The Shape of Things

Plot synopsis:
Adam is a student at Mercy College, a fictitious Midwestern college, as an English Literature major, who wants more in his dull life than classes and studying. One day by chance, Adam meets Evelyn, an attractive graduate art student, at the local museum where he works. Afterwards, his life takes an unexpected turn. Never having had success with women, the nerd-like, socially awkward Adam is flattered when Evelyn shows an interest in him and, at Evelyn's suggestion, begins a regular exercise regimen, eats healthier foods, and purchases contact lenses in place of his eyeglasses. These initial changes in Adam's physical appearance are well received by Adam's friend Phillip and his girlfriend Jenny. Later however, Evelyn cajoles Adam into undergoing plastic surgery and succeeds in persuading him to cut himself off from Phillip and Jenny as well as all his old friends because Evelyn claims to Adam that SHE is his one and only friend. After another while, Adam proposes marriage to Evelyn, and right away, she accepts.But at the climax, Adam learns that he has been part of Evelyn's MFA thesis project, a topic often touched on in conversation throughout the movie but never fully explained. Evelyn relates that she had been instructed to "change the world" by her graduate adviser, but that she has chosen to change "someone's world", her academic work ultimately consisting of "sculpting" Adam into a more attractive human being. Her true nature and cruelness becomes known one day when she presents Adam before an audience of students and faculty as her "creation", which somewhat embarrasses him. Accordingly, none of the feelings she has shown him this whole time are genuine; at no stage in their "relationship" did she ever fall in love with him; her videotaping of their lovemaking is just a part of the project's documentation. The next day at her gallery opening, Evelyn announces before the live audience that she is not going to marry Adam and the engagement ring he offers her is simply one of the exhibits of her art installation, albeit the "capper to my time at Clarkson."Publicly humiliated and devastated, Adam confronts Evelyn, demanding an explanation for her actions. Completely unapologetic, Evelyn responds by saying that he should in fact be grateful to her, claiming that, objectively speaking, she has been a positive influence on his life, making him a more attractive and interesting person in the eyes of society. Finally seeing the devious vixen that Evelyn really is, Adam tells her that they are finished. Evelyn cynically states to Adam that there never was a "relationship" between them to finish in the first place.In the final moments of the film, the beaten and emotionally broken Adam stands alone, surrounded by the remnants of his life before Evelyn. Even Adam's old friends, Philip and Jenny, treat him with scorn and refuse to forgive him for dropping them in favor of Evelyn. Moving to a camcorder, he watches a section of a tape recorded earlier in the film, a moment in which Evelyn had whispered in his ear what she described as the one "true" thing of their relationship. The film ends as Adam watches and continuously rewinds the tape, listening to Evelyn's truth over and over again.

Tags: boring, cruelty, philosophical

Review:
From a Soviet partisan in besieged Stalingrad in "Enemy at the Gates" to a self-assured single mom in "About a Boy" and most recently as a grifter in "Confidence," she inhabits her roles with deft assurance.Here, in Neil La Bute's play-brought-to-the-screen, "The Shape of Things," Weisz is a disturbing, thought-provoking challenging character: an artist in pursuit of a master's degree but in reality a tester of uncharted waters as she combines the creation of art with her relationship with a man who, like a canvas, is transformed from without.
There's nothing new, of course, with the theme, "Change if you love me," but here Adam's relationship with his close friends, Phillip (Fred Weller) and Jenny (very well acted by Gretchen Moll) takes some disturbing turns.
When Evelyn presents her thesis for the Master degree, Adam is surprised with revelations.When I saw the cruel "In the Company of Men" in 1997 or 1998, I became a great fan of Neil LaBute.
I felt the same surprise as Adam with the plot point of the story, which is a great study of human behavior, with excellent performances of Rachel Weisz and Paul Rudd.
The ending brings together all of the elements and themes that were planted throughout the movie (our obsession with the way things look, the line between art and real life) to form insights about our lives that are as brutal as they are true.I am generally fond of Neil LaBute's work - most of the time his works contain more than what they initially seem to be (I haven't see "The Wicker Man" remake yet, but I heard it was horrible).
LaBute has successfully made all four characters three-dimensional and they feel like real people.Overall, I'd say it was a pretty great movie, certainly entertaining, and an important one to watch and analyze if you are into writing, directing or acting.
