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"The Center of the World"
(Reviewed April 3, 2001)
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In this slow-moving, overly "arty," would-be erotic tale, Molly Parker plays a lap dancer who takes a bored software millionaire up on his offer to spend three days together in Vegas.
But forget all of the annoying digital-video handheld camerawork, the endless scenes of characters staring listlessly into space, and the general air of pervading ennui and gloom. What makes this movie special are two not-to-be-forgotten scenes that were kind of remarkable to see in a "non-porno" movie.
Before I get to those two memorable moments, I should add that Parker is naked A LOT in this movie. What makes this so enjoyable is that, as her "john" points out early in the film, she doesn't look like a stripper. Don't get me wrong, she has a fantastic (and all-natural) body. But she looks more like a slim-and-sexy apartment neighbor than a painted-tart sex-trade worker. (In fact, this makes a scene in which she makes herself up work so well, as she converts herself from plain-but-pretty to model-flawless.)
The first time my eyes bugged out of my head was when, during a strip scene, the camera moved down a stripper's body to show her inserting a lollipop into her Most Special of Places. Great googly-moogly! We're talking full, visible insertion shot. That probably explains why this movie is being released with no rating, because that single shot alone guarantees it couldn't get an "R." (I thought the stripper in question was Parker herself--the editing and lighting making identities sort of hard to discern--but it turns out the insertee was none other than XXX-rated porn goddess Alisha Klass, who is primarily known for her appearances in movies by Seymore Butts. Say no more!)
The second scene was more subtle, but no less remarkable. After having sex with her benefactor, Parker asks him if he wants to see what "real" really is. Then she sits on the hotel room floor wearing nothing but a bra and slowly, methodically masturbates herself to a low-key but thoroughly convincing climax.
Schweet!
I can't whole-heartedly endorse this movie, because it is way too self-consciously bleak and downright plodding at times. But Parker's jaded-and-confused character is a real one-of-a-kind. Don't go expecting a raunchy porn fest, but parts of this movie definitely will stay with you after the lights have come up and something of yours has gone down.
Back Row Grade: C
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