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Annette Bening, Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Evan Rachel Wood, Alec Baldwin ... see more see more... , Jill Clayburgh , Joseph Cross , Gwyneth Paltrow , Gabrielle Union , Kristin Chenoweth , Patrick Wilson , Colleen Camp , Dagmara Dominczyk , Jack Kaeding , Gabriel Guedj , Nancy Ellen Cassaro , Omid Abtahi , Julie Remala , Will Carter , Bonnie Weis , Dakotah Masset , Marianne Muellerleile

Screen newcomer Joseph Cross portrays Augusten Burroughs in director Ryan Murphy's film adaptation of author Burroughs' best-selling personal memoir of the same name. A child of the 1970s whose alcoho... read more read more...lic father, Norman (Alec Baldwin), and delusional, unpublished poet mother, Deirdre (Annette Bening), serve as the dictionary definition of the word "dysfunctional," Augusten is sent by his mother to live with her eccentric psychiatrist, Dr. Finch (Brian Cox), when his disagreeable parents ultimately decide to terminate their turbulent marriage. Suddenly thrust into an environment that is as unfamiliar as it is unpredictable, young Augusten forms a curious relationship with the doctor's two whimsical daughters while learning to adapt and survive under even the most unusual of circumstances. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

54% liked it

130,782 ratings

Critics

30% liked it

129 critics

R, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: Ryan Murphy

Release Date: October 20, 2006

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DVD Release Date: July 29, 2003

Stats: 8,744 reviews

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Gabrielle Union Hope Augusten Neil Bookman Final Scene Natalie I Need High Ceilings Augusten Deirdre Burroughs Jill Clayburgh The Finch Family Dog Kibble Dr. Finch Augusten and Natalie Running With Scissors - still photo Therapy with Dr. Finch Augusten Neil Bookman
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Flixster Reviews (8,744)

  • LWOODS04
    June 6, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Annette Bening, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jill Clayburgh, Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Evan Rachel Wood, Alec Baldwin, Vanessa Redgrave, Kristin Chenoweth, Colleen Camp, Patrick Wilson

    Director: Ryan Murphy

    Summary: When Deirdre Burroughs (Annette Bening) impulsively decides t... read morehat her adolescent son Augusten (Joseph Cross) should be raised by her unconventional psychiatrist (Brian Cox), her choice to give him away changes the course of his life forever.

    My Thoughts: "Haven't read the book (although I want to) so I am not sure if its the same in writing as it is on screen. It's such a crazy movie.. A good kind of crazy. I had wanted to see this movie for quite some time now, and I am glad I finally got the chance to. It was such a great movie. All the characters are all insane but sane at the same time. The Dr. was my favorite. The lines he gave had me laughing. If you haven't seen it I recommend you do."
  • EightThirty
    August 1, 2010
    EightThirty
    30/07/2010 (TELEVISION)

    This puts the "Drama" in "Dramatic" and makes it seem poetic. A very intense story with some major issues that weigh a ton, in madness.

    It started off seemingly normal and interesting but as the story unfolds it takes a very shocking turn with crazy cha... read moreracters and a fiery story that burns with insanity, but still managing to maintain my interest.

    Not my kind of flick but it's a nice change from my usual taste. A very hardcore drama indeed but a good check for those who are into "True Stories".
  • fb733768972
    January 25, 2010
    fb733768972
    Very Strange! Joseph Cross has done better work in Jack Frost! What the hell was this?
  • neverteaseaweasel
    December 2, 2009
    neverteaseaweasel
    Running With Scissors walk a tightrope between being a complete autrocity and being a work of mesmorizing genuis. I read the book a couple weeks ago and liked it a lot. The book managed to relate the bizare events without giving a feeling of "Woe is Me". Perhaps more importantly,... read more the book was also believable - whereas in the film everything appears fairly ludicrious. The movie certainly has its moments. In fact, several scenes were absolutely masterfull. Most of the acting was pretty decent-though Even Rachel Wood is among my favorites. I was also overjoyed to see Kristen Chenoweth. The sound track was also pretty damn amazing! Idk, I find myself fairly torn on this one. It did not completely win me over at all, but its just too close to being really good to say its bad =\
  • SirPant
    September 30, 2009
    SirPant
    Good film with fantastic performances by Bening and Cox. The fact that it?s a true story makes it even more entertaining but I must say I'm a little cross with myself for not reading the book first, have been meaning to for so long and probably won?t now for while. Recommended.
  • RCCLBC
    December 29, 2008
    RCCLBC
    I'm pretty sure that "heart warming" is NOT the right word...but somehow that is what pops into my head...perhpas "touching" is more appropriate?

