Sex is Zero, Hard Eight, Night on Earth

Sex is Zero (2002, Korean)

Where to start with this one?  Based on reviews I have read, I was expecting the story to be in the vein of American Pie or some other American teen film, but a little more well done.  This was just strange.  There were a few funny moments, but trying to blend slapstick and serious subjects may have been out of reach here.  There were more masturbation scenes than almost any other movie out there.  And what’s with all the head smacking ?  Is that supposed to be funny or is it a part of Korean culture?  Definitely over rated.

 

Hard Eight (1996)

PT Anderson’s first movie, originally called Sydney.  John C Reilly (John) serves as Phillip Baker Hall’s (Sydney) protege’ in the world of gambling and it’s perks.  Gwyneth Paltrow plays a (now cliche with every movie involving gambling) prostitute that befriends both of them in Reno.  Samuel L. Jackson and Phillip Seymour Hoffman round out the cast nicely.  Hoffman’s part is a little too short, but memorable.  Jackson is again playing the same character, but at least it fits this movie and was done before it became so obvious.

It takes a while to unravel why Sydney befriends John in the first place.  Hall does a great job with the role, but there are moments that it feels like he is channeling Harvey Keitel from any Tarantino film.  Again, it feels organic and natural.  This is much more of a mainstream film than, say Boogie Nights, but the look and feel is very well done.  Kind of nice that it is set in Reno and not Las Vegas.  After seeing so much of Reilly playing comic parts, it’s great to go back and see him in a real drama.  There is a comic edge, but he played it very straight.  Maybe Dr. Steve Brule was based on John.  Michael Penn’s score for the movie is also a very nice fit.

 

Night on Earth (1991)

An ensemble cast in a sprawling movie about the adventures of taxi drivers and their passengers in five cities.  Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome and Helsinki.  From Winona Ryder to Roberto Begnini the cast is widely varied.  The stories tend to have a dry comedy which is typical of Jim Jarmusch.  Many people find the pacing of his movies slow, but that is what I appreciate about them.  The mundane aspects of these interactions are brought out.  One notable exception is the segment with Giancarlo Esposito and Rosie Perez. There is some real quick, cutting dialogue, which is atypical of Jarmusch.  It was a nice change of pace, but I would have preferred it was later in the movie.  A required viewing for Jarmusch fans.