Even though there isn’t a lot of running, much less running with a pair of cutting utensils, this film is still sharp enough for your child’s second grade construction paper.
Running With Scissors is the unbelievable story of a young teenager’s dysfunctional upbringing, adapted from his own published memoirs. Young Augusten Burroughs (played by Joseph Cross) was raised in what can only be described as an unhappy home. There are no scars or bruises that show the abuse he was subjected to by his alcoholic father (Alec Baldwin) and exceedingly delusional ‘artist’ of a mother (Annette Bening). As he grew older and his mother’s condition worsened, his father felt he had no other choice but to desert them. This left Augusten at the mercy of his unstable mother, who decided the best thing for them was to turn over complete guardianship to her shrink, Dr. Finch, and his family of misfits and whackjobs. From there Augusten experiences what true dysfunction is all about when he is forced to either break away from his current situation or conform to his surroundings.
This film is another one of those outstanding independent films with an all-star cast specifically made for Oscar consideration. We have Annette Bening playing the unforgettable, Oscar-worthy role of Augusten’s mother like she was drawing from her own life experiences. There’s Brian Cox playing a psychiatrist who is a few fries short of a Happy Meal himself, trying to coach everyone through their problems while ignoring his own. Gwyneth Paltrow also makes an appearance, playing the good doctor’s oldest daughter who thinks she can talk to animals. Lastly there’s Alec Baldwin, the professional supporting-actor who does what he does best, playing a brilliant supporting role as the estranged, deadbeat dad. Along with some up-and-comers and a co-producer credit from Brad Pitt, Running With Scissors brings Augusten Burroughs’ book to life on your TV screen in a big way.
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