- Actors: Thomas Gibson, Ruth Marshall, Cameron Bancroft, Mia Kirshner, Joanne Vannicola
- Directors: Denys Arcand
- Language English
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Electric Pictures
- VHS Release Date: 22 Jan 1996
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- ASIN: B00004RJ95
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,021 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
In the contemporary world we are enveloped by networks of McLuhanesque messages: technological distractions of all sorts, multiplying news events, nostalgia for old TV shows, ansaphones, rave music and virtual reality. Arcand's English language debut concerns urbanite twentysomethings and their search for love, whatever that means to them, amidst an increasingly dehumanising environment. And coupled with the increasing spectre of HIV there is a serial killer on the loose - at first my reaction to this was - groan - not another serial killer - but in effect this does no more than operate as a device which serves to intensify the aura of menace and uncertainty. An excellent film on all levels with fine performances from a talented but relatively unknown cast, and by turns witty, poignant and shocking. It can be seen as third in a trilogy from Arcand together with 'The Decline of the American Empire' (1986) and Cannes prize winner 'Jesus of Montreal' (1989). The underlying theme of these films is the interactions amongst a specific group, the former being middle aged university professors, and the latter a troupe of ambitious young actors faced with controversy over a new play. It is a pity that we do not see more of Arcand's earlier work in this country.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
9 reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
one of my fave flix of all time
5 Aug 2005
first saw it in boston a decade ago, plus, saw the stage play off bway. still a fave.
wonderful twists, great acting, lots of little side-dramas. wonderfully goofy situs juxtaposed w/ awkward, scary and funny. ending a bit too tidy, but the route there is entertaining. and, one of my fave lines of all time: david, on arriving in his humble abode, shared w/ candy (yum): "honey, i'm homo!"
warning: skin-on-skin is not just hetero, for those who are sensitive to that sort of thing.
don't know about this format, but fortunately bro got me player that will play it. am ordering. glad i didn't have to order it from australia.
wonderful twists, great acting, lots of little side-dramas. wonderfully goofy situs juxtaposed w/ awkward, scary and funny. ending a bit too tidy, but the route there is entertaining. and, one of my fave lines of all time: david, on arriving in his humble abode, shared w/ candy (yum): "honey, i'm homo!"
warning: skin-on-skin is not just hetero, for those who are sensitive to that sort of thing.
don't know about this format, but fortunately bro got me player that will play it. am ordering. glad i didn't have to order it from australia.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Careless compulsions
30 Jan 2012
An interesting multi-layered film focusing on the private lives of promiscuous urban city dwellers. Sexual curiosities yield erotic investigation for one gay man room-mating with a lesbian, both of whom are friends with a dominatrix, whose social circle is haunted by a serial killer in their midst, unbeknownst to them, until finally revealed in the end, who also suffers an unexpected fate.
In one remarkable and disturbing scene, he takes a "job" with her, in which he plays the part of a 'white knight' type of 'good' cowboy dressed in white, rescuing the girl in apparent distress, while the client plays the role of the villain cowboy reminiscent of a spaghetti western, who is thereby admonished to quite literally lick the boots of the 'good' cowboy, to his disgust and dismay.
Another scenario relates the burgeoning sexuality of a young man who harbors a crush on him, pursuing his curiosity until finally submitting to a request that he pull down his pants, bend over a pool table, leaving him in a vulnerable, potentially humiliating position, but which only seems to prod him further with his curiosities. Remembering the previous evening's travails through a miasma of distorted recollection, he inquires as to who it was that brought him to climax the previous night, wherein he was given a dose of heroin, promptly delivering him into an unconscious stupor.
In the end, all are embroiled in a mishmash of dependency upon a serial killer who turns out to be the ex-boyfriend, who proclaimed his love while plunging backwards to his death.
A fascinating plot throughout, eventually revealing the main character contracting the dreaded HIV virus.
Overall, the film displays a circle of acquaintances who partook in rather compulsive behavior, demonstrating the cause & effect results of irresponsibility & compulsion. Partake in the pleasures of the flesh as you will, but just remember that the key to responsible indulgence is the application of epicurean selection. '
In one remarkable and disturbing scene, he takes a "job" with her, in which he plays the part of a 'white knight' type of 'good' cowboy dressed in white, rescuing the girl in apparent distress, while the client plays the role of the villain cowboy reminiscent of a spaghetti western, who is thereby admonished to quite literally lick the boots of the 'good' cowboy, to his disgust and dismay.
Another scenario relates the burgeoning sexuality of a young man who harbors a crush on him, pursuing his curiosity until finally submitting to a request that he pull down his pants, bend over a pool table, leaving him in a vulnerable, potentially humiliating position, but which only seems to prod him further with his curiosities. Remembering the previous evening's travails through a miasma of distorted recollection, he inquires as to who it was that brought him to climax the previous night, wherein he was given a dose of heroin, promptly delivering him into an unconscious stupor.
In the end, all are embroiled in a mishmash of dependency upon a serial killer who turns out to be the ex-boyfriend, who proclaimed his love while plunging backwards to his death.
A fascinating plot throughout, eventually revealing the main character contracting the dreaded HIV virus.
Overall, the film displays a circle of acquaintances who partook in rather compulsive behavior, demonstrating the cause & effect results of irresponsibility & compulsion. Partake in the pleasures of the flesh as you will, but just remember that the key to responsible indulgence is the application of epicurean selection. '
8 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Depth of character missing
1 Feb 2000
Unfortunately, nothing too profound in this movie of alienation and randy encounters. Characters are mildly intriguing to watch as they wander somewhat aimlessly through their lives. Story projects these people as alienated from one another, themselves, their jobs, "normal" life. . . everything. Gibson is a talented beauty, likeable, you want him to find whatever it is he's looking for, but you'll grow frustrated by his directionlessness. From whence does it stem? His long-time buddy is gorgeous, suited or unsuited (was that his nice naked rear that flashed away all too quickly? MORE PLEASE.), but the lost soul he plays is even harder to appreciate because, again, there's no compelling reason for him to be the way he is. Meaning and love don't ever just come handed to you on a plate, foks, but that's what the characters in this movie seem to expect. And not having found them, they do (fill in the blank) stupid/dangerous/contradictory/psychotic things that don't bring them any closer to meaning or love. This moderately sexually charged movie is a good one to use to contemplate life alone or with a loved one, but life shouldn't be, AND ISN'T, as answerless and arbitrary as all this.
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