Insignificance (1985)
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73% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
65% of users liked it
(626 ratings)
Using four famous but unnamed individuals to symbolize a notorious era in American politics, as well as to explore the nature of despair, director Nicolas Roeg has created an intriguing drama. Based on a play by Terry Johnson, the story begins with the blond Theresa Russell as a sex-goddess actress… More Using four famous but unnamed individuals to symbolize a notorious era in American politics, as well as to explore the nature of despair, director Nicolas Roeg has created an intriguing drama. Based on a play by Terry Johnson, the story begins with the blond Theresa Russell as a sex-goddess actress working on a scene over a subway grate, with her skirts billowing out in the updraft. A famous Professor from Princeton with white hair opens his door to the actress, who takes out a few props and goes through her rendition of the theory of relativity. Between her theatrical mode of speech and his world of mathematics, there is a certain entente. Enter the ballplayer who is her husband (Gary Busey), in love but without a clue as to the actress' inner sadness. Throw in the senator from Wisconsin (Tony Curtis) before whose sub-committee on Unamerican Activities the Professor has to appear, and the undercurrent of a societal witch-hunt that ruined many careers in Hollywood, in academics, in sports, and in politics is churned into the story. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Directed By
- Nicolas Roeg
- Written By
- Terry Johnson
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Aug 2, 1985 Limited
Critic Reviews
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James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
an intriguing, but ultimately slight "what if" fantasy
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Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
Reflects Roeg's views of the absurdity of American history and our compulsion to destroy beauty. [Blu-ray]
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Sean Gandert, Paste Magazine
None of its characters have any sort of inner life and their motivations are simply to fulfill the goals of the screenplay.
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Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
Four proto-celebrities go Roeg, and Gary Busey enters the Criterion Collection for the second time. What's not to like?
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Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
This audacious hypothetical is at once funny and dramatic, sometimes a little lopsided but always interesting
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Gary Busey
as Ballplayer
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Tony Curtis
as Senator
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Michael Emil
as Professor
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Theresa Russell
as Actress
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Will Sampson
as Elevator Attendant
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Raymond J. Barry
as Ballplayer's Father
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R.J. Bell
as Theatrical Agent
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Daniel Benzali
as Theatrical Agent
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Ray Charleson
as Bud
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Jude Ciccolella
as Gaffer
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Richard Davidson
as Director of Photography
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Mitchell Greenberg
as Technician
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Lou Hirsch
as Charlie
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George Holmes
as Actor
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Patrick Kilpatrick
as Driver
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Ian O'Connell
as Assistant Director
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Raynor Scheine
as Autograph Hunter
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Cassie Stuart
as Young Actress
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Joel Cutrara
as Bar Drunk
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Meachell Dunsmoor
as Actress as a Child
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Desiree Erasmus
as Prostitute
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David Lambert
as Young Professor
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David Montague
as Young Senator
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Shinobu Kanai
as Japanese Woman
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John Stamford
as Young Ballplayer
