It might have been better as fiction but Augusten Burroughs' personality on film doesn't evolve except for some minor wardrobe changes. As a heartbreaking dissection of how family members can cripple each other and have their dreams implode, this film soars. Augusten in the film becomes merely a secondary character with very little interaction. Augusten's writings delve into and reveal his flamboyance and vanity as well as his apparent jubilation at having such a disturbed upbringing. In this casting, Fiennes and Cross could have been schoolmates so the legal point of 'statutory rape' seems quite lost nor is there any indication of how his strength evolved out of this relationship. An important fact is that Augusten was a minor involved in a lopsided affair with a man much older than he. Joseph Cross seems miscast in that he is clearly much too old to fill his shoes.

A problem the casting had was for its main character. Augusten was inspired by these events not just a victim of them. Unfortunately, the bent and disturbed early life of Augusten Burroughs almost seems zapped of his personal joy and awe at his wild surroundings. In fact, none of the actors fail the film for acting chops. Additionally, Jill Clayburgh hits another high note as she inhabits her role as expertly as Bening. Obviously, Annette Bening was glorious as the misdirected, doped, self-important woman who has been stripped of a goal in life, something she is not innocent in ruining herself. This is not an awful movie nor isn't it a recommendation of mine but Augusten Burrough's life seems gypped with this rendition.

Running with scissors burroughs