Alrighty... first blog-a-ma-jig. This'll be a shorty. Mostly because I know for a fact that at least half of the other contributors (TK) haven't seen Shortbus, so not much discussion will be able to take place. Basically, this is for me to pimp the hell outta this film.
As some may know, I am completely in love with John Cameron Mitchell. His first film Hedwig and the Angry Inch is my favorite musical ever, and easily in my top-20 if not top-10 films of all-time. Ever since seeing that film (I think it was 2002 or 2003), I had been hearing about JCM's next project, dubbed simply "The Untitled Sex Film Project," which - as per its name - was going to be about sex. More importantly and controversially, it was to feature real people having real sex right there on the screen. Sweetness.
Now, this is hardly the first time this has been done in. Europe has been producing 'artsy' sex-filled films for years, and just a year prior the film 9 Songs was released in the US. It too featured real sex... and got awful reviews. Some may remember a certain scene in Vincent Gallo's The Brown Bunny as well, which (after heavy cuts) actually garnered good reviews.
So more to the point, can John Cameron Mitchell - the same John Cameron Mitchell who so solidly knocked me on my ass with his debut - deliver a film filled with money shots, crotch shots and all sorts of other sex-filled shots while still getting a message across?
Some may say that I am suffering from a horrible disease known as 'fanboy-ism,' which is defined by the blinding of one's senses and the blocking-out of what one knows to be true to protect a director/actor/series/etc. that he loves dearly. And I will admit this film, probably more-so than just about any film ever made, is not for everyone. Hell, it is not for most. That said... it sure as hell was for me.
From the opening scenes, which are of course overcome with sex, the film had me. Not because I was watching real people have sex - hell, if I click on the other tab in this window right now I can see that. No, the sex, while frequent and raw and graphic, is not hot. Oddly enough, it's just what Mitchell promised it would be... real. The way the scenes are shot, it made me feel as if I was hiding in my neighbor's closet while they were goin' at it. They're private and intimate, but also not. And while sometimes loving, sometimes they're so lacking in love that it's uncomfortable. Which brings me to the most spectacular aspect of this film...
What's it all about? How does sex convey so much meaningful, especially in a world where you can literally see anything you can think of just by going online? Where porn is a multi-billion dollar industry? How can you make a film like Shortbus and not just come off as, well, limp? It's not at all easy to describe, and I'm not going to bother. This is a film that will mean many different things to different folks. To some, it will be an awful experience that they will never want to go on again. To others, it will be amazing. And yet to others (like myself) they will find themselves watching it 3 times in a row.
To me, the film is about loneliness. It's about love. It's about being lost and scared and fearful that no one will be there to help you. Every character in the film is alone in some way, some much worse than others. There's a scene fairly early in the film, the first scene inside Shortbus itself, where an old man is talking to a young man. If you've scene that trailer, then you know the old guy I'm speaking of. He steals the trailer and, at least for me, the movie with just a few sentences. Dammit... when I decided this was the film that I wanted to write about first, I had it so clearly stated, all I wanted to say, but this is one of those movies that just can't be neatly summed up. So here's my best shot... I can't recommend it enough. It's beautiful. It's sad. It's happy, sort of. It's meaningful. It's funny. It's just damn important.
Sex can be art. It doesn't have to be porn, and it doesn't necessarily have to be sexy, as weird as that may be. It can simply be real and in this state, it can show us just as much about a character as any other act or speech. I think John Cameron Mitchell is easily the ballsiest writer/director working today. I think that many will not agree that this is a wonderful film, but I ask that you simply give it a shot. For TK, dude, just go buy it. It comes with Ted's money-back guarantee. If you don't think it deserves to be in your collection, then I will pay you back for it and still let you keep it. For any others reading this, it's worth at least a rental fee. So many films today are sterile and just don't have a purpose (look at just about every film to come out so far this year), that it's truly refreshing to see someone make something with meaning, with heart, and with more than just a little bit of balls.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Taking a Ride on the Shortbus... Helmets are Required
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7 comments:
I don't know pengin. You know I don't like anything racy. Ill pick it up tomorrow and post my review by Thursday. Can you believe Tory hasn't seen Hedwig. Of all people :)
I hate emoticons.
