Art School Confidential Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
Convinced that art school will put him on the path to fame, Jerome (Minghella) must come to terms with his anemic talent, as he watches the girl of his dreams fall in love with another student. Then, strangely, he's arrested as a suspected murderer — only to discover that crime might actually pay.
| Max Minghella | Jerome |
| Sophia Myles | Audrey |
| John Malkovich | Sandy |
| Jim Broadbent | Jimmy |
| Joel Moore | Bardo |
| Scoot McNairy | Army Jacket |
| Ezra Buzzington | Leslie |
| Terry Zwigoff |
6.40 out of 10 (3896 votes)
Visitor Reviews
In spite of its obvious faults...
posted on 25 Jul 2009This script should have had a few rewrites before it went into production. Yet, in spite of the obvious shortcomings it still deserves a 7 for understated wit, sarcasm and caricature. Perhaps the biggest fault lies in that these concepts were not exploited to their full potential leaving, for one, the main character rather weak and unconvincing. Living with an Art History graduate has had its effect on me and I feel the story failed to utilise all the rich contradictions that artists and art could have provided. Nevertheless, I found myself laughing out load for the supporting characters self-centered ineptness at dealing with their own shortcomings and the very human desire of just wanting recognition, in spite of all their pretentiousness about the little art world they live in.
biting satire on art school subculture
posted on 25 Jul 2009Art School Confidential is a biting satire on art school subculture directed by Terry Zwigoff (Ghost World, Bad Santa). The film is refreshing thanks to original theme and surprising unconventional ending. I must admit that I haven't seen a film which would resemble this one before. The flick is kept in an ironic tone so characteristic to Zwigoff's previous work. John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent and Ethan Suplee (well-known for My Name Is Earl series) are quite funny and didn't let the movie fall flat or be too bleak. However, the potential remains partially wasted as screenwriter and author of comic book on which the flick was based Daniel Clowes doesn't care about characters. At many points the flick didn't capture my attention and some scenes seemed strained. In addition, the main character (Max Minghella) is lifeless and not very interesting, which certainly does not help at all. To conclude, Art School Confidential is not great in any way, but certainly passable movie with interesting perceptions.
Another scathingly funny comedy collaboration of Zwigoff & Clowes.
posted on 25 Jul 2009ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL (2006) *** Max Minghella, Sophia Myles, Matt Keeslar, John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent, Anjelica Huston, Steve Buscemi, Joel Moore, Ethan Suplee, Nick Swardson, Adam Scott. Another scathingly funny comedy collaboration of Zwigoff & Clowes.Although I have never read any of Daniel Clowes' comic books/graphic novels I know I've definitely lived them. His scathingly, biting satire and caustically witty characters are indelibly familiar with my train of thought in humor and I have known some of those gross caricatures to be actual flesh & blood people. Archetypes of angst & anomie, pseudo intellectuals and face it, assholes. There I said it but then again so does Clowes and filmmaker/collaborator/partner-in- crime Terry Zwigoff who are back together since their last great teamwork effort "Ghost World".Adapting his story Clowes perfectly captures the ennui of being a talented artist trying to find himself and be taken seriously in a sea of misfits, miscreants and malcontents. The talented artist here is one Jerome Platz (Minghella, son of filmmaker Anthony Minghella, and disturbingly looking like the teenage version of the comic strip character "Dondi" (!)), a lonely, lowly freshman embarking to find his true talent as an artist by enrolling at a prestigious New York art college called Strathmore where he rooms on campus with vulgarian film student Vince (Suplee) and mincing ambivalently gay fashion designer wannabe Matthew (Swardson) and pines for his drawing class' nude model Audrey Baumgartner (Myles, a combo of Cameron Diaz and Uma Thurman; yes, definitely easy on the eyes kids!), who he idealizes and imagines her to be his destined love and inspired muse. Oh and there's a serial strangler on the loose. Director Zwigoff lets the jokes go broad and the wit stream like unleashed venom with its nasty student body and officious artistes-in-the-making (they're all there as they are pointed out hilariously by eternal drop-out slacker Bardo whose medium is sarcasm) are only too real to be caricatured with the pomposity of greatness and those who deign it so including Professor Sandiford (Malkovich at his most passive-aggressive) and local art goon restaurateur Broadway Bob (an unbilled Buscemi) as well as Broadbent as a slovenly, drunk alum who once had the potential to be the 'next big thing' is a riot. Perhaps the must cutting to the bone and too painful to be honest depiction of art as success is a symposium with Strathmore's prized alum and sensation to the art world Marvin Sagemiller (Scott) who basks in his misanthropy and embracing his assholedness. Zwigoff and Clowes make a perfect combination even if the subplot is superfluous and unnecessary providing an unbalanced final act that suggest what would've been the coda to Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver". However its previous moments outweigh the outcome by simply stating that art is what it is and that's all that there is.
