The Robert Downey Jr Film Guide
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The Robert Downey Jr Film Guide |
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Fur (2006) |
Summary |
Buttoned-up 1950s housewife is lured into New York's freak underworld by a hairy neighbor who teaches her to find beauty in unexpected places. |
Direction |
Steven Shainberg |
Downey Factor |
Medium-High |
Character |
Lionel Sweeney, the 'Wolfman' -- a fictional freak who draws the shy photographer into his world. |
Looks |
Completely obscured by hair or clothing for most of the film; normal but unspectacular once shaven. |
Performance |
Restrained but with a sense of humor. |
Love & Sex |
His tortured affair with Kidman includes sex scenes and a stop off at a freak orgy. |
Dies, Gay or Villain |
Yes, no, no |
Other Actors |
Nicole Kidman, Ty Burrell |
Connection |
Ty Burrell in The Incredibe Hulk |
Location |
New York |
RDJ Says |
I knew I would suffer a personality meltdown if I didn't have the first half-hour of every day. It can't be like, 'Hi, you're here can we get the glue on your eyelids and the camera's ready, even though it's going take you 2 hours to get made up, we just want you to know, we'll shoot whatever we can without you, but the camera's ready. So [nobody talking to me during] the first half-hour [of the day], an hour lunch, and a set time when we were done, these were my requirements. Not because I'm a diva but because I predict that I will not be okay. Two days after we're done, I'll do something stupid and fuck up my entire summer while they're editing or lounging in Cape Cod or whatever. They've got something in the can, good for them, and I'm in the asylum ... At the end of the film, it behooved me to look emaciated and Mechanic-like cut, and it was not a problem because on the whole shoot, eating was an exercise in irritation. |
Gossip |
In real life, Diane's husband Allan Arbus later became an actor and starred in Robert Downey Sr.'s Greaser's Palace. |
Hot Link |
Official Site |
Release |
10 November 2006 |
Availability |
Released on DVD in regions 1, 2 and 4 |
Foreign Titles |
Argentina: Retrato de una pasión (Picture of a Passion) Brazil: A Pele (The Skin) France: Fur - Un portrait imaginaire de Diane Arbus Greece: To portreto - I allokoti matia tis Diane Arbus Germany: Fell - Ein imaginäres Portrait von Diane Arbus (Skin: An Imaginary Portrait ... ) Hungary: A szépség és a szőr - Diane Arbus képzeletbeli portréja Italy: Fur - Un ritratto immaginario di Diane Arbus Spain: Retrato de una obsesión (Picture of an Obsession) Sweden: Fur - ett fiktivt porträtt av Diane Arbus |
Rotten Tomatoes |
25% Fresh | 91 Reviews |
Critical View |
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle: Kidman and Downey seem at a loss to know whether to play the romance part straight. (The wonder is that they don't dissolve into laughter.) They spend a lot of time staring meaningfully into each other's eyes, the only visible feature on Lionel's face. |
2 Reasons to See It |
1. The film is artfully done and visually interesting. 2. If nothing else, there are freaks on display. |
Overall |
This is a solid middler -- not the best, not the worst. It's just okay. |
If You Like It |
You might also like Good Night & Good Luck (2005), Eros (2005) |
Photos |
Video |