Happiness (1998)

Director: Todd Solondz
Stars: Jane Adams, Jon Lovitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Runtime: 134 minutes

Synopsis: The lives of several individuals intertwine as they go about their lives in their own unique ways, engaging in acts society as a whole might find disturbing in a desperate search for human connection.

Performances: 5/5
Screenplay: 3/5
Editing: 3/5
Cinematography: 3/5
Score/Soundtrack: 2/5

Verdict: "Happiness", directed by Todd Solondz, was the movie I was most looking forward to watching for my series of most disturbing movies ever made due to its interesting topic and generally positive reception by pretty much everybody (it holds a rating of 7.8 on IMDb, an approval rate of 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a perfect score of 4/4 given by Roger Ebert). The movie follows a bunch of characters as they search for happiness in places considered taboo by society, and shows the cost and consequences of their actions.

The film may not explicitly show graphic images, but definitely touches on sensitive subjects to illustrate the dark path taken by some of the characters to satisfy their inner desires. It serves as a great commentary on the measures taken by some people to fulfill their fantasies in the most despicable of ways, and how unfair life is for these people, who happen to find happiness in these dark places. The film is elevated by excellent performances mainly from Jane Adams, Dylan Baker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, who happen to be the individuals that are studied and fleshed out the most in the movie.

However, there were a few aspects in the film that prevent it from being great in my opinion. The first being the overabundance of main characters, which made the experience a bit chaotic and overwhelming, and the second being the at time comedic, at times dramatic tone of the movie, which took me out of it a few times.

In conclusion, "Happiness" may not be the most disturbing movie of all times, but the themes it tries to convey are certainly perturbing. Despite a couple of hiccups here and there, Solondz and the cast still manage to deliver the intended messages in a way that will make the audience reflect on it for a while and look at the feeling of happiness in a different light.

FINAL GRADE: 6/10