Review of Six Degrees of Separation (1993) by Stephen M — 24 Apr 2008

Extremely faithful to the stage play, SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION becomes better when it takes the audience into the real world of these socialites: the real life locales of New York City. The script crackles, whether onstage or onscreen; but it is uplifted, as though caught up in a hang glider, when we are given a chance to see the opulent lifestyles of these spoiled people living on the Upper East side, and the less than opulent living situations of the younger poor people we get to glimpse later in the film. The city becomes like another character in the play - the best supporting character of all!

Thank, thank, thank God that the incomparable Stockard Channing reprised her stage performance for the screen. It is one of those performances that remains legendary and talked about by theater goers who saw her live; and it is a performance for which she was nominated for an Oscar. She was robbed of that Oscar. (Don't get me wrong - I think Holly Hunter should have an Oscar but not that year and not for The Piano).

Donald Sutherland is one of the best actors around and he is the perfect match for Channing's slowly and continually growing conflicted Ouisa. Together, they make this movie what it is. They are aided by their director, Fred Schepisi, supporting players Mary Beth Hurt, Bruce Davison, Ian McKellan and Richard Masur.

Sadly, they are not well aided by the young actors in the film. Will Smith, who is an actor I have come to LOVE, did not (at this stage of his career) have what it took to deliver a fully realized performance of this complex character -- and his decision to NOT do the homosexual kiss was so blatant as to take the audience out of the story and, joltingly, into a Hollywood agent's office during negations. Eric Thal and Heather Graham, also actors I have loved, do nice, albeit forgettable work in this film. Of the other young actors who round out the cast, only Anthony Rapp gives a realistic or entertaining performance (though Catherine Kellner has a nice scene in her mother's bedroom where the 'six degrees' monologue takes place).

Jerry Goldsmith's score is note for note perfection, by the way.

In spite of the flaws I have named in this film, I own the dvd and I call the movie one of my favourites and I have watched it almost a hundred times: to see the stars I have admired and to watch a once in a lifetime, complex and nuanced performance by a woman who, were she an Englishwoman, would be called DAME Stockard Channing.

For her work alone, this movie is one for the records.