GRADE: A+

Daniel Clowes’ acerbic, profane and well-observed graphic novel about two best friends who’ve just graduated high school is the basis for this superlative, often hysterical and always moving effort from director Terry Zwigoff, who previously helmed a highly lauded documentary about underground comic book legend, R. Crumb, the creator of Keep on Truckin´ and Fritz the Cat.

That might have some readers thinking Ghost World is another teenage angst comedy, albeit perhaps a great one. But they’d be wrong as Zwigoff's creation is an exceptionally knowing bit of storytelling that uses its rebellious female leads as two-sides of the same symbolic coin in ways adult viewers will find relevance.

Ghost World achieves this narrative hat-trick by following the exploits of the caustic, creative free spirit, Enid, and her lifelong friend, Rebecca. Enid is Jewish, openly rebellious and taken to expressing herself through a wild wardrobe, droll commentary and vocal rejection of everything conventional.

The Gentile Rebecca seems to share her disdain for the world around them, but she also exhibits behavior that indicates her defiance might be more of a phase than a permanent condition, as may or may not be the case with Enid.

Now that the girls have graduated, Rebecca wants to follow through on their long held dream of getting an apartment together. That means they’ll each need to find a job, which Rebecca promptly sets out to do. But before Enid can land employment, she must first take a summer school course in art in order to receive her diploma; the first of the film’s many ironies considering Enid's demonstrable skills as an artist.

Both girls follow their own particular code and are very much outsiders. They revel in their rebel status and spend their time bumming around, making plans, following unusual people whose paths they’ve crossed, tormenting fellow graduate Josh, who works at a convenience store and on whom they both have an undeclared crush, and sarcastically—and continually—commenting on the crazy world around them.

Their liaise fare exploits and the playing of a particularly insensitive practical joke leads them to Seymour, a geeky 40ish-year old collector of antique jazz and blues records. That leads to an unlikely friendship between Seymour and Enid, and what could signal the beginning of a sea change in Enid and Rebecca’s relationship.

At this point audiences may be thinking a May December romance is in the offing, but what follows this development illustrates the story’s intense originality and refusal to mimic the traditional coming-of-age tale.

As Enid, Thora Birch captures the heart and earns viewer empathy with an exceptional performance, nearly matched by the deadpan turn of Scarlett Johansson as Rebecca. Steve Buscemi makes the perfect Seymour, and director Zwigoff knows exactly how to chart the territory.

Great writing, an eclectic soundtrack, temperamental portrayals and a wicked sense of humor make Ghost World a one-of-a-kind look at the courage it takes and the price that must be paid by people who, willingly or otherwise, must go their own way.

Don’t miss this one!

#