REVIEWS

"YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS"

When I saw "In the Company of Men" a little over a year ago, I was overwhelmed by the combination of great dialogue and excellent performances. I hadn't seen a combo like that since "Glengarry Glen Ross" several years before. With a superb acting job by Aaron Eckhart, and first timer Neil LaBute writing and directing, "In the Company Men" became one of the most talked about films that year. Now LaBute has released his second film, and he wisely brought along Aaron Eckhart.

"Your Friends and Neighbors" is similar to "In the Company of Men" in that the dialogue is brutal. REALLY brutal. Probably more so even than "In the Company of Men." Other than that, they're quite different. Oh, they're also similar in that they both end abruptly and make you think.

LaBute rounded up a great cast here. Eckhart is damn near unrecognizable here as a slightly pudgy and weak, but faithful husband. This role is a complete switch from his role in LaBute's last film, but he's just as convincing. Aaron Eckhart is one of the best actors working, people. Pay attention to him. Anyway, Amy Brennemen (former "NYPD Blue" cast member, and she was in "Casper" as the dead ghost mom and "Bye Bye Love") plays his lost, confused wife. Ben Stiller (who's making it big right now in "There's Something About Mary") is amusing playing an acting teacher who can't act, Catherine Keener is awesome as his artsy girlfriend who wears black a lot. Jason Patric (who was also one of the producers) is downright scary in a wonderful performance as the guy who can get any woman he wants and knows it. His character may be just as evil, if not more so, than the character Aaron Eckhart played in "In the Company of Men." After trying to make it big in Hollywood (with "Rush," "Sleepers," and "Speed 2"), it may be this little independent film that makes him a star. Finally, there's Nastassja Kinski as the "artist's assistant" who has a run-in with almost all of these characters, and even hooks up with one of 'em... but I'm not saying who. I've always liked Nastassja Kinski, and in this movie, her performance is great. Her character is really cute, and not just physically. You hafta see the movie to know what I mean.

Of the two LaBute films, I'm not sure which I liked better. I liked them both a lot, and for much of the same reasons. I hope that Hollywood doesn't get ahold of him and make him do "safe" movies. This is a guy who knows how to provoke thought and discussion, and Hollywood isn't quite ready for such things (well, Dreamworks might allow it). For now, I eagerly await his next film, whatever it may be.

Scale of 1-10: 9