Shortbus! Shortbus!

neonflux

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Shortbus! Shortbus! See this film if you can!

If you have a chance to see the film Shortbus , do so - even if you have to travel 100 miles (it likely will NOT find distribution in many areas of the country).

By John Camerron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch - a fellow El Pasoan, btw), it is now my favorite fictional narrative film about sex from any country. It follows the lives and loves of a number of New Yorkers who come together at a polysexual, poly-gender, poly-desirous, woman-respecting sex club. Won't say more about plot because there are so many delightful surprises along the way.

Mitchell began casting the film 3 years ago - worked with the actors over a couple of years; together he and the cast developed the script together, probably necessary to produce a film in which the sex is real rather than simulated and yet completely natural (actors have never been involved in porn, as far as I know).

It is the first film I've ever seen to treat sex seriously without making the characters suffer for following their desires. Deeply human and loving, it is an exhuberant celebration of the transformative possibilities/nature of sexual intimacy. It includes the hottest 3-way between men that I've ever seen. Also contains tremendous humor, not of the slapstick or cheap comment variety, but rather full of the kind of humor that grows naturally out of the characters' situations... And Justin Bond, as the owner of the sex club, is as always, fabulous!

:rose: Neon
 
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Thanks for the heads-up Neon.


Hmmm...One of the major artistic problems with doing a "mature" erotic film is that it requires a cast that is both willing and creatively versatile. Sort of like doing a dramatic musical -- you have to find performers that can really sing, and dance, and act well. For an adult film, that would be compounding problems -- personal inhibitions and fear of harm to a career.

I recall how brave I thought Helen Mirren was to do "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover." (A film that I didn't particularly like, but I will see Mirren in just about anything).
 
In the end. . .

I agree wholeheartedly! This movie was fantastically beautiful. I'll say the same thing I said after I saw 9 Songs (another movie with graphic depiction of actual sex), that if porn looked like that, it would be more widely accepted. Really beautiful film, highly recommend it.
 
She's gorgeous. I love watching movies with her in them. I'll have to check this one out.
 
I :heart: Sook-Yin Lee!

I'm heading to see that movie this Friday! Sook-Yin Lee is actually host on a radio show I listen to often (DNTO on CBC Radio). She almost go fired for playing her role in Shortbus, but thankfully she didn't thanks to the public and certain star who were behind her! I can't wait to go see this movie!
 
Go Shortbus!

I saw the movie, and let me tell you... I loved it! Great movie and I recommend it to anyone and everyone!
 
It's safe to say that you made me excited about this movie ^_^
I wonder when it's gonna be released in Greece..or if it's gonna be released >.<
Oh well..dvd is always an option :)
 
Calgary Area Literary Folks

For those of you in the Calgary, Alberta area

Haven't seen it yet, but plan on it due to Neon's rave reviews.

Shortbus
OPENING EXCLUSIVE THIS FRIDAY OCT 27th! Uptown Theatre

Friday Oct 27th @ 4:50, 7:00 & 9:20
Saturday Oct 28th @ 2:35, 4:50, 7:00 & 9:20
Sunday Oct 29th @ 2:35, 4:50 & 7:00
Monday Oct 30th until Thursday Nov 2nd @ 4:50, 7:00 & 9:20
Rated R with a warning of explicit sexual content.

Written and directed by Mitchell (who previously starred in and directed the film adaptation of his international stage hit, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH), SHORTBUS explores the lives of several characters living in present-day New York as they navigate the comic and tragic intersections between love and sex. Male and female, straight and gay, the characters find one and other – and eventually find themselves – when they all converge at a weekly underground salon called "Shortbus," a mad nexus of art, music, politics, and polysexual carnality. Mitchell developed the film's story along with his ensemble cast, all of whom are making their feature film debuts, and who were selected after submitting videotaped interviews/auditions in response to a well-publicized open casting call posted on a website. Over a half million people visited the website and nearly 500 people sent in tapes before the final seven leading performers/characters were selected to workshop the storyline with Mitchell. The resulting film, one of the true sensations of this year's Cannes Film Festival, presents sex and sexuality as never before seen in mainstream entertainment, and promises to be one of the most talked-about films for months – and years – to come. http://www.shortbusthemovie.com/
 
you're from the bay, the title is Shortbus...


