The Virgin Suicides
Paramount Home Video | Release Date: April 21, 2000
7.4
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Generally favorable reviews based on 135 Ratings
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Negative:
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10
GreatbealloJan 27, 2012
In Sophia Coppola's directorial debut we are witness to a series of tragic events that take place in a quiet suburban neighborhood in the 1970s. Based on the spectacular book by Jeffrey Eugenides, and featuring the music of Air, this movie isIn Sophia Coppola's directorial debut we are witness to a series of tragic events that take place in a quiet suburban neighborhood in the 1970s. Based on the spectacular book by Jeffrey Eugenides, and featuring the music of Air, this movie is perfection. It is a hauntingly beautiful depiction of young love and the pains of shattered expectations.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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8
emalloveDec 4, 2016
Tragedy wins the day in this haunting melodrama. A coming of age story where nobody comes of age. Great soundtrack for yacht rock nostalgia. The Lisbon girls are cute, popular, and self-annihilating - a subtle glamorization of teenage suicide.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
burntoemergeJul 4, 2011
.
the movie is supposed to make you feel unsatisfied and empty.
viewers end up feeling exactly like the neighbourhood boys, and like the girls
its genius and haunting..
.
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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7
SpangleDec 21, 2014
A very interesting teenage/pseudo coming of age drama, The Virgin Suicides has its strengths and weaknesses. First off, the acting is great from all the kids and adults, though I do not know if I am buying Kirsten Dunst as a 14 year old here.A very interesting teenage/pseudo coming of age drama, The Virgin Suicides has its strengths and weaknesses. First off, the acting is great from all the kids and adults, though I do not know if I am buying Kirsten Dunst as a 14 year old here. Just saying. Great acting and fit the beauty required for the role, but having been 14, I can confirm no 14 year old looked like that when I was 14. Anyways, the film is gently directed by Sofia Coppola and she handles the sensitive subject matter very well. The story is very interesting and very well told. I like the handling of the narration, as well. Narration can sometimes feel unnatural, but it felt like that was the only way to tell this story and it never really messed with the flow of the film. In fact, it really helped the flow of it. Ultimately, the film has a very distant and melancholy feel to it, which really helps drive home the story and really makes it hit you. However, that same distance can prevent you from getting into the film. You feel as if you are arm's length away from the film and prevented from getting any closer. In the context of the film, this can be effective, but in terms of pure enjoyment, this film would benefit from a feeling of intimacy that would really pull the viewer in. Regardless, The Virgin Suicides is a good film that tells this depressing story and makes it feel almost dreamlike and beautiful in a really twisted way.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
DiscoballMindAug 31, 2019
Great aesthetics, soundtrack and directing. A great adaptation of the peculiar style of the book
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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7
RobinsNestMar 12, 2012
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A tale of lost innocence-for the boys. I didn't find out enough about the girls to really understand how difficult it can be growing up. I did get insight about Lux and a little about Cecelia? the youngest. But the rest of the girls and mother remain a mystery. I saw a little about the goofy dad. It works as a metaphor but not as a story. No one was concerned about the girls, no officials; why weren't the police out searching for Lux after she did not return home, all night? Those parents would not have gone to bed until all their little girls were in; mom was an insomniac. So some flaws that I overlooked because this film is not about the plot or story itself, but in the telling. As usual I'm sure the book is better. Still I was drawn to it. It could've been an "A" film but I give it a B, maybe a B+; almost there, but a few too many flaws.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
wagaJan 7, 2015
I thought that the portrayal of the actions of the boys was honest because I could relate to it, and because if I was in their shoes, I would have in the same way wanted to help the girls, in the same way would have been unable to do so, andI thought that the portrayal of the actions of the boys was honest because I could relate to it, and because if I was in their shoes, I would have in the same way wanted to help the girls, in the same way would have been unable to do so, and in the same way would have done what I could.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
amheretojudgeMay 9, 2018
i never understood why..

The Virgin Suicides It takes guts to pull off such a risky project and not because it is way too dark that it is almost inedible but the makers still keep it light and breezy on the rest of the journey which doesn'ti never understood why..

The Virgin Suicides

It takes guts to pull off such a risky project and not because it is way too dark that it is almost inedible but the makers still keep it light and breezy on the rest of the journey which doesn't come often and shows a sign of greater talent. Sofia Coppola is no short on execution but it rarely factors in or is noticeable for there is too much to work on the plotline. Her adaptation from Jeffrey Euginides' novel isn't smart but still the tone is kept alive that is palpable for the characters that resides in this symmetric world. There isn't much to admire on performance as the cast has done a decent job where Kirsten Dunst and Kathleen Turner may stand out. The Virgin Suicides is a plot driven feature that is so focused on the advancement and the pace of it that the supporting characters may feel a bit undercooked or lack opportunity to factor in, that results into a smaller space for the audience to breathe in.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
ahmedaiman1999Mar 23, 2020
Whilst its way of exploring its main subject is both pretentious and perfunctory, Sofia Coppola's nuanced and sensitive direction conveyed almost everything the screenplay aspired, yet failed, to do. Plus, the soundtrack of this film has I'mWhilst its way of exploring its main subject is both pretentious and perfunctory, Sofia Coppola's nuanced and sensitive direction conveyed almost everything the screenplay aspired, yet failed, to do. Plus, the soundtrack of this film has I'm Not in Love: I think this is everything a film of this kind needed to be great!

