Customer Reviews

Singles

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This film genuinely surprised me when I first saw it in theaters in 1992. For me, Bridget Fonda was the main draw at the time, as she received top billing and was on the movie posters with Matt Dillion. It felt like a bait and switch, because the film focuses more on Campbell Scott and Kyra Sedgwick's relationship, even though they aren't featured on the poster. That's no biggie, because I enjoyed their storyline much more than Bridget and Matt's...but I bet Campbell and Kyra weren't happy to be excluded on the poster/DVD cover.

This film has it all...great music suitable to the period (grunge/alternative), fantastic use of place (Seattle in a starring role), interesting and quirky characters, and true to life portrayal of young people in their twenties negotiating through life as they find their true passions. I especially loved Campbell Scott's performance and he is the true star of this film. His job is working on creating a "Super Train" to get Seattlites out of their cars and onboard for their commute, because he believes that "if you give them great coffee and great music, they'll ride." His girlfriend, played by Kyra Sedgwick, has her pulse on the masses, by telling him, "I still love my car, though." She's an environmentalist who drives an old gass guzzling clunker of an automobile, which Campbell pokes fun at after a lunch date. Its a joy to watch their relationship grow from initial doubts to lover games about how soon after a date one should call to other challenges that crop up. I especially love the scene when Linda (Sedgwick) peruses Steve's (Campbell Scott) record albums and gets nostalgic about her college days. That scene epitomizes the exciting "getting to know you" stage of dating and rings absolutely true. The choice of music in that scene, and throughout the entire movie really enhances the scenes overall.

Probably the only thing I didn't like about the film, which is just a tiny critique, was Janet's (Fonda) almost groupie-like infatuation with Cliff (Dillon), who didn't seem all that interested in her (until she moves on with her life). They are a mismatched pair if there ever was one...Janet with her ambitions for Grad School to pursue architecture, and Cliff the stereotypical Gen X slacker working menial jobs to support his rock band career that probably wouldn't have gone anywhere. Janet should have hooked up with the plastic surgeon who doesn't know how to have fun!

This dvd would be made even better with a director's commentary track. Cameron Crowe could divulge a lot of interesting information and insite jokes that the average filmwatcher might not catch (like when the mime says, "wooo woooo woooo" in response to a guy who says he works for Boeing, or when a reporter asks Cliff what the song "Touch Me, I'm Dick" is about--which is an inside joke on the actual song "Touch Me, I'm Sick"). This film is so ingrained into the grunge culture of Seattle of the early 1990s, that future audiences could use a lot of background info a director's commentary would provide. At any rate, this film is a joy to watch, and cheaply priced that it's worth having in one's collection. And buy the soundtrack while you're at it.

I was in college in '92, when the grunge scene really took off, and this movie brings those days back perfectly. Somehow it doesn't seem dated either, like many 80s movies do. It's probably because of the engaging storyline and familar, "hey-that-could-be-me" characters that Cameron Crowe is known for. The Campbell Scott character, Steve (and by the way, where IS Campbell Scott these days?) is like so many of us - obsessed with work, trying to make sense of the whole dating and relationship scene, wishing for simplicity. Bridget Fonda's Janet is anyone who ever woke up from codependency and realized his/her own self-worth. And Kyra Sedgwick's Linda is everyone who ever got their heart broken and put up barriers to protect themselves, only to find that not all people are as bad as you think. Great cast, great setting, incredible soundtrack. The DVD adds some deleted scenes which I think are also on the VHS version, as well as cast bios. Check out cameos by Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam (the musicians in Matt Dillon's band), Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, and a performance by Alice in Chains. And don't miss Jeremy Piven as the checkout guy, and the eldest son from "Malcolm in the Middle" as the young Steve.

Do you ever get the feeling that you are the only person in the world who is single? When you turn on the television, walk through the mall, or simply go out with friends, do you get depressed about being the only person without a significant other? If so, this movie is for you. If not, this movie is still for you.

Singles is a movies about a handful of post-college twenty somethings mapping out and searching for romance and intimacy against the post-industrial grunge backdrop of Seattle. Don't worry, it's not a film about beautiful, angst-ridden people who complain about everything. In fact, one of the best things about this movie is that these people aren't overly cool. They aren't malice-filled, perfect-looking, spoiled, or particularly trendy. The beauty of these characters is that they are real. They are vulnerable, insecure, modest, humorous, and idiosyncratic. While watching this movie, you never get the sense of feeling threatened by these characters or feeling any hate toward them (even in spite of their faults). Instead, through their dating successes and failures, through their small triumphs and heartaches, through their good and bad behavior, you continually root for these people, you feel what they feel, and you get a sense that out there, somewhere are real people who are single, and who must deal with the pleasure and pain of being single.

