On Tuesday night I went to see a screening of Shortbus -- John Cameron Mitchell’s follow-up to Hedwig and the Angry Inch -- and it was the most joyful movie experience I’ve had in ages (Especially compared to the soul-less, joy-less shipwreck that was Pirates of the Caribbean 2 which I saw on Sunday.)
I was going to write some huge glowing review but then I came across this while looking for actors names and well… I really can’t put it any better.
I will add that I think there is something audacious and exciting going on here... something that maybe hasn't been seen in the American film landscape since the 60's. It's daring and courageous in its "well who says I can't do this?" ballsy-ness and there's a freedom from 'the rules of film' vibe happening and as a result, I was left completely energized and excited about film in general... (I think I'd forgotten how great that feels). There's a message of 'acceptance' and 'we're all in this together' to be received... you just have to want to hear it (and that, in itself, may present a problem to a large number of American moviegoers who are just unable to let it in).
I think it's odd that after all the sex hype surrounding Shortbus, the moments that keep bubbling back into my mind are prominently the emotional character ones. Shortbus is alternately laugh-out-loud funny and sink-in-your-seat-to-hide-your-tears sad. That's not to say that I didn't think the sex was hot, cause I did start to get turned on a few times but anyway… LOVED IT. Go see it.
A+++
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