MovieChat Forums > Storytelling (2001) Discussion > storytelling vs happiness

storytelling vs happiness

posted 19 years ago by jusbean
8 replies | jump to latest

it may take a bit for my mind to thaw enough for me to make this a firm opinion, but i think i liked storytelling more than happiness. i feel like it zoomed in on several suburban pyscho-sexual issues that happiness most deifnitely addressed but in a less nuanced way. either way, i definitely enjoy this film, as upsetting as it could be.

on another note, its interesting how many less mainstream directors, like Solondz, depend on lesser known actors and actresses in their movies, sometimes to give them a feeling of anonymity and thus a more relaistic feeling, but solondz uses big names, such as goodman, seymour hoffman, among others, in his movies. its almost as if he wants the audience to have some bit of fiction to grab onto, like seeing a familiar movie star face reminds you that this is a movie, and despite how realistic it is, it allows the viewer to step back and say 'whew, glad this is only a movie'. just a thought.

[–] Gambit33139 19 years ago

I liked Storytelling a million times more than happiness. Happiness just frigging dragged and dragged and dragged with only the occasional hilarious or emotionally worthwhile thing happening. I still think it's a movie you should see. Obviously one of the best endings in a movie ever. But really Happiness seemed like went on for HOURS. I could not freaking believe that Storytelling went by so quickly. It litterally seemed like half the length it was.

[–] Bladerunner 19 years ago

I hated the pedophilia storyline in Happiness. I'm no prude, and I like Todd's movies in general, but I have two kids and it just was not funny, interesting or compelling to me. It is just too hard to watch, and I found it impossible to watch without genuinely fearing about my own son's safety, and not in a good way. In other words, it didn't heighten my sense of fear and as a result make me more vigilant, I was already very cautious. It just gave me a horrific sense of dread for kids who fall prey to such animals, and made me depressed for days after.

At any rate, my question is this... Is Storytelling as depressing as Happiness? I'd like to watch it, but I have no desire to have the same depressing experience as Happiness (which is ironic, as I believe Todd intended). I also don't want to see it if he continues on with the pedophilia stuff. I dig a weird storyline to a certain point, but I draw the line there. I'm not looking for any specifics, I'd just like to hear from anyone who has seen both who could tell me if Storytelling is as depressing. Welcome to the Dollhouse was very funny to me, and I loved the story. Is Storytelling in anyway similar in it's comedy to Dollhouse?

Thanks for the info.

"...nothing is left of me, each time I see her..." - Catullus

[–] summertheseason1 19 years ago

Storytelling is depressing in its own way, but not nearly as much as Happiness, in my opinion. But, like Happiness, it has the feeling that no one really wins in the end- which, I guess, if you think about it, is true of Solondz's work in general. And no pedophilia stuff.

I do not think that Welcome to the Dollhouse and Storytelling are very similar. The comedy in all Solondz films are similar in that you laugh at things that you almost feel bad for laughing at. In that way, the comedy is similar, but beyond that, they are very different. Dollhouse is definitely Solondz's most humorous film. If you are looking for something similar to that, I'd say that Palindromes comes closest. Aside from the obvious connections, Dollhouse and Palindromes seem to be the closest in meaning and style. But the subject matter is also one that may be hard for some.

[–] NothingSadderLonelyQueen 19 years ago

i liked happiness a lot more, this although i still think its great, is my least favourite Todd Solondz film.

[–] tonymurphylee 18 years ago

I think that Happiness is a better film because STORYTELLING seemed to try to hard to be shocking and sick and that sort of got distracting whereas HAPPINESS was just sort of naturally dark, but I love both films.

[–] mrie 18 years ago

Storytelling rocked!

[–] Aapox3 18 years ago

Storytelling is way more depressing, way way more.

Happiness, I feel almost biased because Storytelling is so depressing, is a much better film. It is much deeper and better structured. I feel as though Storytelling and Happiness have the same messages, but Storytelling does not quite get onto the same level.

[–] [email protected] 17 years ago

Both great movies, but Happiness is better in my opinion. Much more fully realized. Storytelling is great, though the fact that "Fiction" is so short when compared to "Non-Fiction" always kinda threw me off. Not that it should have been any longer; "Fiction" is good just as it is, but "Non-Fiction" probably could have been a film of its own. Happiness is a total masterpiece, though, as is Welcome to the Dollhouse. Both of those are superior to Storytelling, if you ask me.