Human Nature (2001)

A woman is in love with a man in love with another woman, and all three have designs on a young man raised as an ape.

Director:

Michel Gondry

Writer:

Charlie Kaufman

Stars:

Patricia Arquette, Rhys Ifans, Tim Robbins

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patricia Arquette	...	Lila Jute
Rhys Ifans	...	Puff
Tim Robbins	...	Dr. Nathan Bronfman
Ken Magee	...	Police Detective
Sy Richardson	...	Police Detective
David Warshofsky	...	Police Detective
Hilary Duff	...	Young Lila Jute
Stanley DeSantis	...	Doctor (as Stanley Desantis)
Peter Dinklage	...	Frank
Toby Huss	...	Puff's Father
Bobby Harwell	...	Congressman
Daryl Anderson	...	Congressman
Bobby Pyle	...	Young Puff
Chase MacKenzie Bebak	...	Young Nathan (as Chase Bebak)
Mary Kay Place	...	Nathan's Mother

Storyline

A philosophical burlesque, Human Nature follows the ups and downs of an obsessive scientist, a female naturalist, and the man they discover, born and raised in the wild. As scientist Nathan trains the wild man, Puff, in the ways of the world - starting with table manners - Nathan's lover Lila fights to preserve the man's simian past, which represents a freedom enviable to most. In the power struggle that ensues, an unusual love triangle emerges exposing the perversities of the human heart and the idiosyncrasies of the civilized mind. Human Nature is a comical examination of the trappings of desire in a world where both nature and culture are idealized.

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Plot Keywords:

nature | scientist | table manners | manners | boyfriend girlfriend relationship | 

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Taglines:

In the Interest of Civilization... Conform.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality/nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Fine Line Features [us] Official site

Country:

France USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

12 September 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Human Nature - Die Krone der Schöpfung

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$297,340 (USA) (12 April 2002)

Gross:

$695,876 (USA) (3 May 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fine Line Features, StudioCanal, Good Machine

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the scenes in the forest are allusions to or recreations of scenes in the Björk music video "Human Behavior", also directed by Michel Gondry.

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Goofs

When Dr. Bronfman (Tim Robbins) enters the woods with the pistol (a German Luger) there is the sound of the hammer of a revolver being cocked - but a Luger does not make a sound like that.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lila Jute: I'm *not* sorry.
Puff: I *am* sorry.
Nathan Bronfman: I don't even know what sorry means anymore.

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Connections

References Sophie's Choice (1982)

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Soundtracks

"Here with You"
(2001)
Music and Orchestration by Jean-Michel Bernard
Lyrics by Charlie Kaufman
Performed by Patricia Arquette

User Reviews

Just say bonobo...

I read the IMDB reviews on this two nights ago, and decided not to rent this film. But then as if by coincidence, the next night I noticed it was on cable currently, so I taped it.

And I'm glad I did.

It seems some reviewers lament the lack of a message in this, I can appreciate such weighty films, hey I enjoyed the "Whale Rider," but such films often reduce down simply to hackneyed sententia. I'm kinda afraid life does as well...but this ain't the forum for that chat.

Charlie Kaufmann seems to specialize in *mixed* message films. I enjoy them as I enjoy a puzzle. They are thought-provoking both in theme and in details (don't know about you, but I had to look up Franz Kline...)

Other reviewers lament the onanism going on (or should that be down). To me, "Adaptation" was a whole lot more masturbatory, this has an easier-to-follow plot. The humor rises more quickly to the surface...and yes I did chuckle at times.

No one so far has voiced concern over this being a film that reflects back from the start. It is done deftly; although I know some people dislike that as a device.

There are several nice film tricks. A circular beginning/ending, Robbins clearly being in a closed afterworld, and nods to other films...Bambi, Tarzan, Frankenstein, Sophie's Choice... ;> No, I'm forgetting another real one. I'm not that familiar with the director's MTV exploits, but I'll rent that collection sooner or later.

No one here yet has mentioned Young Frankenstein (which I see as more of a prototype than Pygmalion...or even Oedipus Rex.) But there are some serious questions being posed. Less these days than in the 70's do we get pitched an idyllic ideal; one wherein if man were stripped of his modern trappings, social strictures, political oppression and other garb, would we find a purer being? Isn't that also an element of Marx/Hegelism?

Kaufmann weaves a new sort of unibrow...uniting the high and the low.

There are other more universal moments here. Arquette struggling not to care what others think about her. Robbins trying to chose between the sweet girlfriend and the saucy seductress, between his heart and his...

Ahem, still there's much more here than what I fear is found in "Me and Him." Libido is a prime mover...whether subjugated or conjugal.

I'm having a hard time wrapping this up...is it a film that states that human nature is deceitful (all of four main characters are in at least one charade)?

Again, I'm glad I rented it. I've got to get better at cross-referencing other reviewers when reading posts here. I think Kaufmann is a very gifted, and very conflicted guy.

7/10