Title: Low key desperation, one of Shirley's best
Product review: DESPERATE CHARACTERS is not a film to watch in a depressed mood, although it could cheer you up since yours isn't likely to be any worse than theirs. Frank D. Gilroy (Tony Gilroy's father) directs efficiently this low key production, a do-any-two-movies-you-like deal between Shirley Maclaine and a Paramount subsidiary (the other one being the great yet also depressing THE POSSESSION OF JOEL DELANEY). Anyhow, DESPERATE CHARACTERS contains fine acting by everyone, with a nice change of pace for funnyman Kenneth Mars. But it's really Mrs Maclaine's picture. She turns in a very carefully nuanced interpretation. Fans of the star should definitely see this one.
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