(8/10)… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
DawdlingPoetNov 22, 2021
This is very much a psychological coming of age style drama (i.e. a fairly character driven drama at that, or should that be characters driven, those obviously being the Lisbon sisters, all of whom seem to the local adolescent boys as almostThis is very much a psychological coming of age style drama (i.e. a fairly character driven drama at that, or should that be characters driven, those obviously being the Lisbon sisters, all of whom seem to the local adolescent boys as almost some form of mythological enigmas).

The plot pace is really quite slow. I'd say that if your mainly looking for a drama with a fair amount of action in it, then don't look here, as it could come across as quite mundane. The majority of the film is dictated from the point of view of the Lisbon sisters fellow male pupils, who provide narration, giving an insight in to how they viewed the girls, how little the community knew and understood them. There are some dream like scenes, reconstructions of daydreams and the like, whereby their shown in very soft, fuzzy focus, with colours blending in to one another, giving it a surreal feel. It is somewhat cliched in parts, with such dreamlike scenes including one of the girls skipping through meadows wearing a summer dress what you could describe as a very innocent and perhaps virginal way(?).

The film is set primarily in the 1970s, although its all about looking back at what happened during the time there were a series of suicides in the family but these, obviously, occured in the 1970s (its pretty easy to tell that its set then given the fashion, music and everything, although im not sure that the start of the film specified which year its supposed to be set in).

Thematically speaking, it covers adolescent isolation, obsession, issues to do with strict parenting and 'growing pains' I guess you could say (in a non-sexual way, I should add(!)). The musical score includes tracks such as How Can You Mend A Broken Heart performed by Al Green, Strange Magic performed by ELO and I'm Not In Love performed by 10CC.

Cast wise, James Woods portrays the Lisbon sisters father, Ronald and Kathleen Turner plays the mother, who I don't think was referred to by a particular name. Josh Hartnett plays the main guy Trip Fontaine, the typical teen hunk who has the hots for one of the sisters (Lux). He comes across as very cool, calm and collected, quite charismatic and the like. The sisters are portrayed by Kirsten Dunst, who plays Lux, the blonde bombshell who keeps her distance much to the guys frustration, A.J. Cook plays Mary Lisbon, Leslie Hayman plays Therese Lisbon, Chelse Swain plays Bonnie Lisbon and Hanna Hall plays Cecilia Lisbon, who takes centre stage at the start of the film. Pretty much all of the sisters look similar, in being blonde, dreamy adolescents. They all come across as somewhat mysterious and keen on each others company, as would make sense given their domestic isolation.

I felt that it had quite a haunting type feel to it, with rather 'floaty' music used in some scenes (I'm not sure quite how else to describe it). Its certainly quite atmospheric and spookily engrossing as well, if you share the boys curiosity to try to get a glimpse of the private lives and thinking of these young girls, to spot what led up to the inevitable sad ending. I suppose it isn't exactly an original film in terms of the plot but the characterisations were done in a way that I found it quite an intriguing film, as I tried to imagine myself in the shoes of the various sisters and look out for the presumed signs of what may or may not have prompted the sisters' downfalls. It almost has the feel of a sort of a twisted fairy tale of sorts, if that makes any sense?. It certainly won't appeal to everyone but at just over an hour and a half long, its a pretty good film of its type.

I found the ending to be rather sudden and as such took me by surprise, even though I was somewhat aware of what it would be, not least due to the fact that I'd read the novel the film is based on (The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides), although that was some time ago as I was finishing secondary school, around the end of the 90s (this film was originally released in the year 2000, although in the US it was released in 1999, according to IMDB).

Part of what makes it so haunting is the fact that its set in such a mundane seeming, typical middle class town, not somewhere where you may expect there to obviously be young people with especially troubled minds. I suppose, if I had to compare it to another film, I'd say that as far as the psychological drama side of it is concerned, its a bit like 'We Need To Talk About Kevin'.

The film script was written by and the film was directed by Sofia Coppola, daughter of Francis Ford Coppola. I believe this was the first feature film she directed, or certainly it was one of her first. Its certainly quite stylish - it has the feel of a cult, indie hit . It doesn't seem like a multi million blockbuster, its more of an understated, subtle yet chilling family drama of sorts.

Yes I'd recommend it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
julienelJan 7, 2023
This film stays with me during my toughest times. Touching and thought-provoking story of five teen girls, living in the 1970s in Michigan from the perspective of their neighbours. Colors, acting and soundtrack - for me they are the TOP3 ofThis film stays with me during my toughest times. Touching and thought-provoking story of five teen girls, living in the 1970s in Michigan from the perspective of their neighbours. Colors, acting and soundtrack - for me they are the TOP3 of the movie. They help with creating the worrisome air during the showing. If you like movies about emotions and changes and also you value the esoteric climate - "The Virgin Suicides" should be perfect choice. Sofia Coppola didn't defeat. Big respect towards her for choosing real teenage girls and boys!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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