Schizopolis (1996)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Writers:

Release Date:

9 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Come early! Come often!

Plot:

Fletcher Munson is a lethargic, passive worker for a Scientology-like self-help corporation called Eventualism...

Plot Keywords:

Exterminator | Dentist | Doppelganger | Assassination | Human Potential Movement

Cast

Scott Allen	...	Right Hand Man (uncredited)
Betsy Brantley	...	Mrs. Munson / Attractive Woman #2 (uncredited)
Marcus Lyle Brown	...	Corporate Mole (uncredited)
Silas Cooper	...	The Mysterious Couple (uncredited)
C.C. Courtney	...	Man Being Interviewed (uncredited)
Sonny Cranch	...	Pastor (uncredited)
Ann Dalrymple	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Darrin Dickerson	...	Photo Store Customer (uncredited)
Andre Dubroc	...	Corporate Drone (uncredited)
Ann Hamilton	...	Mrs. Schwitters (uncredited)
John Hardy	...	Talkshow Host (uncredited)
Coleman Hough	...	(uncredited)
Lori Jefferson	...	Dental Patient (uncredited)
Eddie Jemison	...	Nameless Numberhead Man (uncredited)
David Jensen	...	Elmo Oxygen (uncredited)
Rodger Kamenetz	...	Cardiologist (uncredited)
Katherine LaNasa	...	Diane (uncredited)
Margaret Lawhon	...	TV Newscaster (uncredited)
Mike Malone	...	T. Azimuth Schwitters (uncredited)
John Mese	...	Depressed Guy (uncredited)
L. Christian Mixon	...	Bad Guy (uncredited)
Linda Mixon	...	Schwitters Fanatic (uncredited)
Liann Pattison	...	The Mysterious Couple (uncredited)
Steven Soderbergh	...	Fletcher Munson / Dr. Jeffrey Korchek (uncredited)
Ronnie Stutes	...	Lawyer (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Steven Soderbergh's Schizopolis (USA) (video box title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese | Italian | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (Mono)

Certification:

Italy:T | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Company:

.406 Production

Trivia:

Steven Soderbergh cast his ex-wife, Betsy Brantley, to play his character's wife. Their two characters were a husband and wife who had drifted apart and could not communicate.

Quotes:

Filmmaker: [closing speech from stage] Ladies and gentlemen, young and old, I know this may seem an unusual procedure, but I thought you might have some questions, and since I'm already here, I can answer some of them.
[looking left and right, pausing]
Filmmaker: Yes. Yes. Not specifically: I actually find all of them rather weird. Yes. Footlong veggie on wheat. Thank you.
[camera shows empty auditorium as he leaves]

Movie Connections:

References "Sesame Street" (1969)

generic greeting!

Stream-of-consciousness conception, sharp writing and creative technique. There's plenty here to amuse any smart audience, but the parts add up to an (intentionally) oblique whole. The film is so playful and irrespective of convention, it's as if Soderbergh threw up his hands and said 'Screw it, I can't make the movies they want me to." Take it with his work since and you've got the most supple, witty and consistent filmmaker working in the U.S. today.

There's lots to analyze, and myriad connections to be made. But don't try to make too much sense of it... let it take you, and enjoy.