Pengin, I have actually seen Shortbus and pretty much concur with your assessment of the film. It is a film that is undeniably graphic (something which you really need to hammer into your head before ever watching it), but you're totally right about how John Cameron Mitchell avoids making the film *about* sex. It's about connections and loneliness and the search for something more.
Also, this film definitely extends past the Mitchell 'fanboys' of the world, because honestly I never got around to Hedwig as much as I've intended to. So this was my first (and eye-opening awakening to Cameron Mitchell, a director I'll continue to look at in the future and whose previous work I really need to make it a point to go back and visit with).
One drawback though - this is a rather depressing film (possibly one reason I haven't been able to entirely connect with the film and for which reason it ultimately fell out of my Top 10 of 2006). A lot of the movie deals with discontent: in relationships, in sex and in life. But ultimately it's a beautiful portrait of humanity and it's unabashedly honest, something very rare and wonderful to see. I'd strongly recommend it as well, but only to someone who isn't repulsed by the 'gimmick' (watching real people have real sex) aspect of the film.
Awesome. I'm so glad that you've seen the film. I'm eagerly waiting for Chachi's review to come later today. And more importantly, I was mega-excited that you liked it. I didn't want to go to much into detail in my first post, as I didn't want to affect anyone's first viewing either way, so here's a more detailed review and some responses to your post.
When I included the "fanboy" remark...it was because I know how many people view "cult" films and directors, and I would certainly consider Mitchell a cult director. I went into this excited, but not trying to love it. And conversely, I would hope that someone who didn't care for Hedwig would go in not trying to dislike it. This is a film that I think anyone who can get past the sex could very easily care deeply about. It's universal in its message, which, while depressing at times, I think comes with hope in the end.
Here's some spoilers for those who have yet to see it: The song that Justin Bond, the mistress of Shortbus, sings in the last scene, "In the End", really kind of through me for a loop. The lyrics are not at all uplifting..."We all get it in the end". It's about death, and karma I think. BUt after watching the scene a view more times, I get the hope that I think JCM was aiming for. After watching a suicide attempt, the falling out of a marriage, a failed attempt at "real human interaction," we see James returned to his relationship with what appears to be the long-sought after acceptance of who he is. We see Sophia finally get what she craves...not just in her orgasm...but in being able to just let go. We see the human interaction...sort of.
Severin's story was the weakest part of the film...at least the lack of a conclusion in it. She craves human interaction...real human interaction...and wants to give up the dominatrix role she's played for god-knows how long. Sophia serves as her first real human interaction...the scene where they make out and Severin orgasms, despite having earlier said that she can only achieve that by herself...really shows how close she has gotten to Sophia. But the encounter freaks Sophia out, and she abandon Severin, who then goes on to get hired for her services by Sohpia's husband, Rob. Anywho...got side-tracked.
My point is that the song that struck me as so depressing, is really just an echo of what Tobias, the former mayor hinted at in his scene earlier. It's a message we've heard before, but is powerful nonetheless. It's simply that we have to live the moment. The end is there waiting, and we're all gonna get it, but until then, do the best you can with what you know. The message overall was just to be open, to try to love despite differences, to live life and not worry about the end to come. Nothing new, but I think the film gets it across better than most that have tried. It feels real...not at all forced. It's honest and human as you said...but I disagree with the depressing comment. I found it while maybe not uplifting, at the very least, affirming of life and love.
Well theodore, I've finally seen it. My math class was canceled for the morning, so I thought now would be a perfect time at 1 am to watch some porn, but unfortunately I popped in something with a message,..what was that all about.
I steered away from most of your comments, so I could interpret it for myself. I was kinda hoping we would battle it out ala Moulin Rouge vs Chicago, but I'm with you 100%.
John Cameron Mitchell certainly grabbed my attention with Hedwig. It was a wonderfully quirky movie with a kickass soundtrack, but yet it was a movie I couldn't really relate with. It was a lot of fun, but one I felt perhaps a little disconnected with since well,..I'm not a transsexual,..yet. I was enthusiastic about what he would do next, but Hedwig did not prepare me for this. It had such a profound and honest look at relationships, perhaps the best since Eternal Sunshine.