Drying paint on a canvas
posted on 25 Jul 2009"It is through Art and through Art only that we can realize our perfection; through Art and Art only that we can shield ourselves from the sordid perils of actual existence." Oscar Wilde Art schools are prime satirical matter with their inherently eccentric faculty and staff and students' fruitless efforts to make a living and be spiritually alive after getting their degrees. For neocons and pragmatists alike, this is a netherworld of slacking, drugged-up pretenders and broken dreams. So director Terry Zwigoff, whose Bad Santa is my favorite bad-ass comedy, should be comfortable with this material.Regrettably he's not because after the initial scanning of amusing campus types, which he does well, he resorts to treating this world as one giant stereotype with flat-line stereotyped characters, who after the first half hour are not funny anymore but just weird without humor. Even with the expectation of seeing hot, naked artists' models, we first get a not-so-pleasing surprise model, then briefly a pleasant Sophia Myles, whose Audrey, pursued by hero Jerome (Max Minghella), after a while is just a part of the remaining listless narration.Jerome's reasons for going to art school in the first place, a combination of wishing to become the "best artist in the twenty-first century" and to find the girl of his dreams, are nothing more than adolescent lusts that quickly lead nowhere, aided by Minghella's laid-back, laconic delivery. He's in most of the scenes, tedious enough to send the audience to accounting majors for excitement.Even the serial killer subplot lacks a binding connection to the narrative, except for its tenuous relation to art itself. Zwigoff doesn't even carefully direct the estimable Jim Broadbent's drunken alumnus, who quickly becomes obnoxious and curiously associated with the murders.Producer John Malkovich, who underplays an underachieving professor, is not his usually sardonic, demonic actor. Bug-eyed Steve Buscemi does an unbilled and unmemorable turn as a restaurateur and art promoter. Both actors seem to know that this decidedly boring movie is no better than watching paint dry on a canvas.
Jon Monsarrat review: Beautiful but spoiled by the ending
posted on 09 Jul 2009Art School Confidential is a perfect parody because it is able to solicit insights about the world of artists, with plenty of humor, but being serious enough to have a plot that draws you in.I instantly came to empathize with the earnestness of the protagonist in this movie. There is a yearning that I think everyone feels, wanting to be different, wanting to be loved, so the film connected with me on that level. I'm sure if I were an artist there would be numerous in-jokes. It is definitely a drama, however, not a comedy-romance.Unfortunately, the ending of the film, without giving anything away, just didn't work for me. The ideal of the protagonist -- wanting fortune not for its own sake but because of the love of a woman -- didn't connect at all. And a side plot that was not explored in depth took over the film.That being said, the movie is worth watching. I was heading for 8 out of 10, but with that ending I'll give it only a 6 out of 10. Skip it.
"Art School Confidential" is better than Zwigoff's "Bad Santa" but it is still no where as good as Zwigoff's and Clowes adaptation of "Ghost World."
