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Selma Blair, Leo Fitzpatrick, Aleksa Palladino, Robert Wisdom, Noah Fleiss ... see more see more... , Paul Giamatti , John Goodman , Julie Hagerty , Lupe Ontiveros , Franka Potente , Mike Schank , Mark Webber , Mary Lynn Rajskub , Emmanuelle Chriqui , Heather Matarazzo , Rebekah Johnson

From the controversial director of Happiness comes another dark look at New Jersey, this time broken into two separate stories. The first is a 26-minute segment entitled "Fiction," which highlights th... read more read more...e life of Marcus (Leo Fitzpatrick), an aspiring writer who was born with deformities due to cerebral palsy. He unsuccessfully tries to read a new short story to his girlfriend Vi (Selma Blair), and leaves her after the story is similarly dismissed by his fellow students and teacher, Mr. Scott (Robert Wisdom), a black Pulitzer Prize winner. Vi approaches Mr. Scott in a bar one night and agrees to go home with him, recalling a "fictional" account of their experience in the next class. The second segment, titled "Nonfiction," follows Toby Oxman (Paul Giamatti), a thirtysomething sad sack who gets the idea to make a documentary of contemporary suburban teenage life. Looking for subjects, he runs into Scooby (Mark Webber), a disaffected, dim young man who dreams of being a TV star. Scooby's home life is highly dysfunctional, with a strict father (John Goodman), a prim and proper mother (Julie Hagerty), a football player brother (Noah Fleiss), and a younger brother Mikey (Jonathan Osser), who continually chats up the family's put-upon maid Consuelo (Lupe Ontiveros). Consuelo is soon banished from the household due to her involvement with Mikey, becoming an outcast just like Scooby. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi

Flixster Users

68% liked it

8,562 ratings

Critics

53% liked it

89 critics

R, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Todd Solondz

Release Date: February 8, 2002

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DVD Release Date: July 16, 2002

Stats: 609 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (609)

  • hunterjt13
    October 22, 2011
    hunterjt13
    This is a two-part film, one story about the racial tensions that result when a creative writing student has a tryst with her professor and the other about a documentarian trying to film an unstable teenager.
    In every sense this is a Todd Solondz film: the long shots and silences... read more, the out-of-place characters, and the cringe comedy. But of all the Solondz films I've seen, I think this is my favorite. The characters are more finely drawn, and even though the themes are opaque, like most of his work, there seems to be more cohesiveness to this effort. I also really enjoyed the performances in the first segment, especially by Selma Blair and Leo Fitzpatrick.
    The film's main flaw is the opacity of the themes. Why do these two stories belong together? Is Solondz trying to say something about how thin the line is between fact and fiction? I'm not sure.
    Overall, I liked this film even though there are significant aspects that remain unclear.
  • stevenecarrier
    September 10, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    The thing about Todd Solondz's "Storytelling" is that you can't simply just watch it as another, random film, because it's not just 'another random film.' You will have needed to have seen Solondz's previous work ("Welcome to the Dollhouse," "Happiness") and grasp the controversy... read more and criticism surrounding him, for "Storytelling" is a meditation on Solondz's sensibilities. Solondz turns his script and lens back on the audience as well as himself. He is questioning both his admirers and his detractors. He is also questioning himself- why he is drawn to this material, why explore such darkness? "Storytelling" is a sort of subtlety brilliant piece of metafiction but it's not all entirely satisfying. These stories are just a tad bit trite, yet they still come with a considerable amount of good- namely the casting (Blair, Goodman, Giamatti, Webber) and Solondz's sharp dialogue and observations. I can't recommend this film to anyone other than fans of Todd Solondz's fascinating and unforgivably complex body of work.
  • creepfreak
    December 13, 2008
    creepfreak
    Amazingly structured, beautifully shot, and brilliant, straightforward and honest dialogue. Storytelling is dark humored, luridly amusing and entertaining, and funny as hell in the demented sense. It's sharp, perversely genuine, witty and brutally forthright. Avoid the "R" ratin... read moreg at all cost and watch this in it's true form, RENT THE UNRATED VERSION!

    "Fiction"
    Vi is a hip college teenager who allows herself to be exploited and abused by any guy, including her writing professor, in order to get inspiration for her creative writing class.

    - In my eyes, this story seems to me it would be more on the "Non-fiction" side. But you can be the judge.

    "Non-fiction"
    Toby Oxman is a hapless loser/shoe salesman who wants to be a famous documentary filmmaker. For his first project, Toby explores the dysfunctional Livingston family, focusing mostly on the oldest son Scooby, an alienated, hates-the-world, ticking-time-bomb, bisexual, high school student with dreams of being famous.

    - Strange how this story is "Non-fiction", but hell, I love it's eccentricity. Just makes the movie more intriguing.

    Storytelling is disturbing, but it's always fun! Coming from the guy who directed "Welcome to the Dollhouse" you should already know what kind of material to expect. Todd Solondz is a great director, always with a strange and twisted, but interesting outlook on life. He's an amazing artist.

    I highly recommend Storytelling.


