Film Review: Gossip (2000)
Success of Scream in late 1990s led Hollywood to start making horror films directed at teenagers and young adults. The trend continued at the beginning of 21st Century, even through films that didn’t actually belong to horror genre, but used the similar set of characters, cast and atmosphere. One such example was Gossip, 2000 psychological thriller directed by David Guggenheim.
The plot is set in college campus where three students – arrogant Derrick Webb (played by James Marsden), beautiful Cathy Jones (played by Lena Headey) and quiet Travis (played by Norman Reedus) – are trying to earn their degree. Inspired by Professor Goodwin (played by Eric Bogosian) who runs their Communications class, they get an idea to write their final paper based on the rumour they would start and later track how it evolves. The target of the rumour is going to be Naomi Preston (played by Kate Hudson), female student obsessed with the idea of maintaining her virginity. Trio starts spreading word that she actually had sex with her boyfriend Beau Edson (played by Joshua Jackson) and the word quickly spreads around the campus. But the consequences of that little prank are unpredictable and they quickly lead to violence, criminal investigation and even the lives of students are in danger.
Scriptwriters Gregory Poirirer and Theresa Rebeck had an interesting idea to use the thriller genre template for what was supposed to be serious drama about modern man’s inability to find truth in the sea of lies and media manipulations. Gossip looked interesting, especially in the beginning when its unusual premise was being established. Cast, among which Lena Headey would later become most famous as Cersei in Game of Thrones, is also more than decent, with veteran character actor Edward James Olmos making the best impression in the role of police detective. Unfortunately, Poirier and Rebeck fill much of the film with cliches and in last half hour it all begins to fall apart, resulting in unconvincing deus ex machina ending and “surprise” plot twist that many viewers could spot much earlier. Film isn’t much helped by Davis Guggenheim, director who would later switch towards documentaries with much more success (including “Oscar”-winning Inconvenient Truth). Gossip is watchable, but at the end of the day, too much of a disappointment to be recommended.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
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