Films like Ghost World are often overlooked by the masses in favor of the big budget, explosion laden Hollywood flair that clogs the media outlets with an advertisement blitz. Of course missing a film won't ever hurt you, but the true connoisseurs know that many of the true gems of the screen aren't found plastered on your TV set every fifteen minutes during their widescreen release.

Myself, I'm drawn to this type of film. It's exactly the type that I love to discover on my own and cherish as a good memory- one that I found and loved because of the film itself. Not because some advertisement convinced me to part with my hard earned cash, but because it simply oozes with the small screen splendor that has been lost.

Based upon a graphic novel (a book form comic book for those of you living under various sorts of rocks) by Daniel Clowes, Ghost World follows briefly the lives of two friends who are just learning to be who they really are. And like any coming of age movie, it's set just as the two are exiting high-school.

However, this isn't your run of the mill, teenage flick. Instead, it's a realistic look into the lives, well actually life of one of the two main characters. In trying to fulfill their childhood promise of growing up and moving out together, the two clash as the world puts its twisted spin on how things are going to work, thus giving tension in the film as Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) learn their ideas must be malleable. The perfect world ideals that they each have set inside their heads not only conflict with one another but send them through the turmoil of understanding that some things just cannot be.

Much in the same vein as other teenage angst films as Slackers and Suburbia, Ghost World is more about watching what goes on rather than placing emotions in the audience. Yet, the underlying commentary of the film is a blatantly clear essay on the change happening with regards to the commercialism of the American culture.

That isn't to say this is a serious film because at the center, Ghost World is a very light hearted movie that even pokes fun at itself. As evident from Enid's confusion of whom she wants to be. Even the girl who hates everything can't even decide what she really wants, and maybe that's what makes her unhappy- not the disdain for the pop culture.

What's to really love are the actors performances which are Oscar quality as Buscemi puts on the role of a lifetime, easily his best yet and the lovely Thora Birch is a perfect fit for the confused Enid. Enid's father, played by Bob Balaban, is especially lovable and Dave Sheridan places laughs in just the right places with his quirky rendition of the Doug character.

Of course what it comes down to is your personal tastes but at the very least you will probably enjoy this movie. I consider it one of the top five of 2001 and can easily recommend it to anyone who liked Suburbia but wanted something a little more polished and leaning a bit more toward comedy. I wouldn't consider it too far off from being the American Pie for the disenfranchised but there we're talking about exactly what this movie was trying not to be. All things considered, a wonderful movie that takes the right amount of quirkiness and a perfect mix of funny situations that make it a great flick to add to any DVD lover's collection.