The Blue Tooth Virgin (2008) User Reviews

The perils of criticism

[mintonmedia · 8/10 · 21 September 2009]

Clever mini-budget comedy/drama that wickedly probes real truths about screen writing and, more seriously, explores the lies we tell each other and ourselves and the costs and rewards of absolute truthfulness.

Consisting of eight dialogues (comic or serious and sometimes morphing from one to the other) beautifully (and non-statically) shot in various locales around LAlaland, it manages to be about not just creativity but the basis of friendship and--most importantly--about whether we can ever avoid trying to be what we feel others want us to be and do and follow our instincts about what WE really want out of life. It may feel much like a play, but the strong visuals and uniformly excellent acting make that an asset rather than a liability. (Karen Black as a strange, expensive script consultant is especially good.)

The writer/director calls this "Rohmer lite"...and if you get that reference, you'll probably like the film.

About understanding one's self, and trying to accept constructive criticism

[napierslogs · 8/10 · 2 October 2010]

Screenwriter Sam (Austin Peck) has written "The Blue Tooth Virign". He's awfully excited about it; he tells his friend David (Bryce Johnson) that it's a thriller driven by characters, and he wants David to read it and give him notes.

This film offers an hilarious and critical analysis of his script, David trying to tell Sam what he really thought about it, and Sam trying to accept who he really is. Sam has to learn to accept some harsh criticism of his work, but worse, some harsh criticism about what kind of person he is. David's life is easier, but he has to figure out how to give criticism and to open up about what he wants out of writing, and try not to lose a friend through honesty.

I got really wrapped up into what I can learn about myself as a writer. This film got me more interested in understanding myself more than these characters, but that just may be one of their ultimate goals in writing and making this film. I laughed a lot during their discussions about "The Blue Tooth Virgin", I laughed a little bit during the script consultation, and I really appreciated their attempts to help me become more self-aware as a writer.

For anyone who really wants to examine their selves and their creative craft, this is a must see. I now may be more open to constructive criticism on my work. Maybe.