Brian will be familiar with Filmspotting podcast, and on this podcast, when they reviewed Shortbus, one guy said it was the most patriotic film of the year. I found that to be a little hard to believe, and perhaps just wanted to make an unusual, strong statement. Yet I think it fits the film in a lot of ways. Not only the brilliant Star Spangle Banner scene, the references to 9/11 (great line in Shortbus club, where Justin Bond I believe says that 9/11 was the only real thing to happen to them), but in themes as well. Americans can be very conservative and cold, certainly compared with Europe. This movie was not just about loneliness and despair, but also not allowing the restrictions of society to tell you how you should live it. Finding connections with another comes after finding one with yourself. Experimentation certainly played a key role in how these people "knocked down their towers and had to rebuild a new foundation." I loved how the sets seemed "lived in" with the photos, garbage, furniture, etc. The movie is also very funny. "jennifer aniston"...dildo cramp. The animated shots were flat out perfect. (Oddly enough they reminded me of the Crank Yankers opening,..very weird) I started getting misty eye when the former mayor, played brilliantly by Alan Mandell, gives his monologue on being in the closet during AIDS. Best scene in movie. So well written, edited, acted...really quite a great experience.
Some minor quibbles though include that fairly ridiculous pratfall with the egg that caused her to hit the guy over and over. Took me out of the moment. I also wished the movie didn't feel so much like a "counselor session" as each person brings their problems to another to heed their advice. Also their seemed to alot of metaphor talk, which got redundant.
That said, this is one of the best sophmore efforts ever. I don't know what JCM has up his sleeve, but god knows it will funny, outrageous, honest and beautiful.
How can I manage to review Shortbus without actually mentioning the sex scenes? Thats because the scenes are not erotic. While graphic, they give a voyeuristic quality into a relationship, not into a porno. I do think they are needed and only enhance the intimate connection between the characters, but also we the viewer with the movie. It also makes the film stand out from other relationship films we get. Yet it could also be used simply as a gimmick, but JCM is much better than that. He uses them intermittently to achieve his ultimate purpose. To portray intimacy, warts and all.
Chachi...damn glad to hear that we don't have another Chicago/Moulin Rouge debacle on our hands. Even better, is that I agree with basically everything you said. This film is not without it's problems. The egg scene was slapsticky, and not at all in a good way. So, I'm not really going to spend much more time reviewing the film. It's gotten three very enthusiastic reviews on here so far, so I would hope that anyone just reading would at least go rent it.
My only problem with your post however is your comment about Hedwig. You know I'm a bit of a rabid fan...and have bitten several who dare insult it. I know you watched it with me the one time, but I can't remember if I loaned it to you after that or not. I agree that it is quirky...the music most definitely rocks...and it's a fun movie...no doubt...but there is so much more to it than that. And I don't think you have to be a tranny to get it. It deals with the same general themes that Shortbus does, but focuses those themes specifically toward gender instead of sexuality.
It may just be that it's one of those films that speaks to some but not others, but I would certainly hope that you would revisit it. Maybe having seen Shortbus will give you some new insight, because there is definitely a lot more to Hedwig than an East-German failed tranny who can sing better than most platinum-selling rock stars today (and yes...that was directed at Nickelback...ya no-talent douche bags.)
Wholly shit, you guys write a friggin novel for each movie, it'd take me longer to read all this crap than it would to actually watch any of these movies.
But I will say a little something about this movie b/c I did see it (before any-a-ya'll asses, HA!). And no, I didn't see the apparent prequel Hedwig, Chachi, whom I'm assuming is Bryant bc he's the one most bizaarely obsessed w/ my sexuality ... I wonder why... But about Shortbus, I'd say I ... liked it. Not a whole lot, I did like the story I suppose. And I liked how the sex was seemingly realistic, not all hot porn sex, and I liked that one guy farted during it... But, I still felt like it was way, way too much, maybe just for me b/c I'm such a prude, maybe I'm just one of those people Ted said, who this movie just wasn't meant for, but personally, I considered the people in the movie to be porn stars more than actors. There was just too much shown of the "naughties". I think instead of pushing the envelope, they just tore that bitch up and then set fire to the pieces,... then swallowed them while still flaming.
Your so funny Tory. But I certainly understand you remarks, however blunt they may be, I wouldn;t recommend this movie to just anyone. But those that are game will be quite surprise at just how sensational it was.
Pengin is ted. Bryant will join soon. His internet is down right now. Dexter is Myth. And Brian Mulligan is Brian Mulligan. So anyways, thanks for jumping in and throwing in your two cents.
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