Sophia Coppola is infamous in film circles for her performance in The Godfather, Part III (1990). That film was directed by her father, Francis Ford Coppola, and his casting of the 'unknown' actress reeked of nepotism. If it had been a better film, perhaps all would have been forgiven.

Ten years later, his American Zoetrope studio helped to produce Sophia's debut as writer and director, The Virgin Suicides. Jaundiced viewers prepared to savage the Coppola family again, but this time they are out of luck. It's nearly a very good film, although not without its share of problems.

The story has been adapted from a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides. It is suburbia, circa 1977. Nerdy, slightly withdrawn Mr. Lisbon (James Woods) and his paranoid, overly strict wife (Kathleen Turner) are the parents of five teenaged girls. All of them are beautiful blondes. The youngest, Cecilia (Hannah Hall), is thirteen and morbid. If she is suicidal, it is because the world hasn't lived up to her expectations.

Next youngest is Lux (Kirsten Dunst). She is the most attractive and flirtatious of the sisters, and being the biggest star, also gets the most screen time. She appears to be unapproachable, but dazed school stud Trip Fontaine (Josh Hartnett) breaks down both her defenses and (temporarily, at least) those of her parents.

When they learn what Trip and Lux have been up to, the daughters become prisoners in their own homes. They are taken out of school and denied visitors. Although we don't really get to know them, the older three daughters are Bonnie (Chelse Swain), Mary (A.J. Cook) and Therese (Leslie Hayman).

Meanwhile, the girls become subjects of fantasy and voyeurism from the teenaged boys across the street. We don't get to know them much either, but they understandably become consumed with 'rescuing' the Rapunsels next door.

Easy potshots are taken at local television news. There is a caricature of the pretty, frivolous, shallow, sensationalist woman reporter.

Neighborhood elm trees that are dying and must be cut down are contrasted with the Lisbon family itself.

Danny DeVito has a cameo as a psychiatrist.

While The Virgin Suicides is a good film, it is wildly inconsistent. Scenes that should be shocking have their impact lessened by black comedy. The film gets weaker fast after Trip leaves the story. The ending is unpleasant, unlikely and unnecessary. But wait, the film isn't over yet, and we get some party scenes with the teenage boys morbidly hanging out with adults wearing gas masks.

I am aware that the film is expected to follow the book, at least to a certain degree. But I felt that The Virgin Suicides would have been better if the peeping neighbor boys were simply removed from the story, and if the struggles between daughters and mother were further explored. And, perhaps, if the storyline didn't have to live up to its lurid title. (69/100)



Recommended:
Yes