Less Than Zero Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1987

Bret Easton Ellis' novel Less Than Zero was a shocking journey into the decadent, drug-fueled lifestyle of Beverly Hills socialites in the 80's… a lifestyle filled with apathy, self-destruction… a lifestyle wholly without merit. In 1987 his novel was adapted to the big screen by director Marek Kanievska. Incorporating the pessimism and stark reality of any Ellis novel into a cinematic package is an extremely difficult task. Was Kanievska up to the task? Let's find out in the Feature Attraction.

Clay Easton (Andrew McCarthy), Blair (Jami Gertz) and Julian Wells (Robert Downey Jr.), three best friends, had the world at their fingertips when they graduated high school. The privileged Beverly Hills youths each have their own blueprint for success already sketched out: Clay will continue his education at a renowned New Hampshire college, Blair will become a supermodel and Julian will become a high-powered record executive.

Six months go by when Clay receives a phone call from Blair, inquiring whether he plans to return to L.A. for Christmas. It's then that we learn the threesome's friendships were severely tested after their graduation. Blair and Clay, who was once a loving couple, broke up when Blair wanted to remain in California to pursue her career rather than attend college with Clay. Julian was there to take advantage of the situation, and struck up his own romantic relationship with Blair.

When Clay returns to Beverly Hills he finds that the lifestyle he once embraced is shallow and baseless. The privileged youths party all night long while engaging in casual sex and serious drug use, then go on the next day to do it again. These are people that contribute nothing to society – they simply have more money than sense.

Much to Clay's disappointment, Blair and Julian have fallen victim to this lifestyle. Blair has indeed become the model she wanted to be, though her career is lukewarm at best and not the immense success she was hoping for. Julian's aspirations to become a record executive have crashed, and now he floats from party to party clinging to the past and his self-delusions of becoming a success.

Despite his disgust with their choices in life, Clay still feels a sense of kinship with each. The love he once held for Blair continues to burn hot within him, and although his loyalty to Julian was tested, it still holds strong. As Clay and Blair re-ignite their previous romance, both attempt to save Julian's life, because if the endless quantities of cocaine doesn't kill him, the ruthless drug pusher he owes $50,000 to, Rip (James Spader), will.

First things first – this film adaptation of Less Than Zero takes great liberties with Ellis' original novel. Whereas the book was a despairing and grim depiction of California's "elite," the film does offer a ray of hope in the end. In the book every single character was worth "less than zero," but in the movie Clay (and even Blair to a lesser degree) are respectable and are focused on helping Julian escape his drug nightmare.

Putting aside the change in the general vibe and main characters for a moment, let's take a look at the acting. Andrew McCarthy had a disarming charm that made him enjoyable to watch in the right films. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of the right films. He wasn't the greatest actor in the 80's, but rather got by based on his natural charisma and boyish grin. While both are on display aplenty in Less Than Zero, they are entirely out of place in a pessimistic and dark drug drama.

Jami Gertz was no more impressive playing Blair – there just wasn't any real sense of conviction. Even though Gertz and McCarthy were big names in the 80's and could perform well when placed in the right roles, they were unsuitable for a drama of this potency. They were in over their heads.

On the flip side, Robert Downey Jr. gave a riveting and unflinching performance as the drug-addicted Julian. We are disgusted and repelled by him, yet we also cross our fingers that by the end of the film this lost and aimless soul will find his way once more. He walks down a hellish path of despair and self-disgust, and so badly wants to escape the dead-end route, yet the call of cocaine is too strong for him to resist. It's just too bad the actor's real life followed a path similar to his character.

Less Than Zero is a flawed drama that is worth watching due to the strength of Robert Downey Jr.'s scarily accurate performance and, to a lesser degree, James Spader's proficient and sleazy portrayal as a drug pusher.

Too often we all envy the life of Beverly Hills' rich and famous, wishing that we could adopt that lifestyle ourselves. But when you look under the surface of the city, you see that privileged youth brought up in a lifestyle of excess never learn the merits of earning your own living, nor do they experience the happiness or satisfaction that comes along with us. They drift about aimlessly, living for the next party, shopping excursion, or MTV reality television show.

Less Than Zero wonderfully captures that "glamorous" lifestyle – Beverly Hills is shown in all its glitzy glory. But it also shows the dark reality that lies just under the surface… and it's a reality none of us would wish for.

Movie rating: 7 stars

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