    In any case this film was not the quirky "dark comedy" that the trailer lead me to believe it would be.

    Instead what I got was a... read more very moving (and yes "quirky") period (1970's) piece about the life of one boy and his COMPLETELY disfunctional family (both biological & "adopted").

    The cast is amazing and the writting (for the most part) is as clever as it is depressing.

    All in all an enjoyable (but heartbreaking)story.
  • aliceinpunderland
    August 9, 2008
    aliceinpunderland
    Pretty crazy. Excellent performances from Bening, Clayburgh, and Cross.
  • Redlats
    February 3, 2008
    Redlats
    A movie about crazy people. I don't like the film very much as I don't feel we learn much by watching it. It seems to be one confusing snapshot after another. The acting is fine. It is a movie that I need to see a second time to totally understand it. The film doesn't inspir... read moree me to read the book.
  • barrys
    December 24, 2007
    barrys
    This movie is weird but good. A complex film about the childhood of novelist Augusten Burroughs who had a bipolar-poet mother and a alcoholic father, they decide to divorce , Augusten finishes living with his mother's shrink an his screwed family. The story seems interesting, wit... read moreh a nice dark humor and tear dropping drama. The music is excellent, it reflects the 70's perfectly. The cast is excellent, Annette Bening's performance was flawless, Joseph Fiennes has a very convincing role as Neil Bookman, Brian Cox as Dr. Finch great as always, Evan Rachel Wood and Gwyneth Paltrow were very good also and Joseph Cross as Augusten Burroughs delivers a awesome and convincing acting job. This is a fully recommendable movie one of 2006 best.
  • puffchunk
    October 14, 2007
    puffchunk
    I wanted to like it. Brian Cox looked so promising, but it ended up being too centered on gay sex and whinny people. Gwyneth Paltrow did a great job though.

View All Running With Scissors Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
October 31, 2006
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

In the real world, mental illness is a serious problem. In this film, it gives everyone a license to run around like characters in a Lewis Carroll story -- all of it set to predictable pop hits from t... Full Review

James Berardinelli
October 29, 2006
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

As dysfunctional family movies go, this is one skip. It doesn't just run with the scissors, it falls on them. Full Review

Steven Rea
October 27, 2006
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

If the book was deadpan, the movie is more -- or less -- dead.

Roger Moore
October 27, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

This is an Igby Goes Down without the laughs, a morbid miscalculation of The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou size. Full Review

Colin Covert
October 27, 2006
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

The film trips over its willy-nilly story line and falls on its own blade.

Bruce Westbrook
October 27, 2006
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

It's one of the most clear-headed -- and twistedly entertaining -- views of drug dependency and insanity I've ever seen. Full Review

Tom Long
October 27, 2006
Tom Long, Detroit News

Just as the title implies, Running with Scissors falls down and impales itself at nearly every turn. It's one big uh-oh and ouch of a movie. Full Review

Terry Lawson
October 27, 2006
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Running with Scissors feels like nothing more than one of the many current TV series that appeal to viewers looking for edgy entertainment. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
October 27, 2006
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

Someday Annette Bening may find a movie that precisely matches the performance she gives. Unfortunately, Running With Scissors isn't that movie.

Lisa Kennedy
October 27, 2006
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

A mood-swinging, often amusing version of Augusten Burroughs' tart, best-selling memoir. Full Review

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    • Augusten Burroughs: According to Hope, Freud died of kitty leukemia. According to me, Freud died of being trapped in a laundry basket for four days without food or water.
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Running With Scissors Trivia

  • What is the name of the actress and the smash broadway show that the actress starred in: She played Fern in Running with Scissors and the neighbor in Bewitched   Answer »
  • How does Freud die in Running With Scissors?  Answer »
  • All except one are horror or serial killer movies. Name the film about a very dysfunctional family.  Answer »
  • In what film would one hear the following quote: " It means our financial situation is turning around. It means things are looking upward. Literally, the shit is pointing out of the pot! Towards Heaven, to God. My turd is a direct communication from the Holy Father."  Answer »
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