Sixteen years ago, as a young, pregnant mother of a toddler, I rented this movie, and could not believe anyone could make a picture with so many problems, and still have a career. Last night the movie was on Showtime, and out of morbid curiosity and insomnia, I watched the entire film again, wondering if it was still the saddest attempt at entertainment I had ever seen. My daughter watched it with me, incredulously. Just like the first time, when I carried her in my belly, she kicked me and fell asleep.
Today, as a middle aged mother of four, I tried to be fair. I racked my brain to find good things in this film, as a personal challenge. The only really great moment, is when the older brother says (without revealing anything of the movie) "I am you know", and his siblings warmly and without comment say that they know. That was sweet, simple, warm and believable, revealing depth of character never again seen. Instead we get bizarre and inane scenes, sappy music, slapstick comedy, hundreds of plots thrown in a blender, and sad attempts at drama.
There are so many issues, and possible themes here, familial violence, homosexual assault, gang rape, interracial relationships, pedophilia (waitress and John, come on, both sexes can be abused and confused by it!), prostitution, bestiality, incest, violent death, family relations, terrorism, promiscuity, pornography, sexual confusion...blah blah blah. I don't want a story handed to me on a platter, with all the strings tied. I like multiple issues and confusion and ambiguity. But if your going to take me on an acid trip, at least make it interesting. Its like they put it all in a snow globe and shook it up, adding their ridiculous and inane attempts at gross humor. As for the drama, beloved family members die, and the survivors sit around looking like someone peed in their Kool-Aid. If only they had added Jodie's character humping her stuffed Sorrow, I might have laughed.
You know, it is so bad, I may have to watch it again. Could that be the director's intent? Pure genius!
Today, as a middle aged mother of four, I tried to be fair. I racked my brain to find good things in this film, as a personal challenge. The only really great moment, is when the older brother says (without revealing anything of the movie) "I am you know", and his siblings warmly and without comment say that they know. That was sweet, simple, warm and believable, revealing depth of character never again seen. Instead we get bizarre and inane scenes, sappy music, slapstick comedy, hundreds of plots thrown in a blender, and sad attempts at drama.
There are so many issues, and possible themes here, familial violence, homosexual assault, gang rape, interracial relationships, pedophilia (waitress and John, come on, both sexes can be abused and confused by it!), prostitution, bestiality, incest, violent death, family relations, terrorism, promiscuity, pornography, sexual confusion...blah blah blah. I don't want a story handed to me on a platter, with all the strings tied. I like multiple issues and confusion and ambiguity. But if your going to take me on an acid trip, at least make it interesting. Its like they put it all in a snow globe and shook it up, adding their ridiculous and inane attempts at gross humor. As for the drama, beloved family members die, and the survivors sit around looking like someone peed in their Kool-Aid. If only they had added Jodie's character humping her stuffed Sorrow, I might have laughed.
You know, it is so bad, I may have to watch it again. Could that be the director's intent? Pure genius!