Gossip (2000 American film)
Encyclopedia
Gossip is a 2000 teen
drama film directed by Davis Guggenheim
and featuring an ensemble cast
including James Marsden
, Lena Headey
, Norman Reedus
, and Kate Hudson
.
), Cathy Jones (Lena Headey
), and Travis (Norman Reedus
) are students as well as roommates. They all take a Communications class with Professor Goodwin (Eric Bogosian
), in which the subject of gossip is brought up. For their final project, the three students decide to start a rumor and track and see the results. One night while at a nightclub, they run into Naomi Preston (Kate Hudson
) and her boyfriend Beau Edson (Joshua Jackson
). It is common knowledge through the campus that Naomi is saving her virginity
for marriage. Jones (as Cathy is called throughout the movie) in particular has a problem with Naomi's wealth and sense of entitlement. Furthermore, Naomi seems to have started a rumor about Jones having sex with Professor Goodwin.
While at the party, Derrick meets a girl and brings her upstairs. At this point the girl becomes ill; Derrick than notices Beau and Naomi in the adjacent room kissing. Beau attempts to have sex with Naomi but is rejected. Derrick, Jones, and Travis proceed to begin a rumor that Naomi and Beau had sex. The story begins to vary wildly, first involving a threesome
, but soon, due to the nature of gossip, it becomes a story of Beau raping Naomi. Naomi, who knows she had passed out, believes that Beau may have rape
d her while she was unconscious. Beau is subsequently arrested and charged with the rape. When Jones tries to call off the project, Derrick creates doubt in Jones' mind by insisting he doesn't know for sure whether or not Beau raped Naomi.
Jones, feeling that the hoax has gone too far talks to Naomi. Jones mentions Derrick's name and Naomi abruptly tells her to get out of the apartment. It is revealed that Naomi and Derrick attended the same high school. Jones, confused, goes to Naomi and Derrick's old high school. She finds that Derrick was accused of raping Naomi when they were both in high school. Jones rushes back to the apartment and confronts Derrick, who explains that it was consensual but then Naomi pressed charges. Derrick goes to Naomi's dorm room and tells her that he set her boyfriend up as revenge for ruining his life in their hometown.
They fight, and she scratches him on the cheek and bites his hand, leaving marks. He takes a picture from her room, a reminder of their high school night in question. He returns to his apartment, having been observed leaving Naomi's apartment by Travis. The next morning Travis breaks the news to Jones and Derrick that Naomi was found dead in her room. At first it's called a suicide
, but then Derrick becomes a suspect after he is visited by Detective Curtis (Edward James Olmos
) and since he was the last person to see her alive. Worried that the police might tie him with the crime scene and Naomi's death, Derrick gives Travis a picture from Naomi's room and tells him to implicate himself as the last person to see Naomi alive. Travis suspects him but agrees to the plan because he doesn't have motive.
Back in class, Professor Goodwin gets the class to accuse and blame Derrick for Naomi's death; 'You killed her' says one girl. Derrick returns to his apartment to confront Jones, whom he suspects as being the one to tell Professor Goodwin of his involvement in the rumor. But when he arrives, Detective Curtis is waiting with a warrant to search the rooms. Jones confesses to being the one who told Professor Goodwin and Derrick tells her to take the blame and move out. He proceeds downstairs and is shocked to discover that the detectives have found planted evidence in his room. He turns on Travis, telling the police that he stalked Naomi. When Detective Curtis asks another cop where Travis is, the cop responds that Travis has fled. Detective Curtis and the cop go after Travis, but not before telling Derrick that he was the better suspect and that they were going to match Derrick's DNA to the skin found under Naomi's nails.
Derrick starts to pack his belongings and prepares to run. Jones observes Travis buying a gun. As Derrick attempts to leave through the roof, he's confronted by Travis, who explains that he won't let Derrick get away with it. When he and Derrick get in a fight, the gun goes off. Jones is shot in the chest and apparently dies. When Travis threatens to tell the police Derrick killed Jones, Derrick finally confesses to raping Naomi in high school, which is captured on tape. Jones stands up, uninjured. Professor Goodwin, Detective Curtis (who it's revealed is actually Naomi's father's driver) and another cop (who is actually a student in Jones' accounting class) emerge one by one. Naomi, with Beau beside her, comes out of hiding last, revealing Derrick is the victim of an elaborate hoax designed to make Derrick pay for his lies. In the end, Derrick is left by himself, wondering what people will say. Travis proclaims that "It's only words, how bad can it be?"
