"THE OBJECT OF BEAUTY" (1991) - (Thoughtful Amusing Video Risk) Not a laugh out loud comedy, and, perhaps, not really a comedy at all. This film was found by me while strolling through the comedy section of my local video store. To my surprise, wasn't terribly funny; therefore, I call it "amusing." While just over 90 minutes in length, this quiet film may seem slow and talky to most viewers. Smart and realistically brutal the same way a Neil Labute film easily crosses the line into the "R" rating with little or no nudity, "The Object of Beauty" held my wife's attention to the end.

The Story - Why play with your own money when so many people want you to play with theirs? The story revolves around two vagabonds, John Malkovich and Andie MacDowell, stranded in a posh London hotel room without a penny of real money to their names. Of course, real money and actual money are important distinctions because throughout the film money flows freely but the duo hardly pay for anything. Part of the story involves a small Henry Moore bronze statute, presumably, one of the "objects" that forms the basis for the movie's title. This film is less about story and more about the characters and how they choose to live their lives.

The Review - John Malkovich plays a character named Jake with typical Malkovichian arrogance that fits the role well. He is a risk taker who does not fret over anything that costs less than $50,000.00. He defines himself by the size of his bank account. He is a product of the 80s, beginning to feel the effects of long-term financial over-extension in the 90s.

Jake "lives" from hotel room to hotel room with Tina played by Andie MacDowell with a kind of superficial aura one would expect from someone who has made a series thoughtless decisions based on instant gratification. She has left her successful, rich husband to shack up with another outwardly rich man who pampers her. At one point, she makes a list of her options when it appears that the money may actually run out. The list, which includes working as a magazine reporter, displays how far she has lost touch with reality. She is still pretty to look at though, and probably fun to have around, but really incapable of sustaining herself independently.

America is replete with couples like Jake and Tina, who juggle credit cards living off credit always staying one step ahead of the bill collector. Their addiction to money and more importantly spending money is commensurate with gambling or drug addiction. They don't know when to quit, and they can't quit because the longer they are out there spending, the more likely they will be to score. I was told by a client once that activity causes activity. This is akin to the idea that you must spend money to make money. If you do nothing, you will get nothing in return. Risk-taking is critical to success, but many failures have been the product of risk, too much risk. In "Object," we get the idea that Jake and Tina are smart enough to see the limit, but, they are far from reaching it. Take home "The Object of Beauty" and think twice before using a credit card to pay for the rental at your local Blockbuster.

Watch for Malkovich's dissection of the value of his meal. It is a reason to go to the grocery store, if you have a kitchen.

Jonathan Hickman