Less Than Zero is a film adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel of the same name. I have never read the book, but from what I can gather, the film takes many liberties, and much of the book is changed or left out entirely. So much so that when the movie was released, Ellis even refused to see it. After many years, Ellis changed his opinion of it, even stating that it would be a good idea to make a sequel to the film, based on his sequel to the novel called Imperial Bedrooms.
The beginning of the film shows three friends, Clay (Andrew McCarthy), Julian (Robert Downey, Jr.) and Blair (Jami Gertz) as they are graduating high school. They live in California and come from wealthy families. Clay and Blair are a couple. Clay goes to college, while Julian stays home to become a record producer. 6 months later, Clay receives a phone call from Blair asking if he will be home for Christmas. He tells her yes, and then has a flashback in which we learn that Blair also stayed home to become a model and started sleeping with Julian. Clay comes home and attends a Christmas party thinking that Blair may want to get back together with him, which prompted her phone call. He learns that this is not true. Julian has developed a serious cocaine/freebase addiction and owes Rip (James Spader), his dealer, $50,000. Blair has a bit of a cocaine problem herself, though not as bad as Julian. Clay, disappointed that this visit is not what he thought it would be, as well as seeing that everyone is just having a good time, does not see how serious Julian's problem is at first. This soon changes as he witnesses just how bad things are.
Depending on what list version of "Brat Pack" actors you subscribe to, you may or may not find 2 of them here, McCarthy and Spader. However, at least in my experience, use of that term conjures up thoughts of self discovery in detention, self discovery in the real world after college and self discovery amongst clashes between different economic classes. Less Than Zero has a whole other tone happening here. This film is seriously depressing and dark. It is quite well acted, especially by Downey Jr., who may or may not have already engaged in similar behaviors to give him serendipitous experience for his role. Regardless, his performance was quite moving and his descent is mesmerizing. McCarthy as well, gives an excellent performance, going from eager to rekindle a relationship, to pissed that this was not Blair's intention to finally realizing the gravity of what is going on, and becoming desperate to save his friends. Gertz and Spader also give compelling performances.
Honestly, I can't really think of anything that I didn't like about the film. It was delightfully 80's wrapped around its disturbing subject matter. While I can't vouch for it's adherence to any "scene" that existed, it was a very "real" film. It was also very nice to see these actors in the same film that is the complete opposite of any film that they may have been together in, and to do it well. It's the best time you will have involving depraved and alarming behavior (except maybe for Trainspotting).
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