    "A masterful comedy that will divide audiences, but it left me laughing hysterically. I hope that doesn't make you think I'm a sick bastard, but if so, piss off."
    - Film Threat

    "I saw it a third time. By then I had moved beyond the immediate shock of the material and was able to focus on what a well-made film it was; how concisely Solondz gets the effects he's after."
    - Roger Ebert

    "Solondz has finally made a movie that isn't just offensive -- it also happens to be good. He's still shouting, still violating our politically correct sensibilities, but the shocks now have thematic purpose. They don't just titillate, they resonate."
    - The Globe and Mail

    "The leanest and meanest of Solondz's misanthropic comedies, feasts on the anguish of adolescence and confusion of college -- white suburban-style."
    - Village Voice

    "Almost as uncompromising, and sometimes as funny, as "Dollhouse" or "Happiness.""
    - Chicago Tribune

    "It's extremely well played and often very funny. But beware: Solondz uses humor as a booby trap, so be careful what you laugh at."
    - TV Guide

    "A movie that advances the career of a demonstrably gifted filmmaker, a fearlessly funny movie whose laughs draw blood, a bracingly provocative movie that won't apologize for its bad temper."
    - Rolling Stone
  • arashxak
    November 1, 2008
    arashxak
    Brutal Honesty, A thought-provoking well-written movie, Goes overboard a few times but overall great, Made me want to see all of Solondz's other movies
  • puffchunk
    November 19, 2007
    puffchunk
    Can't remember much about it other than a guy daydreams about conan obrien and a mexican made ends up burning down their house.
  • mjgildea
    November 22, 2006
    mjgildea
    So so. It was disturbing because people like this actually exist. John Goodman was so creepy.
  • danieljparsons
    May 2, 2009
    danieljparsons
    "Once you start writing, it all becomes ficion."

    Another blacker-than-black comedy from Todd Solondz, with a shocking ending that is both genuinely sad and horribly funny at the same time. It's this balance that Solondz excelled at in Happiness, and though this i

    ... read mores neither quite as excessive or successful as that film, Storytelling still deftly juggles a group of mostly unlikeable characters but finds pathos in their various downfalls. The fiction section, much shorter than the non-fiction part, is arguably more successful in separating lies and truth and features an excellent performance from Selma Blair. Unique filmmaking, as always.
  • Lemure
    April 28, 2010
    Lemure
    I don't want to say much about this film so as not to ruin it, but if you like beautifully written, unflinching and unpredictable films with character work that most writers would kill to be able to portray, then Storytelling is not to be missed. I would have given it five stars,... read more but it was only 80 minutes long.
  • littlecharmer1959
    April 28, 2009
    littlecharmer1959
    Not quite as good as 'Happiness' but just as daring. 'Storytelling' is split into two parts. The first being 'Fiction', staring Selma Blair as a creative writing student, who ends up spending the night with her black college professor (make sure you get the unrated version unless... read more you want to see a huge red square over the screen!). The second part is 'Non-Fiction' which is considerably longer than the first story therefore allowing more character development and sympathy for the characters. It involves documentary filmmaker Paul Giamatti (who is brilliant!) filming a project on teenagers, the focus being young Scooby, who wants to be just like Conan O Brien.
    Clever, entertaining and funny, with an excellent soundtrack by Belle and Sebastian. I know can't wait for 'Life During Wartime'.
  • SunilJawahir
    March 29, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    Bizarre and inappropriate but also funny and wonderfully dark.

View All Storytelling Reviews

Critic Reviews

Andrew Sarris
March 13, 2002
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

Despite [Solondz's] undeniable talent, however manipulative, his stories are too sour and mean-spirited for my taste. Full Review

Joe Baltake
March 1, 2002
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Each story on its own could have been expanded and worked into a compelling single feature, but in its current incarnation, Storytelling never quite gets over its rather lopsided conception. Full Review

Eric Harrison
February 24, 2002
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

That Storytelling has value cannot be denied. Not even Solondz's thirst for controversy, sketchy characters and immature provocations can fully succeed at cheapening it. Full Review

Rick Groen
February 15, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

In his latest effort, Storytelling, Solondz has finally made a movie that isn't just offensive -- it also happens to be good. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
February 8, 2002
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Solondz is without doubt an artist of uncompromising vision, but that vision is beginning to feel, if not morally bankrupt, at least terribly monotonous.

Bob Graham
February 8, 2002
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

Sometimes seems less like storytelling than something the otherwise compelling director needed to get off his chest. Full Review

Susan Stark
February 8, 2002
Susan Stark, Detroit News

A two-part film by Solondz that confirms his special affinity for subversive but discomfortingly truthful humor.

Steven Rosen
February 8, 2002
Steven Rosen, Denver Post

I think Solondz, as dispassionately as possible, is offering a pretty shrewd and insightful look at the nature of exploitation and manipulation in society. Full Review

Loren King
February 8, 2002
Loren King, Boston Globe

One of recent memory's most thoughtful films about art, ethics, and the cost of moral compromise.

Roger Ebert
February 8, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

By not averting his eyes, Solondz forces us to consider the unthinkable, the unacceptable, the unmentionable. Full Review

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    • Mr. Gary Scott: I don't know about what happened, because once you start writing, it all becomes fiction.
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Storytelling Trivia

  • Which Todd Solondz's film has the following quote: - what is rape exactly? -It is when you love someone and they don't love you and you do something about it. -sometimes I think my parents don't love me. -Well, when you get older you can do something about it.  Answer »
  • His notable roles include a TV police detective, a Mafia crimelord, a story-telling grandfather, and a hitman for a crime syndicate.  Answer »
  • Quentin Tatantino- Often uses an unconventional storytelling device in his films, such as retrospect, non-linear, or "chapter" format.  Answer »
  • What does Karen say she is good at in Out Of Africa ?  Answer »
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