Insignificance

UPC: 715515081412

Studio: Criterion

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language]

Summary: Using four famous but unnamed individuals to symbolize a notorious era in American politics, as well as to explore the nature of despair, director Nicolas Roeg has created an intriguing drama. Based on a play by Terry Johnson, the story begins with the blond Theresa Russell as a sex-goddess actress working on a scene over a subway grate, with her skirts billowing out in the updraft. A famous Professor from Princeton with white hair opens his door to the actress, who takes out a few props and goes through her rendition of the theory of relativity. Between her theatrical mode of speech and his world of mathematics, there is a certain entente. Enter the ballplayer who is her husband (Gary Busey), in love but without a clue as to the actress' inner sadness. Throw in the senator from Wisconsin (Tony Curtis) before whose sub-committee on Unamerican Activities the Professor has to appear, and the undercurrent of a societal witch-hunt that ruined many careers in Hollywood, in academics, in sports, and in politics is churned into the story. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Category: Comedy Drama

Awards: Grand Technical Prize – Cannes Film Festival

Features: New Video Interviews with Roeg and Thomas and with Editor Tony Lawson

Making "Insignificance," a short documentary shot on the set of the film

Original Theatrical Trailer
Plus: A Booklet featuring an Essay by film critic Chuck Stephens and a reprinted exchange between Roeg and Screenwriter Terry Johnson

Insignificance

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 06/14/2011

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Alternate Wide Screen

Runtime: 108 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English

Craig Butler

Insignificance is confusing, fascinating, and sometimes irritating. A fantasy about the meeting of four famous characters and a meditation on the meaning of celebrity, relationships, loneliness, and the inability to communicate, it's a challenging film that ultimately doesn't make much sense but which burrows into the viewer's mind and stays with him long after the film is over. Blessed with director Nicolas Roeg's unique visuals, the story stops at many points for flashbacks/digressions that sometimes add to our enjoyment and sometimes detract from it, including a final lengthy "bomb" segment that is quite disturbing, as well as a marvelous Marilyn Monroe calendar sequence. If Roeg is not interested in illuminating Terry Johnson's screenplay, he clearly is interested in pulling some first-rate performances from his actors. Theresa Russell's Monroe is no imitation but a carefully wrought distillation, and Michael Emil's Einstein is vulnerable and boyish. Gary Busey struggles a bit with DiMaggio, but overall is fine. Best is Tony Curtis, unafraid to chew any scenery in sight as McCarthy, and delivering one of his bravest performances as a result. Insignificance is not everyone's cup of tea, but it's a memorable experience. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Jude Ciccolella  Actor 
David Lambert  Actor 
Patrick Kilpatrick  Actor 
Meachell Dunsmoor  Actor 
Raynor Scheine  Actor 
Shinobu Kanai  Actor 
R.J. Bell  Actor 
Lou Hirsch  Actor 
Ray Charleson  Actor 
Ian O'Connell  Actor 
Desiree Erasmus  Actor 
Richard Davidson  Actor 
David Montague  Actor 
Daniel Benzali  Actor 
George Holmes  Actor 
Joel Cutrara  Actor 
Raymond J. Barry  Actor 
Mitchell Greenberg  Actor 
Cassie Stuart  Actor 
John Stamford  Actor 
Terry Johnson  Screenwriter 
Stanley Myers  Composer (Music Score) 
Nicolas Roeg  Director 
Jeremy Thomas  Producer 
Hans Zimmer  Composer (Music Score) 
Alexander Stuart  Executive Producer 
Gary Busey  Actor 
Tony Curtis  Actor 
Michael Emil  Actor 
Theresa Russell  Actor 
Will Sampson  Actor 

Country: UK,USA