Insignificance

The title of this movie means more that it lets on. In the public eye, the four characters are people who never get a moment's peace. But once out of that view, they're just like everybody else. Even then they want attention.

That is clearly the case with the Actress, played excellently by Theresa Russell. Her fame weary star (who bears more than just a passing resemblance to Marilyn Monroe) has gotten fed up with using her sexuality as a means of attention. "I wish they'd switch me off," she sighs to the Professor (Michael Emil as Albert Einstein).

The two other men in Insignificance aren't as gentle to the Actress as the Professor is. They both abuse her in some form: the Ballplayer (Gary Busey as Joe DiMaggio) emotionally, the Senator (Tony Curtis as Joseph McCarthy) physically. This is why the Actress likes the Professor. He's more captivated by her mind, not her body.

In public view, both the Actress and the Professor appear stable and collected. Behind closed doors, however, they grapple with their personal demons. Both would die with fame still haunting them, but at least they would finally get away from it.

My Rating: ****1/2