#199: SODERBERGH, Steven: Schizopolis (1996)

SODERBERGH, Steven (United States)

Schizopolis [1996]

Spine #199
DVD

Fletcher Munson has a doppelgänger in dentist Dr. Jeffrey Korchek. In his only acting role to date, acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh inhabits both roles: that of Munson, onanistic corporate drone and speechwriter for New Age guru T. Azimuth Schwitters, and of the swinging Korchek, Muzak enthusiast and lover of Munson's disenchanted wife. Meanwhile, mad exterminator and part-time celebrity prima donna Elmo Oxygen plots against Schwitters while using his trademark babble to seduce local housewives. Placing the onus squarely on the viewer ("If you don't understand this film, it's your fault and not ours"), writer-director-cameraman-star Soderbergh presents a deranged comedy of confused identity, doublespeak, and white-knuckle corporate intrigue, confirming his status as one of America's most daring and unpredictable filmmakers.

96 minutes
Color

Monaural

1:85:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2003

Director/Writer

Steven Soderbergh was 33 when he wrote and directed Schizopolis.

Other Soderbergh films in the Collection:

#938: Sex, Lies, And Videotape (1989)
#698: King Of The Hill (1993)
#618: Gray's Anatomy (1997)
#151: Traffic (2000)

#496: Che (2008)
#617: And Everything Is Going To Be Fine (2010)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Eight-page wraparound featuring an essay by Dennis Lim.

Commentary

1. Soderbergh interviewing himself
2. Producer John Hardy, actor and casting director David Jensen, actor Mike Malone, and production sound mixer Paul Ledford.

Maximum Busy Muscle

Original theatrical trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

99

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