Movie · 1993 · Mystery, Drama, Comedy · 1h 52m · R · English
Curator score: 5.3/10 (37.5K ratings)
For Paul, every person is a new door to a new world.
Overview
The story of a young, gay, black, con artist who, posing as the son of Sidney Poitier, cunningly maneuvers his way into the lives of a white, upper-class New York family.
Ratings
Curator score: 5.3/10
IMDb: 6.8/10
Letterboxd: 3.48/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Metacritic: 72
TMDB: 6.4/10
Director
Fred Schepisi
Production
New Regency Pictures, Maiden Movies, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Cast
Stockard Channing, Will Smith, Donald Sutherland, Ian McKellen, Mary Beth Hurt, Bruce Davison, Richard Masur, Anthony Michael Hall, Heather Graham, Eric Thal, Anthony Rapp, Osgood Perkins, Catherine Kellner, J.J. Abrams, Joe Pentangelo, Lou Milione, Brooke Hayward, Peter Duchin, Sam Stoneburner, Maeve McGuire
Curator Review
Verdict
A sharp, sly social comedy-drama about class, performance, and the thrill of being fooled. It works best as a showcase for its polished dialogue, elegant structure, and the uneasy fascination between the con artist and the wealthy people he manipulates.
Best for
Viewers who like sophisticated con-artist stories
Fans of stage-to-screen adaptations
People interested in class satire and Manhattan upper-crust drama
Audiences who enjoy dry wit with a darker edge
Skip if
You want a fast-paced thriller
You dislike talky, character-driven chamber pieces
You prefer morally straightforward stories
You’re looking for a more overtly emotional or action-heavy film
Overview
Six Degrees of Separation is a polished, intelligent adaptation that turns a scam into a study of longing. Its pleasure comes not just from the deception itself, but from watching the wealthy characters reveal how eager they are to be dazzled, included, and transformed by proximity to glamour and suffering alike.
Worth noting
The film has a crisp, theatrical rhythm and a very specific New York upper-class texture. It is funniest when it lets the absurdity of the setup breathe, but it also has a sharper sting beneath the wit, especially in the way it exposes race, class, and self-delusion.
Bottom line
Will Smith is magnetic in a role that asks for charm, control, and vulnerability all at once, while the supporting cast gives the story its brittle social surface. It may feel more mannered than propulsive, but as a smart, observant portrait of performance and privilege, it lands well.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Andy Young (5★) · 662 likes
Ok. Y’all wanna see a REAL six degrees of separation?
There’s a scene early on where Will Smith says his dad is directing a movie-version of the musical Cats.
And he says this... to IAN MCKELLEN.
“Someone is directing a film of Cats?” Stockyard Channing inquires while SITTING NEXT TO IAN MCKELLEN.
“Surely they can’t make the movie of Cats”, Donald Sutherland groans, INCHES FROM IAN MCKELLEN.
“He's going to use PEOPLE”, Will boasts, which IAN LAUGHS AT - YA… more
Holly-Beth (3.5★) · 258 likes
will smith's character in this and matt damon's in the talented mr ripley are fucking soulmates holy SHIT
London (3.5★) · 157 likes
The worst thing I can say about Six Degrees of Separation is that it doesn't have enough Will Smith. He is charismatic and has some great dialogue. But the film mostly pertains to how his trickery affects some affluent white couple. The idea of the film was worrying me a little, but I shouldn't have had any fear.
Donald Sutherland had a great performance in this and has a really good driven into madness storyline. Ian McKellen also has a… more
Chris Feil (4★) · 108 likes
Not J.J. Abrams as a shirtless undergrad with an extremely punchable face!!
shookone (2.5★) · 93 likes
a very NYC film from the days America was in his peaceful sleep, where the central park is the main protagonist of the city (and not the skyscrapers) and white rich people seemingly make up major parts of the population. a bourgeoisie dreamscape with a Will Smith not rotten to the bone yet in his center.
both is true 1.) it's nice to see a film trying to tackle the upper class mismorals but 2.) the anecdote Smith's character is… more
1987 · Crime, Thriller, Drama · 1h 42m · R · Curator 8.3/10 (25.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM Plus, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A smart con-game thriller that treats deception as both craft and psychology.