Labute's best work since "In The Company Of Men. Heart wrenching and captivating look and relationships that is Neil Labute best film since his horrifying " In the Company of Men" Rachel Weisz literally hold the movie and the viewer in the palm of her hand with a supercharge performance that will be talked about for years and Paul Rudd does good as well as her object of desire.
Our society DOES put form over content far too often, but average-looking guys like me don't need a movie to tell us that a Hollywood-ugly Paul Rudd (who's still quite handsome) must get plastic surgery, contact lenses, and different clothes to get laid.
The "f*** you" that Rachel Weisz delivers straight to the camera at the end, as she flips the bird with both hands -- because one bird and the words just don't quite get the point across -- is Labute's message to  the world, including the audience that pays their hard-earned money to see his movies.
The biggest praise goes to Rachel Weisz, who single handily makes this movie as great as it is, and she carries this film on her shoulders all the way.
Usually excellent actors (Paul Rudd, Rachel Weisz, Frederick Weller) give overly fussy, theatrical performances that seem designed to inject some energy into the script's turgid dialog and unbelievable plot turns.
Apparently intending to make a significant statement about the ultimate and necessary amorality of art, the film only succeeds in making one wonder why even a schlub like the Rudd character would put up with the obvious insanity of Weisz's Evelyn, even if she is the first woman to bed him since high school.
Rachel Weisz plays convincingly in this film as a heartless art student who subjects Paul Ruud to her talents as a sculptor of humans.
In watching The Shape of Things, I found myself soothing my nerves with the phrase, "this is only a movie." You see, it looks very much like many people's lives.
LaBute was a director willing to challenge audience comfort and norms; Weisz and Rudd are two actors whose work I enjoy; and I was in thrall with the idea that on film would be captured the raw nature of human relationships and character, in all of its malicious ruthless glory.I see I was hoping too much.
Rachel shocked the heck out of me when she turned the whole story around and humiliated that poor man..i almost wanted to cry but then i almost wanted to do the same thing to my bf...hahah THe movie itself is funny an sad and deals with risking everything you have for love, which may seem like the right thing to do at the moment but when it really comes down to it, you've probably made the wrong choice...if you chose the girl or the boy over your friends...This movie makes you want to jump up after Rachel the artist flips you off with both fingers...i was actually scared she might actually jump out of the TV and said FOol You..EVeryone should watch this movie when they are feeling angry at their girlfriend or boyfriend....
Neil Labute's look at the way we let each other change ourselves to be the perfect mate is almost as good as his disturbing, and down right horrifying first movie 'In The Company Of Men.' Paul Rudd plays Adam, a dorky security guard that meets an outcast named Evelyn play by the beautiful and extremely talented Rachel Weisz.
In true Neil Labute fashion, nothing is what is meant to be, and the reasons for changes in Adam becomes horrifying clear in the end, and nothing will ever be the same again for him, and the people around him.This is hands down best movie since in the company of Men. The only problem I have with the film is the fact that it can't shake off it's stage roots and some of the scenes feel too off key to be real but besides that, its as scary and as disturbing as it's predecessor.
It's a sophomoric let down, one of those movies where you get to the end and ask yourself, "That's it?" Neil LaBute fans will like this movie in any case, plus Rachel Weisz makes any movie better..
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 abouthuman nature and relationships.
Neil LaBute's "The Shape of Things" (based on his own play) is a brilliant, sharp and devastating study of the thin line between what some people call "art", and cruel manipulation.
Rachel Weisz delivers her best performance to date as 'Evelyn', an iconoclastic Art student who seduces the nerdy Adam (a surprising Paul Rudd, showing that he has much more range than his contributions with the Apatow crew might demonstrate).
I don't like your hair", she says as they first meet in the museum where Adam works) and emotional, as she forces him to disown his only friends, played by Gretchen Mol and Fred Weller (whose performances are not in the same league as Weisz's and Rudd's, but they fit their roles).LaBute debuted with another cruel and controversial film, the hit "In the Company of Men" (1997), where Aaron Eckhart and Matt Malloy play executives who decide to seduce and destroy a deaf woman just for the "fun" of it.
