Review of Shortbus (2006) by Dan G — 26 Mar 2009

This film was so much more than I was expecting. Having a vague idea of the premise going in, I was expecting sexploitation for the cause of alternative lifestyle empowerment. And that is here to a degree, but at the core of this film is a great deal of powerful relationship and human nature study.

Characters, both leading, supporting and single-scene cameo are given a great deal of identity, motivation and empathy so the reasons that pretty much everybody in the movie is hurting can be shared. I was expecting to have this movie on while doing some work on the computer as well and from shot 1 I couldn't take my eyes off the screen.

Sook-Yin Lee was amazing. Director John Cameron Mitchell proves he wasn't just a one hit wonder as while Hedwig is the more fun of his 2 films so far, this one is by far the better directed and better paced, and I hope it won't be too long before he makes another film.