Eros
Variable Ratings
Rated R for Strong Sexual Content including Graphic Nudity, and Language
"Eros" is an anthology of three short films dealing with sex and eroticism in various forms. Although the first segment, "The Hand," is good, the other two...not so much. Once Wong Kar-Wai's segment is over, the film becomes a real trial.
"The Hand"
3/4
Starring: Gong Li, Chen Chang
For those of you who doubt Gong Li's talent as an actress (although considering her impressive resume, I don't see how there can be anyone who does), I give you "The Hand." Within a minute of appearing on screen, she turns the film into something erotic. With the touch of her hand and her superb body language, she drives her newest tailor, Zhang (Chang) into orgasmic glee.
Unfortunately, the story itself isn't that good. Miss Hua, as Li's character is named, is a sad call girl who is losing clients, but still manages to get a tailor, Jin (Feng Tien) to make beautiful dresses for her despite the fact that she can't pay her tab. She requests Zhang time and time again, and they fall in love, but they are not able to acknowledge it until it is too late.
Gong Li is one of the greatest and most beautiful actresses alive, so having her play the part of the weary prostitute Miss Hua seems like a match made in heaven. She is ably matched by Chen Chang in an understated performance as the meek and soft-spoken Zhang. I could have watched a whole movie with these two, provided it was someone else directing it.
This is the second film I've seen by Wong Kar-Wai, who directed the arthouse smash "In the Mood for Love." I haven't seen that, but his next film, "2046" was a senseless, pompous and pointless two hours of garbage. I'll admit that he can direct actors, but he can't tell a story. It's impossible to tell how much time has passed between each scene because the actors and costumes look so similar, and the scenes when Miss Hua and Zhang are not together are not well constructed. The short does take off when they're together, and the film becomes both erotic and passionate. But I was lost in every other scene.
"Equilibrium"
2/4
Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Alan Arkin
"Equilibrium" is indie-film god Steven Sodebergh's entry into "Eros," and while the Oscar-winning director has done some fantastic work in the past, he's been accused of self-indulgence. I haven't seen any of his indie films, but that statement is true here. The first part, which takes up the majority of the short, is okay, but the final act takes a "mind-bending" twist that has no explanation or point.
Nick (Downey) is a marketing executive in 1955. He is married to Cecilia (Ele Keats), but their relationship is in trouble when he confessed to her about having a dream about a naked woman that he didn't know. In order to save his marriage, he's seeing Dr. Pearl (Arkin) to figure out what it means. Unfortunately for Nick, Dr. Pearl doesn't seem to give a damn.
The acting by Downey and Arkin is the only thing that's good about this short. The dialogue is rather bland, and the whole story is pretty dull. I think Roger Ebert said it best in his review of "Eros" when he said "The Sodebergh short makes the point that few things are more boring than what arouses someone else." True, but that's a limiting idea, even for a twenty minute short. And therein lies the rub.
"The Dangerous Thread of Things"
0/4
Starring: Christopher Buchholtz, Regina Nemni
Perhaps I'm being too hard on the late Michaelangelo Antonioni's entry because I was already bored, but the bottom line is that this short is a painful experience. Imagine Steve McQueen's "Hunger" as a porno, and you'll have some idea of what it's like. It's a porno that belongs in MoMA. Cineastes and people who think the only movies that are worth their celluloid are the ones with no plot or characters and everyone speaks in a gritty monotone with dramatic pauses while saying nothing will adore it, but everyone else will regard it for exactly what it is: garbage.
The short stars with the end of Christopher (Buchholtz) and Cloe's (Nemni) relationship. It then goes to the first time (I assume) that the two made love. And inbetween and after, there are shots of Cloe dancing, often in the nude.
I suppose the actors can speak the dialogue naturally, but considering how little they have to say, that's not exactly an impressive endorsement. Neither one is a bad actor (at least in this case), but the story is so vapid and pointless that it would be bad enough even if Antonioni didn't get artsy and self-indulgent at the end. Nemni is beautiful (and there's nothing that she doesn't show), but spinning around naked on a beach isn't erotic or interesting. And the final image is piece de resistance on this 20 minute piece of crap.
If you're a diehard Gong Li fan, put it in and watch "The Hand." But unless you're willing to watch something like "2046" just to see a few clips of her, it's not worth the rental price.
