The Shape of Things (2003)

A quiet, unassuming man begins to change in a major way as a result of meeting a new, art-student girlfriend, and his friends are unsettled by the transformation.

Director:

Neil LaBute

Writers:

Neil LaBute (play), Neil LaBute (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Rudd, Rachel Weisz, Gretchen Mol

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gretchen Mol	...	Jenny
Paul Rudd	...	Adam Sorenson
Rachel Weisz	...	Evelyn Ann Thompson
Frederick Weller	...	Phillip

Storyline

While visiting an art museum, a nerdy college student named Adam meets an iconoclastic artist named Evelyn and is instantly smitten. As their relationship develops, she gradually encourages Adam to change in various ways that surprise his older friends, Jenny and Philip. However, as events progress, Evelyn's antics become darker and darker as her influence begins to twist Adam and his friends in hurtful ways.

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | student | friend | art | museum | 

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Taglines:

Seduction Is An Art

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexuality

Details

Country:

USA France UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 May 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Forma das coisas

Filming Locations:

Point Fermin Park - 807 W. Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$173,246, 11 May 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$732,241, 15 June 2003

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mepris Films, Pretty Pictures, StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was originally a play starring Paul Rudd and Rachel Weisz, which played in London in the summer of 2001.

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Goofs

In the park scene where Adam and Jenny kiss, Adam's nose looks normal, but at this point he hasn't had the surgery yet. The surgery happens in the next scene.

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Quotes

Adam: When Picasso took a shit, he didn't call it art. He knew the difference. That's what made him Picasso.

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Connections

References Pygmalion (1938)

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Soundtracks

Almost Ideal Eyes
Written by Elvis Costello
Performed by Elvis Costello and The Attractions
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

great little flick

I hadn't heard about this film and was almost turned off by reading the reviews on here as some of them are quite negative. I also do not agree with the it's not a date flick as i'm a female and would have loved to have seen this on a date. It would have offered some interesting discussion later. Was Evelyn (Rachel

Weisz really the villain in this flick as many people so easily point out? Yes, she was cruel in her manipulation of Adam (Paul Rudd) but if he hadn't have done

the things he did she would not have been able to do what she did at the end. Adam may have received a public humiliation but Evelyn endured private

humiliations and that is probably the reason she does not feel bad about what she's done. It's one of the more interesting movies i've seen of late very

refreshing in the role reversal and twist on banal cinderella stories like pretty woman, etc. It's only too bad most people would want to see and like a movie like pretty woman instead of the shape of things which makes you think about

human nature and relationships. I found myself identifying with both the male and female lead characters and thinking about my actions and the actions of

others in relationships.

The shape of things is very human, very real and i highly recommend it. I'm

glad to see Neil Labute back to fine form after more hollywood outings such as possession and nurse betty (which i didn't care for much) and look forward to see what he does next.