Ghost World

reviewed by Dave

Thora Birch and Steve Buscemi star in this quirky little movie about trying to figure out your place in the world. It's very much a coming-of-age film, and yet, when I think about the genre, there are a number of things that set Ghost World apart.

First, most of the coming of age films I've seen seem to follow the story of a male protagonist. It's refreshing to see a female lead in this role. Even better, she's a smart character. She doesn't know what to do with her life, but it's not because she's stupid. She just really doesn't have any guidance.

She meets Steve Buscemi's character when her best friend and her decide to play a prank on him. They call his personal ad and then show up to see who he is. It starts as a cruel joke, but eventually she realizes they have a great deal in common.

Going into the film, I thought the story was mostly about the star-crossed relationship between these two, but the movie is much more her story, with Buscemi's character merely one of the main important parts. This is both a strength and weakness, since scenes that Birch and Buscemi share are easily the best parts of the film.

If you don't already know, I have a special place in my heart for quirky little films like Ghost World, but that doesn't mean it's flawless. Sadly, it all falls apart in the last reel.

I thought I'd like the movie until about 20 minutes in, when I decided I might have a new movie for my favorite movies list. But in the last half hour or so, the story the movie is telling just implodes.

As the world increasingly conspires against the protagonist, the story becomes increasingly unsure of itself. The ending, though admittedly foreshadowed earlier in the film, feels like a huge, disappointing copout.

The first two-thirds of Ghost World are so good that I still recommend the movie. Had the beginning and middle not been so great, perhaps the ending wouldn't feel so lackluster. Still, if you're at all a fan of the quirky coming-of-age genre, you could do a lot worse than Ghost World.