Less Than Zero
Privileged teens spiraling into addiction in LA
About Less Than Zero
Released: 1987
Platform: Hulu
Rating: R
Run time: 1h 38m
Cast
Andrew McCarthy, Jami Gertz, Robert Downey Jr., James Spader, Michael Bowen
About Less Than Zero
Less Than Zero is a 1987 American drama film that was directed by Marek Kanievska, and loosely based on the novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. The film centers on a college freshman, Clay, who returns home to Los Angeles for Christmas to find his ex-girlfriend, Blair, and his high school best friend, Julian—all of whom had been part of the wealthy, hard-partying Beverly Hills crowd—have spiraled into drug addiction.
Making / Production
The screenplay was written by Harley Peyton, and produced by Jon Avnet and Jordan Kerner, with a mesmerizing cinematographic delivery by Edward Lachman. The film was a box office success, but received mixed reviews critically.
Actors
- Andrew McCarthy as Clay Easton: He gives an intense performance as a college freshman who struggles to save his friend from drug addiction.
- Robert Downey Jr. as Julian Wells: Downey compellingly portrays a drug-addicted party boy spiraling out of control.
- Jami Gertz as Blair: As Clay's ex-girlfriend, Gertz offers a haunting performance of a young woman stuck in a toxic environment.
Trivia / Interesting Facts
- The film's title refers to a state of being neither dead nor alive, taken from the Elvis Costello song of the same name.
- This film was one of the first to tackle the subject matter of cocaine addiction in the 1980s.
Awards
The movie did not receive any major awards.
Quotes
- "Disappear here." - Julian Wells
- "You look like shit, man!" - Clay Easton
- "You could've called." - Blair
Music/Soundtrack
- "Brilliant Disguise" by Bruce Springsteen
- "Wrap It Up" by Sam & Dave
- "Less Than Zero" by Elvis Costello
About Less Than Zero
Less Than Zero explores the tragedy and consequences of a privileged youth lost in drug addiction in Beverly Hills.