The Shape of Things
| The Shape of Things | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Neil LaBute |
| Produced by | Neil LaBute Gail Mutrux Rachel Weisz Tim Bevan Eric Fellner |
| Written by | Neil LaBute (Play and screenplay) |
| Starring |
Paul Rudd Rachel Weisz Gretchen Mol Fred Weller |
| Music by | Elvis Costello |
| Cinematography | James L. Carter |
| Edited by | Joel Plotch |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | Focus Features |
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Release date
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May 9, 2003 (Limited) |
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Running time
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96 minutes |
| Country | United States France United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $4,000,000 |
| Box office | $826,617 |
The Shape of Things is a 2001 play by American author and film director Neil LaBute and a 2003 American romantic drama film. It premièred at the Almeida Theatre, London in 2001 with Paul Rudd as Adam, Rachel Weisz as Evelyn, Gretchen Mol as Jenny, and Fred Weller as Phillip. The play was directed by LaBute himself. According to the author's instructions, it is to be performed without an interval or a curtain call.
Central themes in The Shape of Things focus on the nature of stoicism, art, psychopathy, intimacy, explorations of love, and people's willingness to do things for love. It is set in a small university town in the American Midwest and centers on the lives of four young students who become emotionally and romantically involved with each other.
In 2003, it was made into a film featuring the original cast.
When nerdy Adam Sorenson (Paul Rudd), an English Literature major at Mercy, a fictitious Midwestern college, meets Evelyn Ann Thompson (Rachel Weisz), an attractive graduate art student, at the local museum where he works, his life takes an unexpected turn. Never having the best success with women, he is flattered when Evelyn shows an interest in him and, at Evelyn's suggestion, begins a regular exercise regimen, eats healthier foods, dresses more stylishly, acts more confident and dominant, and begins wearing contact lenses instead of his usual eyeglasses. These initial changes regarding Adam's physical appearance are well received by Adam's friend, Phillip (Frederick Weller), and Phillip's fiancee, Jenny (Gretchen Mol). Jenny takes such a liking to Adam's new physique that she makes a move on Adam and the two share a passionate kiss. It is left ambiguous as to whether or not Adam and Jenny have sex. Later, Evelyn cajoles Adam into undergoing plastic surgery to fix his misshapen nose and succeeds in persuading him to cut himself off from Phillip and Jenny, whose relationship she ruins.
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Wikipedia