Shortbus - ****

Mom, please feel free to avoid this movie and never refer to it in my presence. That said, the hypocracy begins below.

The opening 5 minutes of this film is sexually graphic. Not flashy fake movie sex, but full on body fluid graphic. However, this is a film. Not a "porno movie," but a fantastic independently produced work of art film. I was incredibly surprised to find this completely engaging with an intelligent script and the best acting I've seen in any film in a long, long time. And remember, this is a cast of unknowns. And they're all having real sex. Straight sex, gay sex, freaky sex... sex.

I challenge you to categorize this film.

It's a little bit "Rent", a little bit "Dazed and Confused", a little bit "As Good As It Gets", and a little bit 'porn' (pardon the pun, but insert favorite title here. My current favorite is "The Da Vinci Load").

Writer/Director John Cameron Mitchell (co-creator and writer/director of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch") has crafted a different kind of film here, not only in it's presentation, but with it's conception (really, I'll try not to add too many puns here...). This film was cast first so everyone knew what they would be getting into (tee-hee) and then allowed to create their own characters and backstory. Once worked out, the actors participated in workshops to construct scenes and situations while making up their dialogue. J.C.M then used those workshops to write a script which would then be used to raise financing for the production.

Again, I can't recommend this film without emphasizing how graphic some scenes are. I averted my eyes more than once. There is an orgy scene or two and it's not blurred, cleverly concealed a la Austin Powers or "black boxed" out. However, the genius of scenes like this isn't to shock or excite you, but use that situation to progress the story. What would you do if you were invited to a place or private club, not really knowing what to expect, but certainly not expecting a room full of people having sex? This isn't "American Graffiti."

It won't be everybody's cup-o-tea to be sure, however, it certainly is suitable for intelligent adults looking to explore art in a new way. You can argue that any actual sex act depicted on film is pornographic but you can also argue that caffeine is a drug, yet millions of people (and a lot of kids) overindulge daily. Besides, it's not like the entire movie is nothing but sex, it's actually given very little screen time, but it's real and not pushed to the background when present.

I'm really surprised (or maybe missed?) how this film didn't raise a lot of controversy. Maybe it was dismissed as nothing more than just another porno. It's depressing to know so many people will miss out on such an emotional journey and exquisite work of art just because they may be embarrassed to see naked people. In this day and age, especially since the dawn of the internet, missing this film would be the real shame, not the sexual content.


**If you decide to screen the film on DVD, plan to keep it a few days as the special features are a must-see and the commentary is insightful, playful and very engaging.

The Lookout - ***

I saw half of this film but had to return the disc to the video store, then screened again a few months later. I remember liking it. Another great performance by Joseph Gorden-Levitt who will hopefully get recognized for his body of the during the past few years. He's not the little kid on "3rd Rock from the Sun" anymore. Also a great job by Matthew Goode (whom I had previously noticed and liked very much in "Match Point").

The Apple - ***1/2

It has to be seen to be believed... wow. Watch it with friends in whatever form of altered mental state you prefer. No ELO or Olivia Newton-John, or it would have been 4 stars.

The Spitfire Grill - **

I put off seeing this film for 10 years. No reason, just never got around to it. It looked good. I heard it was good. It was good... well the *performances* were good. Why didn't Alison Elliott's career soar after this film was released?

The highly dramatic material would be better suited for a high school play put on by a heavily depressed drama teacher and a cast of future man-hating women who will choose an alternate lifestyle somewhere down the road. "Steel Magnolias" and "Terms of Endearment" are much better examples of highly dramatic films showing strong independant women facing challenging situations. They at least know enough to insert some humor now and again to make it palpable. This film makes "The Green Mile" look like an Austin Powers film.

Also, from a marketing perspective, the poster makes this film look like a lesbian horror film called, "Are you there God, it's me Percy..." (yes the ax has something to do with the actual story, but why does the blade have to be at the same level as her neck?).

Fun Article

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/guest/altman061008.html

Somehow this guy got in my head and explains a passion so few of us had back in the early 90's. A fun read and a great website.

Mumford - ***

I know I watched this film a few years ago but didn't remember much about it except liking Jason Lee (in a role not written by Kevin Smith). It's one of those films that's an enjoyable viewing but then you forget you've seen it a few months later. Writer/Director Lawrence Kasdan does a good job assembling a cast that plays well off each other but nothing really exciting happens. When you reach the pivotol change in the story, which happens so nonchalantly, you have to stop and wonder, "wait, is this where the story is going?" It is, but it's a nice safe place, like going on a Sunday drive on a breezy June afternoon.