously high-brow observations mask a tender tale of adolescent anxiety. SPECIAL FEATURES: New restored high-definition digital transfer . Audio commentary by director Whit Stillman editor Christopher Tellefsen and actors Chris Eigeman and Taylor Nichols. Rare outtakes and deleted scenes. Optional English subtitles for the deaf and heard of hearing. A new essay by author and film scholar Luc Sante.System Requirements:Features: New restored high-definition digital transfer Audio commentary by director Whit Stillman editor Christopher Tellefsen and actors Chris Eigeman and Taylor Nichols Rare outtakes and deleted scenes Optional English subtitles for the deaf and heard of hearing A new essay by author and film scholar Luc Sante More! Running Time 98 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 UPC: 715515017022 Manufacturer No: CC1620D
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Theatrical Release Information