I think this is Cameron Crowe's third film (1st-Fast Times at Ridgemont High 2nd-Say Anything 4th-Jerry McGuire). As are all his films, this film is very funny, very sympathetic, and very humane. What makes this film so good and so watchable is the fact that its humor and its story are derived from the way real, ordinary people conduct their day to day lives. It doesn't bring extra emotion into a situation to make it dramatic. It doesn't add extra humor to make a situation funny. It doesn't bring extra romance to a situation to make it romantic. Instead, the film focuses on presenting the quotidian in its purest form, allowing emotion, humor, and romance to come naturally out of ordinary life. This film is so good because it truthfully captures what it is like to be single.

Personal note: when I watched this film every day after classes my junior year in college, it served as a great consolation to me--That it is okay to be single! Now that I am engaged to be married, I still watch the film and remember my own singlehood with laughter and fond memories.

In short, I strongly recommend this film to anyone. It's funny, touching, and authentic.

I am not what you would call a "movie junkie". I don't watch movies just for the sake of watching something. I just can't sit down and watch mindless television. But there are some movies that I have seen several times and would watch over and over again. Singles is one of these movies. It just makes me feel good. I feel great after watching Singles. I'm not sure how much of a sentimental element is involved with my love of this movie (I lived in the Seattle area when the grunge scene and the movie broke out). All I know is that it helped me get through some of my tough single times like nothing else has. I loved the soundtrack, the setting, and the story line. The cast was perfect. This had a potential to turn off a lot of people by being "too cool" but it didn't. The characters were grounded, not over the top. As in all of Cameron Crowes movies, there are some lines that I'm sure I will always quote. It's kind of a shared secret amongst friends. This film really hasn't received the recognition it deserves, but that's okay. I think maybe I wouldn't like it as much if everyone else did. If you haven't seen it, by God spend a buck or two and rent it will you! One last thing: what the Hell happened to Campbell Scott? I was sure his career would take off.

Don't tell anyone I like Singles. I have the DVD and some of my friends ask whose it is. I say some girl must have left it at my house or something. But secretly, I like this movie very much. It's a time piece of early 90's Seattle. Watching it now, it seems a little dated but the whole plot and dialogue of the movie is not dated. I think all the interconnecting stories tie in very well. But not like I really watch this movie or anything. SOmeone just left it at my house. I only watch Rambo.

OK. The soundtrack of this movie is perfect. Powerful, strong, good bands.

But, without the music, this movie still would be a great movie. And it's really simple. Four people. Two couples. Old-fashioned. Hetero. Straight. But it's enough to show how hard can be to start and build a relationship with someone you like (or with someone you love).

I think almost everyone, regardless age, condition or location, can relate with this characters. I guess almost any men had the doubt between to call-not to call some girl after the first date.

Besides, the secondary characters are funny, credible, and provide some additional lines.

And, a perfect soundtrack!

The DVD also includes the Theatrical Trailer + two outtakes.

Singles came out in the early 90's, a time that to me, was all about the grunge scene. I was in high school then so this was the norm for us all. But as I got older, I never outgrew Singles. In fact, I think I began to relate to it even more as I gained more life experience. Anyway, here is a wonderful comedy that offers us all a glimmer of hope in this overpopulated world. We meet a group of friends who are various tennants in the same apartment building in Seattle. Singles centers around Cliff (Dillon) a struggling musician, his girlfriend Janet (Fonda) who has put Cliff's needs before her own for the last time, Linda (Sedgwick) who thinks she's found "the one" until she discovers him in a bar with another girl when he told her he was going back to Spain, Steve (Scott) who spent his dating career playing the field, and Debbie (Kelley) who searches for Mr. Right via video dating service (oh-so hilarious). The main story is about Linda & Steve meeting and the relationship that blossoms from it. If you were a big fan of grunge when it was popular you'll fall in love with Singles (with bands like Soundgarden, Mother Love Bone, and even Alice in Chains featured). Many funny moments abound (this shouldn't spoil anything for you should you be the 1 person left in Wyoming or something who hasn't seen this movie) including a run-in with a pessimistic mime (played by Eric Stoltz), Debbie's dating video and Steve's story about learning about sex as a child, but that's about all I can say without giving it all away. And for a price this low, Singles is a steal as it is something you will watch again and again and again.

