Ghost World

Went to see Ghost World the movie last night. The film was impressively faithful to the spirit of the comic, capturing all the insecurity, boredom, loneliness and self-righteousness of adolescence. It's wrenching to watch Enid's (Thora Birch) impassive face melt every few scenes into kindness, or hurt. Her brief, crestfallen expression when Illeanna Duoglass as the art teacher dismisses her work is priceless. This film understands that as tough and sneering as Enid is, she is an insecure child inside. An obvious point, but not many teenagers in movies are depicted with that kind of complexity. The interplay between the actesses is just right--never sentimental, just the right measures of caring and ennui. And Steve Buscemi's Seymour is also spot-on: the Beta-male, introverted record collector who nonetheless charms through his lack of guile. Go see it now.