Singles (1992) Review

 

Singles (1992)

Singles follows a group of young adults, trying to weed through the complexities of love amidst the grunge scene of 1990s Seattle.

The last stop on the little Cameron Crowe marathon I’ve got going on and we finally have Singles, one of the more simplistic but endearing films to come out of the 90s. Much like with Almost Famous, Singles is a movie that showcases the music of the 90s grunge scene, but isn’t about it. It more uses it as a stylistic backdrop for the events of the film (while not seeming cliché) and gives you a sense of the time period this was, really acting as a time capsule for the Seattle scene and stunningly capturing what made that era so special.

This film though is about the people in this specific time and place (a shoddy apartment complex where all of their lives intersect), facing the same struggles, angst, and doubts as the rest of us, really only clinging onto to the small, insignificant details. Where they are all seeking out love, it’s those subtle details that make all the difference; a bless you in the elevator, admiring those earrings no one likes, or even just stopping by when you’re no where in the area. It’s cute, hilarious, and above all, charming in it’s quirks and unusual characters.

Singles also boasts my all time favorite movie soundtrack, really bringing you into the Seattle grunge scene with songs from Screaming Trees, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Paul Westerburg, and Chris Cornell (with Seasons, possibly my favorite song ever topping it all off).

We get a great cast that stars Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick, Sheila Kelley, Bridget Fonda, and Matt Dillon, with some major cameos from members of Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam/Mother Love Bone. I particularly like Dillon and Fonda’s odd relationship, with his boneheaded Cliff Poncier such a good match for a girl like her.

Singles, directed by Cameron Crowe, is an insightful peek into romance and love among the cynicism of a forgotten generation of people who took out their frustrations in the form of music, creating the perfect setting for a simple movie about people just trying to get by on the little things life has to offer.

8.2/10