Teen film
Teen films is a film genre targeted at teenagers and young adults in which the plot is based upon the special interests of teenagers, such as coming of age, first love, rebellion, conflict with parents, teen angst, and alienation...
drama film directed by Davis Guggenheim
Davis Guggenheim
Philip Davis Guggenheim is an Academy Award-winning American film director and producer. His credits as a producer and director include Training Day, The Shield, Alias, 24, NYPD Blue, ER, Deadwood, and Party of Five and the documentaries An Inconvenient Truth and Waiting for 'Superman...
and featuring an ensemble cast
Ensemble cast
An ensemble cast is made up of cast members in which the principal actors and performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on...
including James Marsden
James Marsden
James Paul Marsden is an American actor, singer and former Versace model. He is known for playing the superhero Cyclops in the first three X-Men films and for his roles in other commercially successful films such as Hop, Superman Returns, Hairspray, Enchanted, The Box, and 27 Dresses.-Early life...
, Lena Headey
Lena Headey
Lena Headey is an English actress. Headey's performance in a one-off show when she was 17 caught the attention of a casting agent, who took a photo and asked her to audition and eventually she got a supporting role alongside Jeremy Irons and Ethan Hawke in the 1992 British drama film Waterland and...
, Norman Reedus
Norman Reedus
Norman Mark Reedus is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal as Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints as well as its 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and for the character of Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead...
, and Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson
Kate Garry Hudson is an American actress. She came to prominence in 2001 after winning a Golden Globe and receiving several nominations, including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Almost Famous. She then starred in the hit film How to Lose a Guy in 10...
.
Plot
The movie takes place on a college campus in the Northeast. Derrick Webb (James MarsdenJames Marsden
James Paul Marsden is an American actor, singer and former Versace model. He is known for playing the superhero Cyclops in the first three X-Men films and for his roles in other commercially successful films such as Hop, Superman Returns, Hairspray, Enchanted, The Box, and 27 Dresses.-Early life...
), Cathy Jones (Lena Headey
Lena Headey
Lena Headey is an English actress. Headey's performance in a one-off show when she was 17 caught the attention of a casting agent, who took a photo and asked her to audition and eventually she got a supporting role alongside Jeremy Irons and Ethan Hawke in the 1992 British drama film Waterland and...
), and Travis (Norman Reedus
Norman Reedus
Norman Mark Reedus is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal as Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints as well as its 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and for the character of Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead...
) are students as well as roommates. They all take a Communications class with Professor Goodwin (Eric Bogosian
Eric Bogosian
Eric Bogosian is an American actor, playwright, monologist, and novelist of Armenian descent.-Personal life:Bogosian, an Armenian-American, was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, the son of Edwina, a hairdresser and instructor, and Henry Bogosian, an accountant. After graduating from Oberlin College,...
), in which the subject of gossip is brought up. For their final project, the three students decide to start a rumor and track and see the results. One night while at a nightclub, they run into Naomi Preston (Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson
Kate Garry Hudson is an American actress. She came to prominence in 2001 after winning a Golden Globe and receiving several nominations, including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Almost Famous. She then starred in the hit film How to Lose a Guy in 10...
) and her boyfriend Beau Edson (Joshua Jackson
Joshua Jackson
Joshua Carter Jackson is a Canadian American actor. He has appeared in primetime television and in over 32 film roles. He is best known for playing Charlie Conway in The Mighty Ducks film series, Pacey Witter in the television series Dawson's Creek and Peter Bishop in the television series...
). It is common knowledge through the campus that Naomi is saving her virginity
Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
for marriage. Jones (as Cathy is called throughout the movie) in particular has a problem with Naomi's wealth and sense of entitlement. Furthermore, Naomi seems to have started a rumor about Jones having sex with Professor Goodwin.
While at the party, Derrick meets a girl and brings her upstairs. At this point the girl becomes ill; Derrick than notices Beau and Naomi in the adjacent room kissing. Beau attempts to have sex with Naomi but is rejected. Derrick, Jones, and Travis proceed to begin a rumor that Naomi and Beau had sex. The story begins to vary wildly, first involving a threesome
Threesome
A threesome is a group of three engaged in the same activity. In relation to a sexual activity a threesome refer to the activity involving three people of any gender or sexual orientation...
, but soon, due to the nature of gossip, it becomes a story of Beau raping Naomi. Naomi, who knows she had passed out, believes that Beau may have rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d her while she was unconscious. Beau is subsequently arrested and charged with the rape. When Jones tries to call off the project, Derrick creates doubt in Jones' mind by insisting he doesn't know for sure whether or not Beau raped Naomi.
Jones, feeling that the hoax has gone too far talks to Naomi. Jones mentions Derrick's name and Naomi abruptly tells her to get out of the apartment. It is revealed that Naomi and Derrick attended the same high school. Jones, confused, goes to Naomi and Derrick's old high school. She finds that Derrick was accused of raping Naomi when they were both in high school. Jones rushes back to the apartment and confronts Derrick, who explains that it was consensual but then Naomi pressed charges. Derrick goes to Naomi's dorm room and tells her that he set her boyfriend up as revenge for ruining his life in their hometown.
