*POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
I saw this at an advanced screening and I wasn't thrilled when they told us that this was the film being screened, since I had heard not-very-flattering things about this film. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the resulting film. From the opening dialogue, which is a very witty, controversial outlook on the issue of men vs. women, to the poignant relationship between Roger and Nick, the film holds your attention and engages you through the wonderful performances (especially from Mr. Campbell and Mr. Eisenberg).
Basically, a coming-of-age story, this film distinguishes itself by telling its story not from the point of view of the boy growing up into a man, but from the man who finally realizes that he is more of a child than he thinks. The story, essentially, is about Roger (Mr. Campbell), a womanizing, overall bad dude copywriter whose innocent, wide-eyed nephew (Mr. Eisenberg) shows up at his office one day, looking for guidance on the issue of women. Roger takes the 16 year-old to lunch, then, later on, to a bar, where they meet Andrea (Ms. Berkley) and Sophie (Ms. Beals), two hot young things that Roger would normally try and take home, but, whom he engages in conversation in order to show Nick "how it's done". The two women, to Roger's uneasy surprise, take a warming to the young Nick while subtly exposing Roger for the womanizing user that he is, (Sophie actually ends up giving Nick his first "real" kiss), while the four of them toss back some wine and discuss male versus female perspectives on relationships. Later, almost desperate for Nick to see women the way he does, Roger takes Nick to a sleazy brothel so he can finally lose his virginity. It is at this point, after realizing what a sleazy place this is, and what a sordid path this is to take, that Roger allows himself to be a human being for a moment, and rescues Nick from what will certainly prove to be a negatively tainting experience for the boy. Roger sees himself to be just as sleazy and emotionally vacant as the whorehouse and knows, in his heart of hearts, that Nick is not the same person as he is, that he is a sensitive and caring boy, curious about the world of women, not jaded and willing to use women for his own prurient needs. I enjoyed the 180 degree turn that Roger makes, and Mr. Campbell effectively emotes the change in attitude. There is an especially effective scene towards the end of the picture where Roger is sitting on his sofa, after he's put Nick in a cab to the airport to go home to Ohio, smoking a cigarette, and reflecting on the previous evening with his nephew. Mr. Kidd keeps the camera locked in a medium-shot of Roger for just a few seconds too long, but in those few seconds, the viewer can really see what Roger is thinking about, and how his attitudes have changed after spending some time with his nephew. No words are spoken, but you can see in Mr. Campbell's face his reflection on his own past behaviors, and that now he is thinking differently, more maturely. It's a testament to Mr. Campbell's fine work in this picture that this shot is so effective.
Overall, a nice, little movie. The only problem I had was the constant hand-held camera. Sometimes it worked, other times a steadicam probably would've worked just as effectively, without jarring the audience. Not quite so extremely unnerving as, say, 'The Blair Witch Project,' but it did get a bit annoying after a while. It must also be said that Elizabeth Berkley and Jennifer Beals were quite good in their roles as the girls who teach young Nick a thing or two about women. Very warm and inviting characters, not sluts, not shrews, but nice down-to-earth girls who provided a breath of fresh air. Jesse Eisenberg, as young Nick, gives the kind of performance that requires that he be watched as his sure-to-be-big career grows into more mature roles.
Highly recommended.
I saw this at an advanced screening and I wasn't thrilled when they told us that this was the film being screened, since I had heard not-very-flattering things about this film. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by the resulting film. From the opening dialogue, which is a very witty, controversial outlook on the issue of men vs. women, to the poignant relationship between Roger and Nick, the film holds your attention and engages you through the wonderful performances (especially from Mr. Campbell and Mr. Eisenberg).
Basically, a coming-of-age story, this film distinguishes itself by telling its story not from the point of view of the boy growing up into a man, but from the man who finally realizes that he is more of a child than he thinks. The story, essentially, is about Roger (Mr. Campbell), a womanizing, overall bad dude copywriter whose innocent, wide-eyed nephew (Mr. Eisenberg) shows up at his office one day, looking for guidance on the issue of women. Roger takes the 16 year-old to lunch, then, later on, to a bar, where they meet Andrea (Ms. Berkley) and Sophie (Ms. Beals), two hot young things that Roger would normally try and take home, but, whom he engages in conversation in order to show Nick "how it's done". The two women, to Roger's uneasy surprise, take a warming to the young Nick while subtly exposing Roger for the womanizing user that he is, (Sophie actually ends up giving Nick his first "real" kiss), while the four of them toss back some wine and discuss male versus female perspectives on relationships. Later, almost desperate for Nick to see women the way he does, Roger takes Nick to a sleazy brothel so he can finally lose his virginity. It is at this point, after realizing what a sleazy place this is, and what a sordid path this is to take, that Roger allows himself to be a human being for a moment, and rescues Nick from what will certainly prove to be a negatively tainting experience for the boy. Roger sees himself to be just as sleazy and emotionally vacant as the whorehouse and knows, in his heart of hearts, that Nick is not the same person as he is, that he is a sensitive and caring boy, curious about the world of women, not jaded and willing to use women for his own prurient needs. I enjoyed the 180 degree turn that Roger makes, and Mr. Campbell effectively emotes the change in attitude. There is an especially effective scene towards the end of the picture where Roger is sitting on his sofa, after he's put Nick in a cab to the airport to go home to Ohio, smoking a cigarette, and reflecting on the previous evening with his nephew. Mr. Kidd keeps the camera locked in a medium-shot of Roger for just a few seconds too long, but in those few seconds, the viewer can really see what Roger is thinking about, and how his attitudes have changed after spending some time with his nephew. No words are spoken, but you can see in Mr. Campbell's face his reflection on his own past behaviors, and that now he is thinking differently, more maturely. It's a testament to Mr. Campbell's fine work in this picture that this shot is so effective.
Overall, a nice, little movie. The only problem I had was the constant hand-held camera. Sometimes it worked, other times a steadicam probably would've worked just as effectively, without jarring the audience. Not quite so extremely unnerving as, say, 'The Blair Witch Project,' but it did get a bit annoying after a while. It must also be said that Elizabeth Berkley and Jennifer Beals were quite good in their roles as the girls who teach young Nick a thing or two about women. Very warm and inviting characters, not sluts, not shrews, but nice down-to-earth girls who provided a breath of fresh air. Jesse Eisenberg, as young Nick, gives the kind of performance that requires that he be watched as his sure-to-be-big career grows into more mature roles.
Highly recommended.