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.

| Jan 29, 2020

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.

| Feb 2, 2018

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

| Apr 29, 2009

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

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 7, 2008

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

Full Review | Feb 12, 2008

Neil LaBute is among the more interesting cinematic talents to emerge these past half-dozen years.

| Feb 12, 2008

LaBute gives us a sequence of scathing emotional violence that outdoes anything I've seen this year.

| Original Score: B | Sep 23, 2007

LaBute's observations about our self-destructive obsession with appearances may not be original, but his ability to create articulate, provocative characters is.

| Jul 10, 2007

Go see The Shape of Things, a peculiarly acted, nasty caper, and decide for yourself whether we are being set up by LaBute with a manipulative device or if he is speaking to our frailties and telling truths.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Aug 17, 2006

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

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 1, 2006

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

| Feb 9, 2006

LaBute returns to familiar territory (albeit with a gender twist) that would have been best left unvisited.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 4, 2004

All four actors, reprising their roles from the stage production, wear the slightly glazed expressions of those phoning in their performances.

| Mar 17, 2004

| Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 21, 2004

What on earth has happened to this director?

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 15, 2004

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

| Jan 6, 2004

Some critics have called the film stolid and stagy. I think the way it sits still and looks hard is just the point, and the key to its effect.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jan 4, 2004

...holds the dubious distinction of being the laziest stage-to-screen transfer I've ever seen.

| Dec 18, 2003

should have been left on the stage.

| Dec 2, 2003

Provocateur LaBute not only dramatically throws the 'c' word at us in this film, but he also goes to great lengths to show us one.

| Original Score: B- | Nov 19, 2003