During the days of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and just before getting the big break in Bad Boys, this was probably when the film industry really took notice of the up and coming black American star, from director Fred Schepisi (Roxanne, Fierce Creatures). Basically the Kitteredges, Louisa 'Ouisa' (Grease's Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Stockard Channing) and John Flanders 'Flan' (Donald Sutherland) are rich art dealers in New York. They are ready to make a big deal with South African friend and client Geoffrey Miller (Sir Ian McKellen), when they are interrupted by a young black man named Paul (Will Smith) coming into their fancy apartment. He says he was robbed in Central Park, and after they help aid his wound, he starts telling them about himself, claiming to be a friend of their son and daughter in Harvard. Secretly though, we see from some flashbacks, he has practised everything he is going to say to Ouisa and Flan, and how to say it, and they believe every word, even his claim to be the son of Sidney Poitier. Paul does absolutely everything to charm the couple, and Geoffrey as well, including making a home cooked dinner, and they kindly invite him to stay the night, while Geoffrey has been tempted to go through with the deal with Flan. The next morning however Ouisa and Flan find out that Paul is not everything he claims to be, when they find him making love to a man, and they are sure he was fibbing about much more than that. The Kitteredges try to investigate Paul further, and along the way they realise that they are not the only ones to be almost conned by this very talkative and very clever black kid on the block. After many revolutions about Paul, and people saying that Paul did do some good for their lives in some way or another, Paul calls Ouisa and Flan at home to make his confessions, they did try to see things from his side, but in the end there can only be tragedy. Also starring Mary Beth Hurt as Kitty, Bruce Davison as Larkin, Richard Masur as Dr. Fine, The Breakfast Club's Anthony Michael Hall as Trent Conway, Heather Graham as Elizabeth, Eric Thal as Rick and Lost creator J.J. Abrams as Doug. The title, also called the "Human Web" relates to the idea that everyone is at most six steps away from any other person on Earth, so that a chain of, "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in six steps or fewer. Anyway, Smith is the driving force of this film, he is perfect in his role as the supposedly knowledgeable con, Channing is also good as the wife in the con, and Sutherland does alright as her husband. It's a film that makes you think about how you know and find out about people in your lives, and it is a likable drama. Good!
Review of Six Degrees of Separation