This movie spends its first 70 minutes making you think you that it is a pleasant and innocuous romantic comedy-drama about an off-the-wall, iconoclastic and rebellious artiste (Rachel Weisz in an amazing performance) and the awkward nerd (well-played by Paul Rudd) to whom she takes a shine.
Rudd smiles.*** SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT *** As the song goes, "Set up like a bowling pin!..." Several times earlier, Evelyn (Weisz) reminded us how very important her art was to her.
This had such shocking reviews in the UK I very nearly didn't see it, even though I was captivated by the trailer...The good news is that The Shape of Things is nowhere near as bad as we have been led to believe, and infact is rather good!Being based on a play there are few characters, few scenes, few locations, and I think it works.
Rachel Weisz was absolutely perfect in this film, coldly playing the character of Evelyn with such a deep-rooted affinity, you had to believe the evil that was coming from her mouth.
While this won't be considered one of LaBute's better films, at least it wasn't kitschy as `Nurse Betty' and as boring as `Possession.' To say the least, this is only for the hard-core fans of his movies and plays..
The cast is great, but the true star of this movie is Rachel Weisz, who is shaping up to be one of the most versatile and talented actors to ever hit the screen in a long time.
She will not only make you love her, but fear her as well with her breathtaking performance.Not only is this Neil Labute's best work since In The Company of Men but It's probably his most though provoking film to date.
With all the same actors from his stage version, Neil LaBute has found a way to not only address image and deception in his film, but also with his audience."Shape" begins when Adam (Rudd) meets Evelyn (Weisz) when he's on his shift at a museum and she's threatening to vandalize a statue to make a statement.
Neil Labute's deep psychological look at relationships is as provocative as his groundbreaking `In The Company of Men' All of the characters involve in this film are deprave in someway or another, and just as cruel.
If you don't like the "ruff stuff" than you should not see any of Neil LaButes Films,except for the rather stupid "Possesion."I do think he very well examined the complexity of relationships, such as the little things you tell or suggest to your partner.
I really liked the movie -- it's hard to say that you're a "fan" of Neil LaBute's films because they're so politically charged, but they are typically more interesting than the average fare.
Occasionally funny, it nevertheless suffers from a cast that appears to have tired of their roles and a script that, while cleverly conceived, doesn't have quite enough movement for the big screen.The Shape of Things is built around a single idea, which reveals itself as the film progresses under Labute's very able direction.
Initially set out to look like a romantic comedy, Shape Of Things lead us through the relationship between Adam (Paul Rudd),an ungainly and boring guy who work as a Museum keeper, and Evelyn (Rachel Weisz), a rebel and nonconformist girl who studies art and is preparing her doctorate.
With my interest in theater, modern theater specifically, growing rapidly with every passing day, it was inevitable that I would sit down and watch a Neil LaBute film, one adapted from one of his own plays for the screen."The Shape of Things" is a further extension of my lucky streak with recent movie picks, as I have either really liked or loved all of my past six film viewings, and this film belongs in the latter group.
I can definitely see how he could fail when taking on a bigger project not adapted from his own work, but I'll wait and see for myself.Sure, nobody's going to call this a masterpiece of subtlety anytime soon, but lots of great drama is in-your-face, and this is rich enough that when a character stands up and speaks to us for several minutes about some of the things the film is about it doesn't feel dumb or unnecessary, but fairly effective and interesting.
I can understand how reading the script of this film might be off-putting, but as someone who has ACTUALLY SEEN THE MOVIE I can say this is a fantastic piece of work.This is LaBute's best work since "In the Company of Men" and he's obviously still examining the way human beings manipulate each other.
THE SHAPE OF THINGS (2003) **1/2 Paul Rudd, Rachel Weisz, Gretchen Mol, Frederick Weller.
Neil LaBute's scathing adaptation of his off-Broadway hit about the sexual politics of the yuppie set comes across as experimental theater at its trickiest and a science experiment gone horribly awry: helpless schmuck Rudd falls madly for artist wannabe/harridan incarnate Weisz who winds up alienating his two close friends Mol and Weller (all four give excellent performances by the way, but it is Weisz' heartless monstrous characterization that leaves a callous scar; one of her best turns).
