Especially memorable is a scene where various parents confront their collegiate students, and we get to see just how silly are the ideals held dear by the people inhabiting SIX DEGREES' world.įor all that most of the movie is well-scripted and crisply-directed (Fred Schepisi keeps things moving at an amazing clip), the ending is a letdown. There are several hilarious moments, each of which requires understanding of the characters and the author's motives. Ouisa makes a telling comment when she remarks that Paul has done more for her in one evening than her children did in a lifetime. It's an appropriate title for the film, since the themes of identity and relationships are integral to the plot. The title SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION refers to the theory that every man or woman is separated from any other man or woman by no more than six people. Paul may be the con-man, but it doesn't take much insight to see that Ouisa and Flan are no more "real" than he is. Sometimes it gets a bit too pretentious-the discussion between Paul, Ouisa, and Flan on imagination is one such example-but overall it's a biting and satirical indictment on those who possess ideals as high in the sky as their social standing. The dialogue is the best part of SIX DEGREES it absolutely sparkles with wit and intelligence.
However, there are certain elements of Paul's basic nature-namely his homosexuality and insecurity-that follow him regardless of which identity he dons. Chameleon-like, he is not just an imposter, but a man who literally becomes the person he claims to be-and during SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, he pretends to be a lot of people. This is a "talky" motion picture that splits its time between skewering the vacuous lives of people like the Kittredges and examining the forces that mould Paul into the person he becomes. From that moment on, Paul becomes one thing to Flan-an anecdote to tell friends, but something different and more important to Ouisa-a mirror in which she can see the emptiness of her ownĮven if I hadn't known beforehand that SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION was adapted from a stage play, the script makes it obvious. He sells them a story about being the son of actor Sydney Poitier, cooks them dinner, and ends up being invited to spend the night. A con man from the streets of Boston, Paul is looking for an easy mark, and finds it in the Kittredges and their rich guest. On a night when they're entertaining a South African millionaire named Geoffrey (Ian McKellen), Paul (Will Smith) enters their lives. Ouisa and Flan Kittredge (Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland) live and move in the upper echelons of New York society, enjoying the fortunes gleaned from their business ventures-brokering art objects for exceptional profit. Screenplay: John Guare, based on his play Producers: Fred Schepisi and Arnon Milchan Starring: Stockard Channing, Donald Sutherland, Will Smith, Ian McKellen, Mary Beth Hurt, Bruce Davison, Heather Graham Director: Fred Schepisi Rated: R (Language, nudity, mature themes) Six Degrees of Separation Review by berardinelli,james (blake7 AT cc DOT bellcore DOT com)