Matcollis This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Tayyab Torres Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Michelle Ridley The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

frankmerritt Like many Hollywood "adaptations" there were many changes made for the film of the famous novel of the same name. However, this film stands on its own as an evocation of LA in the 80s, and a compelling story and characters, apart from what the novel was. A great film, in my opinion.

Wuchak RELEASED IN 1987 and directed by Marek Kanievska, "Less than Zero" is a drama about a trio of rich 18 year-olds from Los Angeles. After graduation, one goes off to college (Andrew McCarthy), but returns for Christmas break wherein he finds his ex-girlfriend (Jami Gertz) and, especially, his buddy (Robert Downey Jr.) struggling with drug addiction in the Beverly Hills fast lane. James Spader plays a smug high society dealer.This is the furthest thing from typical 80's youth flicks, like "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "The Karate Kid," "Valley Girl," "Footloose" and "Can't Buy Me Love" (where there's, admittedly, a lot of range). "Less than Zero" has the epic, artsy style of Francis Ford Coppola films like "The Outsiders" and "Rumble Fish" (both from 1983) meshed with the chic melancholy of "Poison Ivy" (1992). My main issue is that it takes too long to get absorbed into the characters and their story. The filmmaking is gorgeous, however, which is ironic because this is a really downbeat movie. Gertz is fine, but she never did anything for me, while McCarthy is serviceable as the main protagonist, yet rather bland in a goody-goody way. Both Downey Jr. and Spader, however, de-shine in their roles (in a good way). If you favor arty, glum movies you might like this better than me, but it's nowhere near as effective as "Poison Ivy," a similar artsy, gloomy flick. The movie runs 1 hour 38 minutes and was shot in the Los Angeles area, including Malibu. WRITERS: Bret Easton Ellis (novel) and Harley Peyton (screenplay) GRADE: C+

bkoganbing I guess that we all know about Robert Downey, Jr.'s struggle with substance abuse in real life that nearly cost him his career. I guess that gave him a unique insight into the mind of his character in Less Than Zero.Andrew McCarthy, Jami Gertz, and Downey are all friends from high school and Gertz has romantic history with both of them. When his freshman year at college concludes, McCarthy gets an anxious summons from Gertz concerning Downey, but she's kind of cryptic about it. When McCarthy gets home he sees enough for himself.What he sees and we see is a harrowing portrait of a totally degenerated soul due to the drugs he's doing. All the lies and promises to kick the habit, the way he keeps coming back for more, even trying to con drug money on the pretense of a business loan. Downey with a jones is a pretty frightening fellow.Also in the cast is another brat packer of note James Spader who usually in his salad days was a nice kid. Not here, Spader has gone into the drug trade big time and he's quite ruthless as I guess you have to be. What he has Downey doing for his fix in lieu of cash is pretty scary.Thank God for Robert Downey, Jr. in real life it worked out far better than it does for his character here.Less Than Zero is a pretty frightening portrayal of addiction and degeneracy, not for family viewing, but a great film.

inioi I saw the movie in my early twenties, and all my friends and i got shock after see it. Now, i saw it 29 years after it's release and it's not the same impact as before, but ....remains something.I agree that the film it's considered as "cult movie" because at that time it had a relative attention from an intellectual audience.The movie takes you to 80's age, with it's characteristic effervescence, especially the peculiar atmosphere, in which they emphasize the blue colors and a stylish environments.The movie portraits a decline of values in a rich society. After all , this axiom remains fully present since proves itself in today's society.Probably the book can be better or different in some many ways, as some people say (i did not read it) ...but the movie is still more than decent.7/10