posted on 01 Jun 2009Jerome (Max Minghella) has dreamed of becoming an artist ever since he was a little boy. In an attempt to follow his dreams, Jerome enrolls in an art school called the Strathmore Institute which is a small art institute on the east coast. Jerome is determined to be the best artist of the 21st century. At Strathmore, Jerome meets the girl of his dreams Audrey (Sophia Myles) who seems to be interested in Jerome but is also interested in Jonah (Matt Keeslar). The only way for Jerome to win Audrey's heart for sure is for him to be voted the best new artist at Strathmore. Throw in a little subplot about a murderer on campus and you have "Art School Confidential." I can't really say I loved "Art School Confidential" but I can't say I hated it either. Zwigoff's "Ghost World" was one of my favorite films in 2001 and is probably still one of my favorite films of all time. So with that being said and after seeing the mainstream disaster that was "Bad Santa" I have been waiting for years for "Art School Confidential" to hit theaters. Unfortunately, "Art School Confidential" was not worth the wait.The main problem with the film is the little side characters. They are all a little too much and they don't really add much to the plot of the film. I am not even sure if there is a reason for the gay roommate to be part of the film at all. The movie just introduces all these characters and acts like they serve a purpose but when all is said and done about 5 characters in the entire film really matter.Also the whole murder on campus thing was never fully explained which is bad since it was a big part of the film. Zwigoff leaves that plot kind of open in the end and the film itself seems to ends abruptly. There are several moments of "Art School Confidential" that remind me of "Ghost World" however the movie as a whole is no where as good. The characters in general aren't very well developed. The main character is neither likable nor interesting at least to me. The screenplay always makes him out to be a boring character. At times you may feel a bit bad for him but I never felt like I wanted to root him on.Don't get me wrong because "Art School Confidential" is very funny at times because being a person who appreciates art, I did find a lot of this movie amusing. The scenes in which the art class judged Jerome's paintings were hilarious. The whole thing with the Strathmore alumni coming back to do an interview was also very humorous.I feel bad because I think Zwigoff really tried with this film however it just wasn't a grand slam like I originally hoped for. I really think this film just had too many characters and didn't focus on making the audience like or relate to any of the characters on screen. Zwigoff did a good job creating scenes where the students critiqued each others work and also scenes in the art gallery which if you notice are kind of similar to those in "Ghost World." However, Zwigoff fails at capturing the emotions of the characters and allowing the audience to connect with the characters. This was a big part of "Ghost World" and I stunned that Zwigoff didn't make a better attempt to get the audience to relate to the main character. I also think maybe the overall tone of the film was too silly, I think it needed some more drama added to it in order to make it more successful.In the end, "Art School Confidential" isn't as good as I hoped for. While it is rather funny at times, it isn't very balanced in the end. The movie reels its audience in for a while but at the end the film is just anti-climatic and leaves the audience confused and wanting more. It's a decent film that is quite funny especially to people who appreciate art and independent film however this movie is going to be a film that is going to flop and will not be seen by many. Zwigoff is a decent director however he needs to work a little more with the script and developing the characters. "Art School Confidential" is a lot better than "Bad Santa" but its no where as good as "Ghost World." I would say it's the middle ground between those two films.MovieManMenzel's final rating for "Art School Confidential" is a 6/10. A decent attempt but did not live up to its true potential.
A Masterpiece
posted on 20 May 2009It's easy to see why this movie got terrible reviews (in every sense), and continues to get them here. A reviewer, by definition, is not an artist. This movie is a bracingly tough-minded depiction of how a person becomes an artist, and every pitfall along that path.Art School Confidential starts out like a satire, with a lacerating, devastating series of portraits of all the ways non-artists look, sound, behave and think. The students are spoiled narcissists, suckups, politicking weasels, imitators, or mindless followers of fashion -- all of them looking for validation outside themselves. The professors are failures who express their self contempt by becoming bullies, phony gurus, and sexual predators. And just beyond the "school" (in which no one learns anything) lie the leeches: the various patrons and marketers to whom art is just another product to buy and sell.Our hero, Jerome, must navigate his way past them all and learn to live and create without their approval or even their comprehension. Failing this test, the other artist character Jimmy (beautifully played by Jim Broadbent) has become bitter, cynical, and ultimately homicidal. This is why the film seems to become darker as its true seriousness of purpose unfolds. This isn't a satirical teen comedy… what saves Jerome is his relationship with Audrey, but his final test as an artist is to see beyond his physical attraction to her and to finally understand her as his muse.I've read dozens of reviews of this film and I don't think I've seen the word "muse" once. Anyone who doesn't get that point, illustrated beautifully in the film's final amazing image, doesn't know what they're watching. Most movies, no matter how cynical or dark, just want to be loved. Art School Confidential wants to show the world as it is and tell the truth about it. And it seems it has demonstrated its own thesis by ending up as unloved and misunderstood as its protagonist.
