Six Degrees of Separation (1993)

[9]

Stockard Channing, Donald Sutherland, and Will Smith star in this dark comedy of manners that unfolds like a mystery. The entire film is told in flashbacks and montage, with Channing and Sutherland as art dealers regaling their New York upper crust acquaintances with the bizarre story of how Smith’s character came into their lives. Smith enters their apartment seeking help for a knife wound and ends up staying for dinner… and the night. He charms the pants off the couple, claiming to be the son of Sidney Poitier and promising to get them bit parts in his father’s upcoming film adaptation of (of all things) Cats. But Channing and Sutherland soon learn other wealthy couples have had the same encounter with the same young man — Poitier, Cats, and all. The deception begins to drive a wedge between Channing and Sutherland. He is eager to wash his hands of Smith’s character completely, but she feels increasingly concerned about Smith. They investigate — and the more they learn about Smith, the more compelling and meaningful Six Degrees of Separation becomes.

This movie benefits from a great cast, highlighted by the vastly underrated Channing, in probably her greatest film role. Smith is also a stand-out in one of his earliest big screen outings, playing an utterly marginalized person — black, gay, and homeless — trying to ingratiate himself into a better life. As the film progresses, you love him, then you hate him, then you don’t know quite what to make of him. Channing and Sutherland at first seem to playing parodies of myopic rich people, but a certain point, Six Degrees of Separation shifts gears and challenges the couple to transform their world view — finally becoming the true subjects of the story they’ve been telling people all long. I can’t think of another screenplay like this one. The dialogue is rapid-fire, witty, and perversely funny. The storytelling is distinct in its structure, so surprising in tone, and so illuminating in content.

It’s also a surprisingly cinematic experience, especially for a movie based on a stage play. Ingenious film editing marries the past, present, and future in a number of scenes, delivering juxtapositions both meaningful and hilarious. The entire film is a fascinating study for film editors. Some could argue that the third act is politically incorrect, and the intricate plotting threatens to damage the integrity of Smith’s character. But with its biting screenplay, stellar cast, beautiful New York locations and production design — Six Degrees of Separation is a real diamond in the rough, a wonderfully surprising and thoroughly engrossing film.

With Ian McKellen, Mary Beth Hurt, Anthony Michael Hall, Heather Graham, Bruce Davison, Richard Masur, Eric Thal, and J.J. Abrams. Written by John Guare. Directed by Fred Schepisi.

Oscar Nomination: Best Actress (Stockard Channing)