I thought this was going to be a thread about the hyphy movement. Get dummy stupid retarded and ride the short yellow bus, now hop out your whip and here's your chance to do a dance on the side of it! haha.
 
noonenew said:
you're from the bay, the title is Shortbus...


I thought this was going to be a thread about the hyphy movement. Get dummy stupid retarded and ride the short yellow bus, now hop out your whip and here's your chance to do a dance on the side of it! haha.


guess the bunny bus ran over your head eh?
 
i'm going tonight. i just saw the previews for it on the film's website. i looks whimsical and beautiful.
 
justindurham said:
i'm going tonight. i just saw the previews for it on the film's website. i looks whimsical and beautiful.

me and my gel are going tonight too! love to hear what you think, so post a review here ok? And I will do the same. Oh and welcome to the GLBT board. :)
 
Yea!!! A teeny plea! Just don't give any of the plot away, please, please, please!!!

(I know, begging isn't attractive but there are so many surprises!)

For all of you who haven't seen the film yet, pay attention to the Jackson Pollack...

he he he he :D Neon

playwithlezli said:
me and my gel are going tonight too! love to hear what you think, so post a review here ok? And I will do the same. Oh and welcome to the GLBT board. :)
 
neonflux said:
Yea!!! A teeny plea! Just don't give any of the plot away, please, please, please!!!

(I know, begging isn't attractive but there are so many surprises!)

For all of you who haven't seen the film yet, pay attention to the Jackson Pollack...

he he he he :D Neon

au contraire neon, begging can be very attractive :devil:
 
i didn't make it to the film last night--drunkeness with friends prevailed (and the same may hold true tonight). i'm just curious to hear if anyone else saw it and if the reviews are still positive....
 
ok; i just saw the movie. here's my reply tonight--a slightly drunk reply, you should know.

i definately liked the movie. but, i also feel that it could have been so much more powerful (and i hate to complain).

did anyone else notice that that whole philosphical basis of the film is deleuzean (and guattari) philosophy?--[this is my theory]--rhizomes, perverts, desiring-machines, schizophrenics, nomands etc etc etc. all the pictures of the city portray one, grand rhizomic machine--trying to keep the lights on, but creating short circuits all the same.

i am shocked to admit that i got tired of the sex and actually wished that there was more dialogue. there was nothing more endearing than hearing the old man (playing a former mayor of ny) talk [and much of the dialogue reminded me of 'magnolia'].

i also thought that a little more of the carnivalesque atmosphere would have juiced up some of the middle portion which tended to drag--i really liked the moulin rouge feel.

alright; i have mountains to say but really should work on the bottle to put me to sleep. (did not jamie/james look just like mark wahlborg?)
 
I liked it, but I suppose the folks who need to learn that phreaks are people too prolly wouldn't have been at that movie! :rolleyes:

I wouldn't have complained about more lesbian sex either :D
 
playwithlezli said:
I liked it, but I suppose the folks who need to learn that phreaks are people too prolly wouldn't have been at that movie! :rolleyes:

I wouldn't have complained about more lesbian sex either :D


i agree. there was much, much more male on male (on male!) sex than lesbian sex. i think it could have been evened out--and i do love a vagina. however, it was also refreshing to see a movie where the female nude and female sexuality was not exploited and the penis got equal play. usually the penis is either laughed at or clothed; while boobs and pussy catch the attention and pay the bills. thus, the women become mere sexual objects and the men exploiters. here's to the sexual exploitation of the male body/sexuality! let's even the score.

as to the issue that freaks are people too, i think that the movie is trying to say not only that freaks are human, but that they are more human than other (oedepalized/capitalized) humans. thus, the pervert is the one who resists the de-humanizing/capitalist/oedipal/american grid she has been subjected to. the pervert becomes of fully functioning desiring machine.
 
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