The Shape of Things

When the players themselves are conceived this superficially, LaBute winds up invalidating his own point.

The actors all benefit from intimate knowledge of difficult parts, and barbs at modern art and sexual mores do cut through.

There are barbs here to tickle anyone's paranoia, but the callousness isn't illustrative, just exploitative.

What on earth has happened to this director?

Rachel Weisz's brilliantly layered performance as Evelyn -- barbed, vehement and oddly sorrowful -- keeps all options open.

Brutal, sexy and astonishingly acted.

The Shape of Things thus suits LaBute's objectives and the temper of our times beautifully even while it contains an uncharacteristically obvious and reactionary notion at its core.

The great theme in LaBute's work is that every man is an island, and true relationships are therefore impossible. The advantage of that is that it's a brilliant allpurpose excuse for the writer's inability to develop character.

[Director] Labute presents a ballsy, daring, and truly original portrait of human cruelty...

A grim and cynical but ultimately arresting exploration of personal expression and modern love.