Tonight I went to see Shortbus by John Cameron Mitchell, the same guy that filmed Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Apparently, Mitchell's goal in making Shortbus was to make a serious film that incorporates explicit sexual material. And explicit it is. You will not see sex scenes like this anywhere else other than the sort of movies where actors are named Jack Banger and Debra Rider. Or Jack Banger and Jim Rider. And John Rodeo. (Yep.)
It is an interesting goal, though, and for the most part the film achieves it: the sex scenes are not pornographic and are critical to the plot. But the movie doesn't have that much more behind it. The characters are really confused (and confusing). There is not a thesis or theme of any type, other than You-have-to-try-different-things/partners/orientations-to-be-happy.
But before writing the movie off completely, I should say that the movie does have one saving grace--the final fifteen minutes. I have never seen a Bollywood movie (I know, shame on me), but this is what I imagine an epic Bollywood final dance number would be like if people had little or no clothes on and spent all their time in bizarre cafes/salons/sex clubs in deepest darkest Brooklyn. It may be worth watching just for that.
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