Classic
posted on 06 May 2009I saw the movie at Sundance... I was amazed. I'm a big Zwigoff fan and this film re-affirms his genius. It's a brilliant take on the hypocrisy of the artsy/intellectual types that populate our universities... Visually it's stunning with it's understated lighting and subtle camera movement. The cast is amazing (especially Broadbent), the humor is pitch black, and the screenplay is surprisingly literary, capturing all the chaotic despair of a 19th century romantic novel. It's a classic satire that's follows in the tradition of Crumb and Ghost World.I can't recommend it enough!
To everyone who thinks it turned dark...
posted on 30 Apr 2009I think that those who felt the movie started as an excellent parody of art schools but then failed by turning dark, you've missed the point. By turning dark, you start to fear for the main character only to be confronted by the fact that the art world is so ridiculous, it will laud anyone for the most insane reasons. Jerome's art was considered boring until he wasn't. It's not that the movie turned dark...it had to go in that direction to reach the ultimate parody.As someone who is regularly disappointed by what passes for art today, it was refreshing to see this confronted in such an open arena. It's a disappointment that people without skills have succeeded-- and that art is the only discipline where professors are afraid to give out poor grades. I certainly experienced this in my art days. Students who put in the effort and failed to complete the requirements would still receive a good grade because they'd put in the effort. This film is fantastic because it goes to the extreme to comment on art today.
Do they make 'em any worse?
posted on 22 Apr 2009Two of us couples decided to go see a movie on a Saturday night. One of the ladies had gone to art school in New York and thought she would enjoy the film. Since it was Mother's Day we all decided to go see this film. Since she is the artist in our group, we thought she would enjoy it. To sum it up, after about 20 minutes, she kept lighting up her watch to see what time it was. We stayed to the end of the film (which seemed an eternity) but just when you think it can't get any worse, it does. It didn't seem to understand where it was going and spun entirely out of control the last half of the film. I wouldn't recommend this film to my worse enemy. As an added note, somebody should buy our "star" a pair of tweezers! LOL
Not as bad as others would lead you to believe
posted on 16 Apr 2009I saw this film last night, being a very big fan of Zwigoff's films (Crumb, Ghostworld). For the most part it was excellent. Every moment where a conventional smiley-face reaction could have triumphed was subverted for a reaction sardonic and true. The story is quite sad but so funny that it's difficult to know how to feel, the best qualities of his films--one critic, I believe it was for Entertainment Weekly, described "Crumb" as being a "party and a nightmare" at the same time, and I think you could describe this film similarly. There is a lot more stereotyping than delving into truths per se, but that's a strength of the film, not a failure. Though I didn't go to art school, I definitely saw many of the types I encountered on the art side of my lib arts college here. And of course the love story is painfully true for any non-stud male.The only bad aspect of the film is the "confidential" part, regarding a serial killer who has been murdering students. The third act creates a revelation that makes this a central aspect of the story. I thought this was unfortunate and a Lynchian/Hollywood add-on that was superfluous, but at the same time it was handled very well and integrated into the story seamlessly. What it enhanced was the comic book/graphic novel feel of the film, since it is based on the graphic novel by Clowes. So it wasn't actually that bad. In any case, I recommend watching it.
pratt institute
posted on 29 Mar 2009I have just begun to watch this and I recognized everything immediately. I am a Pratt Bratt, class of '76 and it is all very true, so far. The whole art school thing, and "great artist" thing, are so true...the artsy fartsy nature of it all...But it was not an experience in life I would trade for anything! Such pretentiousness! I loved to paint, but oh boy...the drugs, sex, and the professors..the narcissism was rampant. Alas, I went on to study psychology and am in private practice now so can look at it differently. the movie is awesome in its reality. Folks, it really is like that. But don't prevent your sons and daughters from going to art school! It's life!
Almost perfect satire and black comedy.
posted on 29 Mar 2009First: My daughter and I were the only people in the theater in the town with the "most vibrant" arts scene in the State of Texas (oops, I forgot, The Great State of Texas). Perhaps it's because the AAS (Austin American Statesman, not to be confused with ASS although easy to do) gave it only two stars out of five, apparently due to the lack of football references. This was a very grim but funny black comedy and there were times when I squirmed a little in my seat. The tone was very nihilistic at times, not surprising considering its comic book/graphic novel source material. I can see why the artsy crowd that the AAS panders to wouldn't like it: It makes shish kabob out of a lot of modern art pretensions. It is definitely not for everyone, but if you like being challenged and don't mind being made a little uncomfortable,,, (Didn't someone once say that all great art is supposed to make you uncomfortable? That's nonsense, of course. Anyone who says that means that great art is what makes people other than him or her uncomfortable.) As another correspondent says, it keeps you guessing until the end. The one small problem with the film that troubled me was casual way it treated the deaths of several innocent people in an accidental fire caused by the hero. If it were not for that, this film would have been 10 out of 10 for me.