SINGLES almost brought tears to my eyes, for it took me back to the most exciting era of my life: the early 90's, when I was a twentysomething. In fact, my life at the time could have been a script lifted directly from this movie.SINGLES perfectly epitomizes what made the early-90's so memorable and exciting: the grunge-obsessed, flannel-sporting, coffee-slurping, Seattle-dwelling twentysomethings. This formerly misunderstood and ignored demographic had suddenly found its place in the sun, and this movie encapsulated that. One of the hallmarks of the decade, and something no other generation can claim, was that its famous musicians stood shoulder to shoulder among the common man and woman. Proof of this is in the cameos of Eddie Vetter and Chris Cornell doing just that. If you are a Gen Xer, you will want to cry at the innocence of a time gone by, when being a twentysomething really meant...something! Unlike today's younger generations, our mainstays weren't cell phones, digital cameras, the Internet, reality TV, and boy bands. For us it was grunge, flannel, strong coffee, and a feeling that we really could make a difference in the world if we yelled loud enough for others to notice. SINGLES will make you yearn for that simpler time.

I cannot lie- this is my favorite movie of all time; the visual equivalent of my favorite comfort food or the security blanket of my childhood.

Whenever I get stressed out or feeling miserable, especially on a rainy Sunday, I pop this baby in the VCR and settle in.

I know that the Seattle grunge rock scene was way over when this movie was released, but Singles definitely presents a gently softened and filtered version of what a lot of artistic (or hoping to be artistic) and driven 20-somethings of the American persuasion go through. Faux grunge scene aside, Crowe effectively captures the "process" of growing up.

The acting, of course, is excellent. Everyone nailed their characters perfectly, especially Matt Dillon, Bridget Fonda and Eric Stoltz as "that obnoxious mime."

One quibble though- The Campbell Scott and Kyra Sedgwick characters both seem much older, physically and emotionally, than the 25 year olds they're supposed to be.

This is Cameron Crowe's fourth outing as a writer, and the second of his film's set in Seattle. The movie takes a romantic look at the early 90's Seattle scene, when music and caffeine really ruled. It captures a brief moment in time when it was really hip to live in the Northwest.
The plot is your basic mid-twenties-finding-yourself, and self-worth, type of a flick. The character's are a bit predictable, and you can pretty much figure out where the story is heading. There are a few really romantic outdoor shots, but they really just pay homage to the beauty of the city. The thing that makes this movie special though, is the cameo's, bit parts, and a slices of life that made up the Seattle scene of the time.

There is of course the well documented Pearl Jam cameo's as Matt Dillon's band. There is a cameo of Tad Doyle as the wrong number that Bridget Fonda calls. There is a funny little cameo of Tim Burton as "the next Martin Score-sayze". Peter Horton as the "bicycle guy". There is Chris Cornell rocking out to the new sound system installed into Bridget Fonda's Scirocco. Cameron Crowe has a bit part himself as a reporter interviewing Matt Dillon about the Citizen Dick song "Touch Me I'm Dick". (Mudhony anyone?) There are great live sequences of Soundgarden and of Alice in Chains. Another funny thing to note; Matt Dillon's wardrobe was taken pretty much straight off the back of Jeff Ament ... If you see any old photo's of Pearl Jam, you will see Jeff in the same shorts, tights and Edie Sedgwick t-shirt Matt sports in the movie. Ironically enough, Kyra Sedgwick, who plays Linda Powell in the movie is indeed a distant cousin to Edie Sedgwick. Also note the placement of Green River, Mother Love Bone and Mudhony shirts and pic's; also scenes filmed in Pioneer Square and Gas Works Park.

The film also captures some things that, alas, are no more. The "Java Stop", the coffee house portrayed in the movie, was actually the O.K. Hotel on Alaskan Way. This place was one of the casualties of the March 2001 earthquake. The opening shot of the graffiti on he wall of the Vogue (Mother Love Bone) has been painted over. RKCNDY, the club where most of the live music sequences were shot, closed down in 99. The most sad of these, of course is Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, whose body was found dead after an overdose in April '02.

Basically, it is not a perfect movie. The perfection lies in the way this film captures moment in time when life was pessimistic, yet optimistic and you could vent your frustration's by heading out and rocking with the coolest bands in the universe.