THE SEX FILES: Maps to the Stars
I donāt have many occasions to review films (other then straight ahead porn movies) for THE SEX FILES. I like to take full advantage when I catch something provocative, sexy and downright weird from the mainstream world, as I was supposed to do yesterday at the NYC FILM FESTIVAL showing of Maps to the Stars.
Iāve been honored to attend the festival for us now three years running and there is lots presented, press and paying audience alike. If you get a chance check-out the Festivalās website hereĀ and get over to see some truly neato āMain Slateā premiers, documentaries and revivals, as sparkling cool this year as any other.
Well, now I am convinced more than ever before that David Cronenberg, director of this little opus called Maps to the StarsĀ might just be a nihilist. His films before have hinted at society gone wacky and the man does love his violence, but here, wellā¦
Not that John Cusack, the stunning Julianne Moore (stunning in looks as well as acting) Mia WasikowskaĀ Ā donāt give stand-out performancesā¦they do. Itās just that this āblack satireā as it is being touted, screams from its every celluloid pore āWhy the hell was I made?ā I include a review of this movie here for my weekās naughty tidbits column because the story (penned by Bruce Wagner) is centered around a couple of acts of taboo sex that lead to a nightmare chain reaction coming to the fore as the center of this yarnās action. The implication is interesting to say the least, and Iām not sure I have ever actually seen a movie that expounds on the ramification of what might happen down the line when something like this naughty and an untoward event occurs, so for that I give David CronenbergĀ and Bruce WagnerĀ props, but the execution simply is off.
I canāt say the audience around me wasnāt laughing at broadside Hollywood commentary, and it’s notĀ that the violence didnāt jolt you out of your chair, but in the end I found myself askingā¦who cares? I just hate a movie that wastes my time (not that my time is so very valuable). I donāt mind walking out after seeing a film and hating it (though Iād rather love it) at least that means what I just saw had enough of an effect to have some effect on me. But sitting in a movie and walking out after feeling that flaccid penis brain reaction is the worst. With Maps to theĀ Stars I felt very much as I did leaving Lars Von Triersā Nymphomaniac movies (see here for thatĀ review) supposedly so sexy and controversial, but in the end neither! I know sexy and satire are in the eye of the beholder, but Maps to the Stars had nothing much to hold me with.
I donāt have many occasions to review films (other then straight ahead porn movies) for THE SEX FILES. I like to… http://t.co/GmK2eKn1TE
THE SEX FILES: Maps to the Stars http://t.co/JeTe0SLtnM
RT @ShortSweetLA: THE SEX FILES: Maps to the Stars http://t.co/JeTe0SLtnM