They fight, and she scratches him on the cheek and bites his hand, leaving marks. He takes a picture from her room, a reminder of their high school night in question. He returns to his apartment, having been observed leaving Naomi's apartment by Travis. The next morning Travis breaks the news to Jones and Derrick that Naomi was found dead in her room. At first it's called a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, but then Derrick becomes a suspect after he is visited by Detective Curtis (Edward James Olmos
Edward James Olmos
Edward James Olmos is an American actor and director. Among his most memorable roles are William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, Lt...
) and since he was the last person to see her alive. Worried that the police might tie him with the crime scene and Naomi's death, Derrick gives Travis a picture from Naomi's room and tells him to implicate himself as the last person to see Naomi alive. Travis suspects him but agrees to the plan because he doesn't have motive.
Back in class, Professor Goodwin gets the class to accuse and blame Derrick for Naomi's death; 'You killed her' says one girl. Derrick returns to his apartment to confront Jones, whom he suspects as being the one to tell Professor Goodwin of his involvement in the rumor. But when he arrives, Detective Curtis is waiting with a warrant to search the rooms. Jones confesses to being the one who told Professor Goodwin and Derrick tells her to take the blame and move out. He proceeds downstairs and is shocked to discover that the detectives have found planted evidence in his room. He turns on Travis, telling the police that he stalked Naomi. When Detective Curtis asks another cop where Travis is, the cop responds that Travis has fled. Detective Curtis and the cop go after Travis, but not before telling Derrick that he was the better suspect and that they were going to match Derrick's DNA to the skin found under Naomi's nails.
Derrick starts to pack his belongings and prepares to run. Jones observes Travis buying a gun. As Derrick attempts to leave through the roof, he's confronted by Travis, who explains that he won't let Derrick get away with it. When he and Derrick get in a fight, the gun goes off. Jones is shot in the chest and apparently dies. When Travis threatens to tell the police Derrick killed Jones, Derrick finally confesses to raping Naomi in high school, which is captured on tape. Jones stands up, uninjured. Professor Goodwin, Detective Curtis (who it's revealed is actually Naomi's father's driver) and another cop (who is actually a student in Jones' accounting class) emerge one by one. Naomi, with Beau beside her, comes out of hiding last, revealing Derrick is the victim of an elaborate hoax designed to make Derrick pay for his lies. In the end, Derrick is left by himself, wondering what people will say. Travis proclaims that "It's only words, how bad can it be?"
Cast
- James MarsdenJames MarsdenJames Paul Marsden is an American actor, singer and former Versace model. He is known for playing the superhero Cyclops in the first three X-Men films and for his roles in other commercially successful films such as Hop, Superman Returns, Hairspray, Enchanted, The Box, and 27 Dresses.-Early life...
as Derrick Webb - Lena HeadeyLena HeadeyLena Headey is an English actress. Headey's performance in a one-off show when she was 17 caught the attention of a casting agent, who took a photo and asked her to audition and eventually she got a supporting role alongside Jeremy Irons and Ethan Hawke in the 1992 British drama film Waterland and...
as Cathy Jones - Norman ReedusNorman ReedusNorman Mark Reedus is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal as Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints as well as its 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and for the character of Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead...
as Travis - Kate HudsonKate HudsonKate Garry Hudson is an American actress. She came to prominence in 2001 after winning a Golden Globe and receiving several nominations, including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Almost Famous. She then starred in the hit film How to Lose a Guy in 10...
as Naomi Preston - Eric BogosianEric BogosianEric Bogosian is an American actor, playwright, monologist, and novelist of Armenian descent.-Personal life:Bogosian, an Armenian-American, was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, the son of Edwina, a hairdresser and instructor, and Henry Bogosian, an accountant. After graduating from Oberlin College,...
as Prof. Goodwin - Edward James OlmosEdward James OlmosEdward James Olmos is an American actor and director. Among his most memorable roles are William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, Lt...
as Det. Curtis - Joshua JacksonJoshua JacksonJoshua Carter Jackson is a Canadian American actor. He has appeared in primetime television and in over 32 film roles. He is best known for playing Charlie Conway in The Mighty Ducks film series, Pacey Witter in the television series Dawson's Creek and Peter Bishop in the television series...
as Beau Edson - Sharon LawrenceSharon LawrenceSharon Elizabeth Lawrence is an American television actress. She is best known for the role of Sylvia Costas Sipowicz in the Television series NYPD Blue...
as Det. Kelly - Marisa Coughlan as Sheila