Art School Confidential does the job
posted on 23 Mar 2009Art School Confidential takes the viewer through a story of a young wannabe artist, who is also a hopeless romantic in every sense. He goes off to art school to follow his dream, but soon finds that people aren't readily recognizing his talent as he thought they would, especially not the girl of his dreams. He finds himself wandering through the movie trying to find ways to prove himself but only be belittle in the process. The movie is witty and has well written script, it is well casted and the plot is perfect. The ending is the perfect ending to a great movie. It doesn't disappoint, even though the mystery wasn't very mysterious but in this type of movie it made complete sense for it to be that way. The movie in itself was a piece of art because quite frankly, I haven't seen anything quiet like it. It was very refreshing, and different, it plays into stereotypes and then turns your eye to some of the more subtle ideas in the movie. Basically it was a highly entertaining movie.
wickedly funny but one-dimensional satire
posted on 07 Mar 2009Boy, was this a dark little comedy. Director Terry Zwigoff directed one previous film—Ghost World—with a screenplay adapted by Daniel Clowes from one of his own graphic novels, but Art School Confidential isn't nearly as successful. Ghost World's underground/alternageek street cred was bolstered by attention to character development that added a layer of dramatic resonance to the quirky plot line, but although Art School Confidential appears to start off as a semi-earnest coming of age story about a naive suburban kid named Jerome who goes away to a run-down art school in NYC, it soon becomes obvious that the film is only really interested in grinding its satirical axe against academia and the art world, and none of the characters are going to be spared its scorn. On that level, the movie is very funny—anyone who has ever taken a liberal arts workshop will recognize the hilariously passive aggressive faculty members and affected pretensions of the students. But while the viewer is initially inclined to identify with Jerome and his plight, as he becomes a less sympathetic character—especially after he unwittingly burns down an apartment building and kills everyone inside—your reliance on the perceptiveness of his critical assessment of the work of the other students begins to shift, subtly reinforcing the movie's underlying premise, which is that art criticism and commercial success all amount to collective personal projection and a subjective dependence on context. Or maybe I'm reading more into the movie than the filmmakers intended, but I saw that as a nice meta-side effect of the ridiculously over the top punchline ending. John Malkovich's performance is easily the best thing about the movie, Jim Broadbent is good too, but Angelica Huston is totally wasted in a tiny part with nothing to do.
Loved it.
posted on 03 Mar 2009Off-beat and hilarious. Think Woody Allen meets Napoleon Dynamite. I watched it alone and found myself laughing out loud. It really picks up on everything that's funny about artistic souls and human-nature as a whole, one of those movies that's consistently entertaining the entire way through. I could especially appreciate the humor because of my own experience with the art world, but that's not necessary to enjoy the film. The plot is original and refreshing, and the acting is fantastic. Max is endearing and I think Sophia always chooses great roles. Although the plot is slightly dark, the humor is rather dry and witty, keeping the film light.
Just Look at Me Now
posted on 01 Mar 2009Greetings again from the darkness. I don't question the chemistry of director Terry Zwigoff and writer Daniel Clowes. I enjoyed "Ghost World" and hated "Bad Santa", which I realize has a near cult following. They are master scene creators (vignettes, if you will) but just don't seem to have the skills to make an entire movie flow.Blessed with a tremendous cast including John Malkovich, Angelica Huston, Jim Broadbent and Steve Buscemi, Zwigoff continues to brow beat the audience with his perceived brilliance. This film suffers from the weak presence of Max Minghella ("Syriana" and "Bee Season") who is in most scenes. Minghella, with his bedroom eyes and pouty supermodel lips, has no real personality and just can't pull off either the quiet moments of desperation or the ha-ha outbursts of the kid who thinks the stupidity of his surroundings must be a big joke.A bright spot is Sophia Myles who has some screen presence as the art class model slash girl of his dreams whom Minghella believes he is destined to be with. Also the commentary on the art world in general, and art school in particular, is quite poignant. Otherwise, there are too many in your face punch lines and definitely too much penis screen time for my tastes.Here's hoping Zwigoff and Clowes keep at it because, although I don't agree with those who think they are great, I do believe there is potential greatness waiting to develop.
