Gossip

Gossip

Year: 2000

Runtime: 90 min

Language: English

Director: Davis Guggenheim

Budget: $24M

DramaMysteryThriller

A determined single mother's life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters a former lover. The reunion forces her to confront long-suppressed desires and question her current path. As buried secrets resurface, she must navigate a complex web of truth and deceit, ultimately re-evaluating her priorities and the choices that led her to where she is today.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Gossip (2000)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Gossip (2000). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present-day, contemporary

The events occur in a modern college setting where instant communication and media influence shape perceptions. The campus calendar—classes, parties, and public demonstrations—provides a rapid tempo for rumor spreading. Modern technology and public performances (like the art installation) underscore how quickly stories evolve and impact real lives.

Location

Manhattan college campus, on-campus apartment, Naomi's dorm, old high school

The story unfolds on a Manhattan college campus, with dorms, classrooms, and party spaces as the backdrop for social maneuvering. Private spaces like bathrooms and apartments become stages for secrets and confrontations. The setting emphasizes how reputation and status on campus can be shaped and shattered by a single rumor, amplified by the surrounding urban environment.

🏫 campus 🎭 social dynamics 💬 rumor culture 🏙️ city setting

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:31

Main Characters – Gossip (2000)

Meet the key characters of Gossip (2000), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Derrick Webb

A talented yet dangerous plotting figure whose artistic temperament masks a vindictive streak. He seeds the initial rumor and uses others as pawns to settle scores, justifying his actions as revenge. His charm and intellect mask a willingness to destroy reputations for personal gain. By the end, his manipulation backfires in a web of betrayals and exposure.

🎨 artistic 🧠 calculating ⚖️ morally compromised 🗡️ ruthless

Travis

Derrick's devoted roommate who funds his art and fuels the rumor project. He is loyal and hopeful, yet morally ambiguous, and becomes entangled in the consequences of their scheme. He stabilizes or destabilizes situations depending on Derrick’s influence, and his later actions reveal his core conflict when confronted with the truth.

💼 loyal 🎭 conflicted 🧩 resourceful 💬 introspective

Cathy Jones

Jones is Derrick’s roommate who becomes the moral counterweight to the plan. She writes the final paper and begins to see the damage caused by the rumor, eventually trying to confess and stop the spiral. Her journey from complicity to horror highlights the personal costs of collective deceit.

💔 conflicted 👀 observant 🕊️ remorseful 🧭 principled

Naomi Preston

A wealthy student whose alleged encounter becomes the centerpiece of the rumor. She experiences fear and confusion as her reputation is weaponized, ultimately guiding the investigation as she seeks clarity. She survives the immediate aftermath of the rumor, serving as the catalyst for the final revelation.

💎 wealthy 🧭 misled 🤝 resilient 💬 perceptive

Beau Edson

Naomi’s boyfriend who becomes swept up in the rumor and its aftermath. He denies the accusation and confronts Derrick, ultimately becoming a target in the tense power struggle. His actions, including a late-stage conflict, underscore how victims and accused can both be drawn into a web of manipulation.

🏷️ entitled 🥃 impulsive 🥊 confrontational 🧭 pragmatic

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:31

Major Themes – Gossip (2000)

Explore the central themes of Gossip (2000), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗣️ Power of Gossip

Gossip drives the plot and reveals how rumors can control reputations and fates on a college campus. The trio uses misinformation as a weapon, testing how far a lie can travel before accountability arises. The film shows that even seemingly harmless chit-chat can escalate into genuine harm when amplified by a social network.

🔎 Truth vs Lies

The narrative blurs the line between truth and fabrication as evidence shifts with perspective. Characters manipulate narratives to protect themselves, while others cling to fragments of what they believe is real. The climax exposes how difficult it is to uncover the truth when everyone has a vested interest in a particular story.

💔 Consent and Violence

The rumor centers on a sexual encounter and spirals into accusations of rape, highlighting how consent and agency are misinterpreted in a culture of rumor. The consequences extend beyond individuals to families and the broader campus community. The film scrutinizes responsibility for how rumors influence perceptions of violence and harm.

🎭 Art vs Reality

Rumors are transformed into art installations and visual media, challenging the boundary between performance and truth. The artistically charged manipulation raises questions about the ethics of using real lives as material for art. The narrative suggests that media and art can weaponize perception, distorting memory and accountability.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:31

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Unlock the Full Story of Gossip

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Gossip Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Gossip, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Gossip Summary

Gossip Timeline

Track the full timeline of Gossip with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Gossip Timeline

More About Gossip

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