In True Neil Labute fashion, Not every thing is what it mend to be, and the film's climax will not only floor you, but take the wind out of you for hours after the movie has ended.
the shape of the things, starts in a very peculiar and an interesting way .Paul(Adam) is a confused and lonely guy and he meets this Damsel Evelyn (rachel) who changes her life by giving him some suggestions here and there.the movie advances as how Evelyn changes PAul's attitude about life his looks ,and even his relationships with his friends.When i was watching the movie all the time i was feeling sorry for Paul; coz Evelyn was running all over him .She even asks him to leave his frnds.....i mean that is too much to digest.
And the film feels like a play: even when shooting on location, la Bute often concentrates on the dialogue with a still camera, so that it looks as if the movie is being acted in a studio against still backdrops.
The scenes revolving around who's lying and who's telling the truth; who's having affairs with who and what everyone's priorities are when it comes to friendships are the most interesting ones in the film, the finale is merely the thread that sews everything together and proves it is possible to mature as a person through interaction with other people  would lead character Adam Sorenson (Rudd) have had a fling with another woman in the film had he not met Evelyn Ann Thompson (Weisz) in the first place?
The Shape Of Things is the latest installment in Director Neil LaBute's "People are immoral the world is going to hell in a handbasket" series that started with In The Company Of Men,continued with the equally misanthropic Your Friends and Neighbors,and plows on again with his latest film,which began as a stage play,featuring the same actors.
I love the way LaBute challenges and engages us with his strong,and (i think) moralistic views on modern male-female relationships,but it seems like his characters are just mannequins that he can hang his concepts on,not real,identifiable human beings.The way these four people talk,especially early on,when they are supposed to be engaging each other,seems artificial.I mean,how many people that beautiful in college would act that geeky?
After seeing 3 of his self-penned movies now, I have come to the conclusion that the same fate might have awaited Neil LaBute if he hadn't gotten his writing 'thingie' off the ground.The Company of Men was vile, Your Friends and Neighbors was more subversive about it but vile just the same (even though I actually really liked that one), and now we have The Shape of Things, a 4-character indulgence which involves a personal betrayal of the vilest nature.
This movie itself is very much like the character LaBute creates in the film (which was a play originally and feels like it, also not good)- the character played by Rachel Weitz, who portrays "EVElyn", a lovely little Gemini sociopath, to Paul Rudd's Adam: -=- this is NOT a spoiler because it's mentioned in the film's synopsis here at imdb -=- Weitz' character brutally exploits Rudd's character under the guise of an 'art' project for school, but in reality, her project would have been more appropriate for a psychology class experiment or even more appropriately, for a dissertation in Sadism 101.
Furthermore, the dialogue, while seeming a bit dry, at all points serves to further explicate the plot of the film, giving little hints of Evelyn's manipulative nature.POSSIBLE SPOILER Finally, the climax at the end, is perfect, as far as classical climaxes go, because it truly surprises you at first, but after thinking about it you swear you should've seen it coming (and maybe you did--good for you).At any rate, Labute seems to be making a bigger point in this movie--art is NOT subjective, as is evidenced by Rudd's character, there is such a thing as good and bad art (although telling the difference can be tricky), and that difference is very important if art is to actually mean anything to the art-viewer, instead of simply giving its creator kicks, which we, the unenlightened art-exhibit junkies, are privileged to share in.
Those people who reacted the ways described in the first paragraph are acting exactly like these people--they either criticize it because they think Labute is entertaining himself, or they applaud him for the same thing.Great movie.
On the contrary, it's too good to watch in such a depressing and wrongful film as this.P.S.: I don't think I will ever be able to look at Rachel Weisz the same again.
That's not actually meant to be the message of Neil La Bute's "The Shape of Things," but it is a truth that emerges when the nerdy hero, Adam (Paul Rudd, going thorough all his changes quite brilliantly) turns from a bespectacled lump into a lean, up to date sexy guy due to the manipulations of what he thought was his girlfriend (Evelyn, played by Rachel Welsz, who co-produced).
Fred Weller also makes the best friend more demonstratively affected by the goings-on than I remember.I found Rachel Weisz's artist still bloodcurdingly effective, but the film audience didn't gasp at the revelation of her true character as the theater audience had done (and the only way to avoid most critics who seem to insist on giving away the ending is to not read other reviews).