Have You Seen "Running With Scissors" and Did You Like It?

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Teen Augusten Burroughs absorbs experiences in his childhood that was created into a shocking and dark comedic memoir called "Running With Scissors". The film involves his memories from his book: being the child of an alcoholic father and an unstable mother, then at a time of his parents separation, he's handed off to his mother's therapist, Dr. Finch , and spends his teen years as a member of Finch's strange and offbeat extended family. Now the film was not a complete bust. It did hold solid direction and a cast that delivered to the fullest of their capacity. Annette Bening portrayed the mother Deirdre Burroughs perfectly, in all of her manic despondent and often psychotic glory. Also, you get fine performances from Brian Cox playing an offbeat doctor, Evan Rachel Wood playing the doctors daughter, and Alec Baldwin as the alchee father, plus many more. My issue with the film is that its writing was poor. It yearned for you to feel sorry for the main character and all the tribulations he was going thru. The screenplay was never subtle and rammed what ever feelings it was attempting to convey, down your throat. Also, the comedic portions where forced, bringing outragious comments out of left field, simply to be nutty and bazzar. Yet, all we feel is that they are forcing a strained dark comedy, that did not have much chance to be funny to begin with, seeing as how the material was poorly thunk about. The soundtrack was bothersome also, glazing you with a cheery syrupy flow of cliche hits from the past and pop music that is better left forgotten. So in the end I feel as if this is a film that had many good materials (acting, directing..) but lacked a proper foundation. Did you get the opportunity to view this.. and what was your opinion?