Ghost World

Ghost World
2001
MGM DVD

Ghost World is a film based on a comic book written and drawn by Daniel Clowes. The comic was serialized in Clowes anthology comic Eightball.Over the course of 4 years and and 8 issues Clowes put out one of my favorite comics.

I first read the comic back in late 1997. So when I heard it was being made into a film I knew I had to see it. The film got a very limited theatrical release. So I ended up having to wait for it to hit home video before I could see it. The day it came out I bought a VHS copy.

This is the story of two long time friends. Enid and Rebecca,who have just graduated high school. They were outcasts in their school. And are very happy to escape the hell that is high school. Well Enid ends up having to take a remedial art class during the summer to actually graduate. Well her and Rebecca have been planning on getting summer jobs and renting an apartment. Rebecca quickly gets a job but Enid is a slacker. And this drives a wedge between the two friends. But while this is happening Enid strikes up a friendship with Seymour,who is played by Steve Buscemi. Seymour is a lonely record collector. And he is amazed that a young pretty female like Enid would have any interest in him. Thanks to the some help from Enid,Seymour ends up getting a girlfriend and starts to become less of a social misfit.


Before this film I had no idea who Scarlett Johansson was. And she does a great job playing Rebecca. I also really didn't know who Thora Birch,who plays Enid,was. But after seeing the film I remembered her as the younger sister from Hocus Pocus. Ghost World showed me that both ladies are really good actresses. Now Scarlett doesn't have that big a role in the film,but the scenes she is in you can see the potential she had as an actress. Now Thora Birch is amazing,she is perfect as Enid. And actually looks almost exactly like how Enid was drawn in the comic.

The DVD has a decent amount of extra features. There is some deleted and alternate takes of scenes. A kind of disappointing making of featurette. The original theatrical trailer. And finally a music video for song "Jaan Pechechaan Ho". I wish there was a commentary on the film. One with Daniel Clowes,Thora Birch and Steve Buscemi would be interesting. Ghost World gets a A.