Art school comedy pulls its punches
posted on 25 Feb 2009Though Ghost World is without doubt the best of Daniel Clowes' forays into film, Art School Confidential is closer to the bulk of his recent graphic art work. I admire Clowes' books very much and, like David Boring or Ice Haven, Confidential uses a somewhat surreal tone to tell us something about the Way We Live Now. But because it's slightly weird, with a virgin innocent hero in a world of self-obsession and serial murder, this movie is not the funny, scabrous attack on the art world that you'd wish for, especially if you've read the hilarious graphic story with the same title, available in Clowes' Eightball compilation. It should have been a competitor to Roger Corman's delirious Bucket of Blood. But Art School Confidential the movie doesn't tell us anything more about the art scene than Ghost World did, largely because even though the cast is uniformly excellent they're playing the sort of characters you've seen in college pictures repeatedly - self-obsessed student-hating lecturers, closeted but obvious gays, John Belushi types, neurotic lesbians etc. More of Clowes' real-life art school experiences and less of the contrived plot would have improved it greatly. It's an entertaining film, but only mildly so.Tony Hancock's The Rebel is still the funniest in a rather tiny subgenre of films about the art world - long may it reign.
Didn't Come Out Right: Very Average Film.
posted on 21 Feb 2009I must say this; though I’m a huge fan of Terry I didn’t find myself quite enjoy this movie as much as I was hoping for. This is almost like his previous work but the story is not very captivated and so I find it to be a very ordinary black comedy. There is something missing.Synopsis: Jerome is a young painter; his goal is to be the greatest painter in the 21st century. There he enroll for the art college and before long he find himself fall for the college nude portrait model, a fall that lead to the obsession.Maybe I have an utterly high hope that when the final result come it kind of not able to reach there or something. The story, I find it to be extremely ordinary movie, maybe a little darker but it was not a very engaging one. I also didn’t quite like much of the characters development and I find it pretty much bland, and some character appearances are just unnecessary and seem odd and pointless. Maybe He was just trying to show different side of art college life, but it was –not working very well.The casting seems to be one of the best things here, John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent and some of the talented youngster. Unfortunately those actors have such a very limited time screen. The movie focus on Jerome (Max Minghella) a mysterious looking young man, sadly this guy doesn’t work for me at all in this movie. Decent enough looking but not very present to the eye and the acting is nothing great. The best of all got to be Sophia whom appears nude for no absolute reason.The movie was not artsy or anything but tackle on the topic of student behavior and all the bullshit of the art school. The movie do get that point right, but overall it wan’t that stunning or anything. To me it was just another movie, though the DVD do consist of many deleted scenes, it still wasn’t enough. Everything came down to just average and nothing more.Recommendation: At Most, Try To Catch It On Cable Or Rented It.Reason To Watch: Another Terry Zwigoff Work; Sophia get naked (but only few seconds) Reason Not To: Story is too average for Terry. Toooo average.Rating: 5.5 (Grade: C).Please rate Y/N only after read.
Bad Script - Poor Movie - Great Actors's Direction - Good Dialogues
posted on 12 Aug 2009About this movie, I'm feeling like the character of Jerome Platz, when the partners of class, love and talk smart about some paints that they painted, and this paints (like one's with a car, made for a boy of 4 years).I have read a lot of review about this movie, and all of this always talking that this one is one of the 2006's best movies. In the first half of the movie, is really good, the script, the actors, the dynamic, good and smart dialogs, etc. Later, seems like start other film with a script made for other writer, the movie became, slow, boring, foreseeable and full of cliché (cops, murder, fire, innocent people in jail, etc). This is snob movie trying to be a intelligent movieWell, I think that with a small changes in the script, this movie may be can be a good-smart artwork, but don't. Terry Zwigoff is a very good director, he make a good job with the actors, he has only one error in this movie, and it's work with this script of Daniel Clowes