Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men is a 2009 indie drama film directed by John Krasinski and based on a novel of the same name by David Foster Wallace. The film weaves together a series of interviews conducted by a graduate student named Sara (Julianne Nicholson) in her quest to understand male behavior and relationships.

The movie is divided into two parts. The first part follows Sara's struggle to cope with a recent breakup and her decision to interview various men as part of her research. The interviews are often disjointed and uncomfortable, with the men revealing their deepest fears, desires, and emotional struggles in candid but unsettling ways. Timothy Hutton plays a psychology professor who helps Sara navigate the complexities of her research.

The second part of the movie is more structured, depicting a series of interconnected vignettes based on the interviews conducted by Sara. Through these interviews, the film delves into complex topics such as male insecurity, misogyny, sexual violence, and the power dynamics of relationships. Several of the characters are deeply flawed and even repulsive, but the film does not shy away from exploring their inner turmoil and motivations.

One of the strengths of the film is its strong cast of actors, many of whom are relatively unknown but deliver powerful performances. Ben Shenkman plays an unstable professor who engages in predatory behavior towards his students, while Bobby Cannavale is a struggling actor who resents his girlfriend's success. Christopher Meloni is particularly memorable as a self-absorbed TV host who is obsessed with his own image.

Despite its bleak subject matter, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men is not without moments of levity and even tenderness. The character interactions are often awkward and uncomfortable, but there are also moments of genuine connection and understanding between them. The film also features a strong sense of visual storytelling, with the interviews often shot in close-up and the characters framed in tight, claustrophobic spaces.

While Brief Interviews with Hideous Men is not a traditional narrative film, it is a powerful exploration of human behavior and relationships. The movie grapples with complex and uncomfortable subject matter without resorting to cheap melodrama or moral condemnation. Instead, it portrays its characters with sensitivity and empathy, even as it shines a light on the darkest corners of human experience.