Running with Scissors

Name: Running with Scissors
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: October 20, 2006
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 52
Cast: Alec Baldwin, Annette Bening, Brian Cox, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Cross

2006

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 69 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 69 Ratings

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Running With Scissors

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: October 20, 2006 | R

Starring: Alec Baldwin, Annette Bening, Brian Cox, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Cross

Summary: Running With Scissors is the hilarious and poignant feature film based on the personal memoir by Augusten Burroughs. The film chronicles Augusten's survival under the most extraordinary of circumstances. (Sony)

Director: Ryan Murphy

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

Tasha Robinson

The surreality is distancing, but authentic, believable performances and a low-key affect keep Running From Scissors from turning shrill. Read full review

Rob Nelson

Like the book, this deadpan celebration of neurosis makes a valiant effort to repress its comedy--which of course makes it funnier. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

The movie winds up becoming "The Annette Bening Show," and she's quite good: Bening makes the most of a string of mad scenes for which any actress would kill, and the real pain she brings to the part grounds the film in something real. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

Baldwin brings so much lumbering weariness to his role that we can't help feeling something for his character Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Watching Running With Scissors the movie instead of reading Running With Scissors the best-selling memoir by Augusten Burroughs is like running with a spatula, or maybe some weird toast tongs. Read full review

William Arnold

In the end, there's also something distinctly distasteful about a movie in which the central figure casts himself as noble martyr while character-assassinating his parents. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Laughing at the freaks and then feeling bad about it is the sole reason for the existence of this pale little film. Read full review

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User Reviews

pdw123

Sep 19, 2016

To me, it's truly amazing how the critics and the critical sites (like rotten tomatoes) can be so HORRIBLY WRONG about this film, and how the viewers can be RIGHT. It makes me wonder if all the national reviewers have upper middle class dysfunctional families of their own, so perhaps theTo me, it's truly amazing how the critics and the critical sites (like rotten tomatoes) can be so HORRIBLY WRONG about this film, and how the viewers can be RIGHT. It makes me wonder if all the national reviewers have upper middle class dysfunctional families of their own, so perhaps the truth about neglectful child rearing hurts a little too much and hits a little too close to home. Ryan Murphy is a MASTERFUL DIRECTOR and has created a MASTERPIECE, period! ALso, critics complaining that Murphy didn't follow Augusten's book are ludicrous since Augusten says point blank on the DVD that Murphy was the one he wanted to option the book to, after many years of searching for one who would honor his work. Thus, critics need to get a clue there also. Finally, all the performances here (especially by Bening, Cox, and Clayburgh) are oscar-worthy, powerhouse performances. The Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi soundtrack is a powerhouse soundtrack and unique for a film these days, especially for ones that they bathe in Danny Elfmann instrumentations and 70's rock and I'm not knockin' that music but I'm just a-sayin'. Anyone who grew up in any dysfunctional family should watch this film, and critics need to go back to studying their navels (perhaps in their respective "masturbatoriums" as per Dr. Brian Cox) and eulogizing their crappy blockbuster sequels, period!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AbbyR

Oct 20, 2006

"Where would we be without our painful childhoods?" A strong case of innocence lost, Running with Scissors will leave an imprint on you and remind you of your own dysfunctional family. Hopefully in this case you will reminisce and laugh. Whether you like it or love it, miss this film and "Where would we be without our painful childhoods?" A strong case of innocence lost, Running with Scissors will leave an imprint on you and remind you of your own dysfunctional family. Hopefully in this case you will reminisce and laugh. Whether you like it or love it, miss this film and risk being the only one who didn't see it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

HannaH.

Jan 19, 2007

Extremely funny. A very appropriate cast for the characters depicted in the memoir. two thumbs up!

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TonyB.

Feb 9, 2007

This is one of those movies I found to be way underrated. The acting in this movie was definitely top notch however I do agree you don't really care about the characters and I definitely wasn't moved by the film in anyway. It was still an entertaining movie with strong acting This is one of those movies I found to be way underrated. The acting in this movie was definitely top notch however I do agree you don't really care about the characters and I definitely wasn't moved by the film in anyway. It was still an entertaining movie with strong acting definitely worth a viewing and a much higher review. Though it definitely doesn't stand up to the other films in this genre such as The Royal Tenenbaums.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

moviegrabbag

Jun 13, 2011

When you compare the movie to the book it falls very short. If you take the movie just as a movie its slightly better but still has a ton of problems. The biggest being that it struggles to develop all its characters and it jumps around a whole bunch. The jumping around issue is mostlyWhen you compare the movie to the book it falls very short. If you take the movie just as a movie its slightly better but still has a ton of problems. The biggest being that it struggles to develop all its characters and it jumps around a whole bunch. The jumping around issue is mostly caused by the fact the movie is based on a book that is a series of essays that cover many years. The movie attempts to remedy this by just crunching them all together and having them occur over what seems like maybe a year probably less. The thing that makes the movie a little better is the acting. The cast takes a very bad script and makes it slightly better.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Nov 10, 2006

Very slow, very depressing, and not a lot of story.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SteveS.

Feb 26, 2007

Terrible, over-rated movie like American Beauty. Directionless, pointless, with the therapist being the worst of all roles.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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