Sex and violence overdose!
I don't recommend seeing the movie "Shortbus," which has explicit sex, right before you see the over-the-top violent "Flags of Our Fathers," and then drive home through a blizzard from Denver.
I did last night... I feel kinda shaken up ... and overexposed.
I'll have review of the films, both of which I liked, on Friday in the GO! section.
I'm curious what other people are going to think of these movies.
posted by Warren Epstein @ 11:41 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I liked Shortbus. But don't go on a first date or with a casual acquaintance; I went with my boyfriend of two years and it was still a little uncomfortable in the first couple of scenes, which were more sexually graphic than I would have ever expected.
It's not sexually graphic in a "I feel like I'm watching a porno" way. It's not "sexy," it's just very realistic, and the sex isn't gratuitous, it is the main subject, and something that our culture tends to supress and shy away from. Shortbus acknowledges it as a part of everyone's life, and puts it in your face.
I liked the layers: Couples take their problems to a sex therapist -- er relationship counselor -- in hopes of finding answers. But she has a problem of her own, she's never had an orgasm, even though she has been married awhile. So she (upon the advice of two gay patients) takes her problem to Shortbus, a kind of sex club where anything goes. Everyone insists she will be "cured" of her problem there, and many people are willing to offer advice. But as the movie develops, we realize that the people who go there, who supposedly have all the answers because they're so open and confident about their sexuality, don't have the answers either. No one's problems are solved easily; they all have to "own it," as the sex therapist likes to say, and figure it out for themselves.
At the end, I felt a little unsatisfied because the closing scene didn't really show how or if anyone solved their relationship problems.
But that had to be the intention of the director, John Cameron Mitchell -- who played the flamboyant and Hedwigish owner of Shortbus, because I suppose that's what the entire plot was trying to show us (without outright telling us)--that there's no absolute answers or universal advice, method or relationship that will lead to satisfaction.
So I think it's brilliant that I was left a bit unsatisfied, just like the characters.
Oops; the madame of Shortbus wasn't the director, after all.
I saw Shortbus on Saturday. I went with a friend of mine as opposed to my husband and I was thankful. I don't belive my husband would have enjoyed it. Not his cup of tea. Our original choice for the night was Marie Antionette but for time reasons we needed to got to an early movie so she chose Shortbus. I would definately say it was graphic. I wouldn't say it was an awesome movie but it was good. I was also rather dissapointed with the ending. It seemed to just end. It didn't really tie things together. I would recomend it but only if you are aware that you are going to see it all.
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