Rated R for Strong Sexual Content including Graphic Nudity, and Language
"Eros" is an anthology of three short films dealing with sex and eroticism in various forms. Although the first segment, "The Hand," is good, the other two...not so much. Once Wong Kar-Wai's segment is over, the film becomes a real trial.
"The Hand"
3/4
Starring: Gong Li, Chen Chang
For those of you who doubt Gong Li's talent as an actress (although considering her impressive resume, I don't see how there can be anyone who does), I give you "The Hand." Within a minute of appearing on screen, she turns the film into something erotic. With the touch of her hand and her superb body language, she drives her newest tailor, Zhang (Chang) into orgasmic glee.
Unfortunately, the story itself isn't that good. Miss Hua, as Li's character is named, is a sad call girl who is losing clients, but still manages to get a tailor, Jin (Feng Tien) to make beautiful dresses for her despite the fact that she can't pay her tab. She requests Zhang time and time again, and they fall in love, but they are not able to acknowledge it until it is too late.
Gong Li is one of the greatest and most beautiful actresses alive, so having her play the part of the weary prostitute Miss Hua seems like a match made in heaven. She is ably matched by Chen Chang in an understated performance as the meek and soft-spoken Zhang. I could have watched a whole movie with these two, provided it was someone else directing it.
This is the second film I've seen by Wong Kar-Wai, who directed the arthouse smash "In the Mood for Love." I haven't seen that, but his next film, "2046" was a senseless, pompous and pointless two hours of garbage. I'll admit that he can direct actors, but he can't tell a story. It's impossible to tell how much time has passed between each scene because the actors and costumes look so similar, and the scenes when Miss Hua and Zhang are not together are not well constructed. The short does take off when they're together, and the film becomes both erotic and passionate. But I was lost in every other scene.
"Equilibrium"
2/4
Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Alan Arkin
"Equilibrium" is indie-film god Steven Sodebergh's entry into "Eros," and while the Oscar-winning director has done some fantastic work in the past, he's been accused of self-indulgence. I haven't seen any of his indie films, but that statement is true here. The first part, which takes up the majority of the short, is okay, but the final act takes a "mind-bending" twist that has no explanation or point.
Nick (Downey) is a marketing executive in 1955. He is married to Cecilia (Ele Keats), but their relationship is in trouble when he confessed to her about having a dream about a naked woman that he didn't know. In order to save his marriage, he's seeing Dr. Pearl (Arkin) to figure out what it means. Unfortunately for Nick, Dr. Pearl doesn't seem to give a damn.
The acting by Downey and Arkin is the only thing that's good about this short. The dialogue is rather bland, and the whole story is pretty dull. I think Roger Ebert said it best in his review of "Eros" when he said "The Sodebergh short makes the point that few things are more boring than what arouses someone else." True, but that's a limiting idea, even for a twenty minute short. And therein lies the rub.
"The Dangerous Thread of Things"
0/4
Starring: Christopher Buchholtz, Regina Nemni
Perhaps I'm being too hard on the late Michaelangelo Antonioni's entry because I was already bored, but the bottom line is that this short is a painful experience. Imagine Steve McQueen's "Hunger" as a porno, and you'll have some idea of what it's like. It's a porno that belongs in MoMA. Cineastes and people who think the only movies that are worth their celluloid are the ones with no plot or characters and everyone speaks in a gritty monotone with dramatic pauses while saying nothing will adore it, but everyone else will regard it for exactly what it is: garbage.
The short stars with the end of Christopher (Buchholtz) and Cloe's (Nemni) relationship. It then goes to the first time (I assume) that the two made love. And inbetween and after, there are shots of Cloe dancing, often in the nude.
I suppose the actors can speak the dialogue naturally, but considering how little they have to say, that's not exactly an impressive endorsement. Neither one is a bad actor (at least in this case), but the story is so vapid and pointless that it would be bad enough even if Antonioni didn't get artsy and self-indulgent at the end. Nemni is beautiful (and there's nothing that she doesn't show), but spinning around naked on a beach isn't erotic or interesting. And the final image is piece de resistance on this 20 minute piece of crap.
If you're a diehard Gong Li fan, put it in and watch "The Hand." But unless you're willing to watch something like "2046" just to see a few clips of her, it's not worth the rental price.
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