Iffy for 16+
Bad choices and immoral acts go unpunished in dark comedy.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Details is a dark comedy about a not-so-likeable man (Tobey Maguire) who commits some pretty heinous deeds. He lies, cheats on his wife, considers murder, and even intentionally runs his car over an animal. Other people in the film are just as unpleasant, and nobody really gets what they deserve. There's plenty of swearing (including multiple variations on "f--k"), some drinking, and one scene in which people smoke pot. There's also a rather bloody murder involving a bow and three sex scenes in which bare backsides are glimpsed and oral sex is suggested. A character masturbates to online porn. (The movie is also available on demand.)
- Families can talk about The Details' characters. Do any of them have redeeming qualities? Are they sympathetic? Does a movie need to have relatable characters to succeed?
- How does the movie portray marriage? How does it compare to other movie marriages?
- Why do you think Jeff cheats on his wife? Why does he dream about an innocent woman getting killed? Does he get what he deserves?
The good stuff
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Messages: Almost everyone in this film lies, cheats, steals, or worse -- and nobody seems to get what they richly deserve. The innocent are punished, while the guilty get to live a good life. There's simply no justice here.
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Role models: Though Jeff Lang plays Good Samaritan to help a friend in need, he has few other redeeming characteristics. He cheats on his wife, scams his way through medical school, plots a murder, and even tries some illegal home improvements. And worst of all, it seems like he might get away with all of it.
What to watch for
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Violence: A few heated arguments and one rather gruesome, bloody murder using a bow. A man intentionally drives over an animal and then puts the car in reverse and does it again, just to be sure.
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Sex: A few sex scenes, some featuring quick glimpses of naked backsides and suggestions of oral sex. A husband and wife argue about their sex life, and the man sometimes masturbates to online pornography.
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Language: Frequent swearing includes many permutations of "f--k," plus "s--t," "whore," and more.
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Consumerism: One character mentions grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, and a Nike shoe is visible in an early scene.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Two characters get drunk in a bar, then go smoke a joint and fondly recall the times they got wasted in medical school. People drink wine and other alcoholic beverages at social events and meals.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
Best Dark Comedy Slince Fargo by jaax44
This is the most intelligent dark comedy I've seen since Fargo. Tremedous performances by an all star cast, especially Laura Linney as an over the top eccentric who is still sexy enough to seduce. This director is not afraid to let scenes develop between actors and his writing is top rate. Details will make you wince and laugh out loud at the same time. Absolutely a must-see!
5
The Details is a must see! by gregory1234m
My girlfriend and I loved this film. What an original piece of work with stellar performances by Laura Linney and Ray Liotta. We have been so discouraged by the kind of things out in the theatres these days. Finally we found something that excited us, challenged us, thrilled us. Congrats to the filmmakers. Long overdue for a film this exciting.
5
Now love Tobey Maguire
Everybody in the cast was fantastic, but Tobey Maguire was a special kind of fantastic. Loved the exploration of morally ambiguous choices (along with morally reprehensible ones). Great stuff.
3
Maguire Is Barely Alive While Committing Serious Crimes of Passion by pedsarq
This was an exhausting movie to sit through. The recurring imaginary scene in the movie is a piano falling on Maguire and crushing hime. Sadly, this never happens to this pathetic excuse for a human being how can't own up to his responsibilities as a husband/father and indulges in cheap pleasures at the expense of others, including family and friends. It is, however, close to impossible to dislike Maguire while he's playing up that Peter Parker innocence game.
5
The Details by Godawgsmom
What a WONDERFUL cast! It's definitely a different kind of comedy but has you laughing!
Went to a screening with a Q & A afterwards with Jacob Estes...so much more to the movie than first take! Makes you wonder what we all just "accept" and not question. Brilliant!