The main theme here is exploitation--how people use others to express themselves and to make themselves feel better about their choices in life. Yes, it's all a bit intense, but Solondz fills every scene with dark humour and wicked satire that undercuts the seriousness of the themes and the intensity of the situations. Again, he elicits brave, transparent performances from his entire cast--sometimes scary because they're so honest and out there! Fitzpatrick is the only weak link, because his attempt at CP just isn't believable (surely there's an actor with CP who could have done justice to the role). And while Solondz tries far too hard to break taboos and shock us, he deserves credit for even addressing these issues in such a sharply offhanded way.

strong themes and situations, language, nudity

26.Nov.01