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DramaCrimeRomance

Less Than Zero

- It only looks like the good life.

A college freshman returns to Los Angeles for Christmas at his ex-girlfriend's request, but discovers that his former best friend has an out-of-control drug habit.

Release Date : 1987-11-06

Language :GermanEnglishSpanish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Amercent FilmsAmerican Entertainment Partners L.P.20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Andrew McCarthy

Character Name : Clay

Original Name : Andrew McCarthy

Gender : Male

Jami Gertz

Character Name : Blair

Original Name : Jami Gertz

Gender : Female

Robert Downey Jr.

Character Name : Julian

Original Name : Robert Downey Jr.

Gender : Male

James Spader

Character Name : Rip

Original Name : James Spader

Gender : Male

Tony Bill

Character Name : Bradford Easton

Original Name : Tony Bill

Gender : Male

Nicholas Pryor

Character Name : Benjamin Wells

Original Name : Nicholas Pryor

Gender : Male

Donna Mitchell

Character Name : Elaine Easton

Original Name : Donna Mitchell

Gender : Female

Michael Bowen

Character Name : Hop

Original Name : Michael Bowen

Gender : Male

Sarah Buxton

Character Name : Markie

Original Name : Sarah Buxton

Gender : Female

Lisanne Falk

Character Name : Patti

Original Name : Lisanne Falk

Gender : Female

Michael Greene

Character Name : Robert Wells

Original Name : Michael Greene

Gender : Male

Neith Hunter

Character Name : Alana

Original Name : Neith Hunter

Gender : Female

Afton Smith

Character Name : Kim

Original Name : Afton Smith

Gender : Female

Brian Wimmer

Character Name : Trent

Original Name : Brian Wimmer

Gender : Male

Kelly Wolf

Character Name : Lile

Original Name : Kelly Wolf

Gender : Female

David Colby

Character Name : Kid #3

Original Name : David Colby

Gender : Male

Anthony Kiedis

Character Name : Musician #3

Original Name : Anthony Kiedis

Gender : Male

Flea

Character Name : Musician #1

Original Name : Flea

Gender : Male

Brittain Frye

Character Name : Teenager #2

Original Name : Brittain Frye

Gender : Male

Jack Irons

Character Name : Musician #4

Original Name : Jack Irons

Gender : Male

Afrika Islam

Character Name : D. J.

Original Name : Afrika Islam

Gender : Male

Kris Jorgenson

Character Name : Bouncer

Original Name : Kris Jorgenson

Gender : Male

Jeannette Kerner

Character Name : Margery Easton

Original Name : Jeannette Kerner

Gender : Male

Lee Kissinger

Character Name : Photographer

Original Name : Lee Kissinger

Gender : Male

Moya Kordick

Character Name : Liz

Original Name : Moya Kordick

Gender : Male

Jayne Modean

Character Name : Cindy

Original Name : Jayne Modean

Gender : Female

Jude Mussetter

Character Name : Alice

Original Name : Jude Mussetter

Gender : Male

Jessica Puscas

Character Name : Little Girl

Original Name : Jessica Puscas

Gender : Male

Jandi Swanson

Character Name : Jenny

Original Name : Jandi Swanson

Gender : Female

Eric Walker

Character Name : Seth Wells

Original Name : Eric Walker

Gender : Male

Scott Warner

Character Name : Teenager #1

Original Name : Scott Warner

Gender : Male

John Yurasek

Character Name : Naked Man

Original Name : John Yurasek

Gender : Male

Robert Dassanowsky

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Dassanowsky

Gender : Male

Christopher Maleki

Character Name : Guy at Party (uncredited)

Original Name : Christopher Maleki

Gender : Male

Brad Pitt

Character Name : Partygoer / Preppie Kid at Fight (uncredited)

Original Name : Brad Pitt

Gender : Male

Jackie Swanson

Character Name : Party Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Jackie Swanson

Gender : Female

Jennifer Wellings

Character Name : Tall Gothic Girl at Club (uncredited)

Original Name : Jennifer Wellings

Gender : Male

Reviews

W

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

RELEASED IN 1987 and directed by Marek Kanievska, "Less than Zero" is a drama about a trio of rich 18 year-olds from Los Angeles. After graduation, one goes off to college (Andrew McCarthy), but returns for Christmas break wherein he finds his ex-girlfriend (Jami Gertz) and, especially, his buddy (Robert Downey Jr.) struggling with drug addiction in the Beverly Hills fast lane. James Spader plays a smug high society dealer. This is the furthest thing from typical 80’s youth flicks, like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “The Karate Kid,” “Valley Girl,” “Footloose” and “Can’t Buy Me Love” (where there’s, admittedly, a lot of range). “Less than Zero” has the epic, artsy style of Francis Ford Coppola films like “The Outsiders” and “Rumble Fish” (both from 1983) meshed with the chic melancholy of “Poison Ivy” (1992). My main issue is that it takes too long to get absorbed into the characters and their story. The filmmaking is gorgeous, however, which is ironic because this is a really downbeat movie. Gertz is fine, but she never did anything for me, while McCarthy is serviceable as the main protagonist, yet rather bland in a goody-goody way. Both Downey Jr. and Spader, however, de-shine in their roles (in a good way). If you favor arty, glum movies you might like this better than me, but it’s nowhere near as effective as “Poison Ivy,” a similar artsy, gloomy flick. The movie runs 1 hour 38 minutes and was shot in the Los Angeles area, including Malibu. WRITERS: Bret Easton Ellis (novel) and Harley Peyton (screenplay) GRADE: C+