Six Degrees Of Separation

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION (15)

D: Fred Schepsi

MGM/Regency (Fred Schepsi & Arnon Milchan)

US 1993

112 mins

Drama/Comedy

W: John Guare [based on his play]

DP: Ian Baker

Ed: Peter Honess

Mus: Jerry Goldsmith

Stockard Channing (Louisa Kittredge), Donald Sutherland (Flan Kittredge), Will Smith (Paul), Ian McKellen (Geoffrey Miller), Mary Beth Hurt (Kitty), Heather Graham (Elizabeth), Bruce Davison (Larkin)

Fine performances and an excellent script are the highlights of this big screen adaptation of John Guare's play.

The title refers to a theory that any two people can be connected by a maximum of six acquaintances, which comes to pass when a con artist who calls himself Paul (Will Smith) convinces a socialites family that he is the son of Sidney Poitier, and also a friend of their son and they offer him shelter for the night. 

The non-linear narrative plays out that they are not the only people who have fallen for the ruse, but the socialite family remain captivated not only that they fell for the man's charms, but by his confidence and manner.

The film constantly feels as though it were made for stage, but the performances for this big screen update are scintillating, especially Stockard Channing (in a role she beat Meryl Streep to) and Will Smith, very much playing against type.

Channing received a deserved Oscar nomination for Best Actress and it wouldn't have been amiss had Guare's adaptation been nominated in the screenplay category.

7/10