I was struck by the refreshingly matter of fact approach to the adult industry. It wasn't judgmental or some sort of cautionary tale, just a tale about characters who work in the field. The portrayal was albeit a somewhat sanitized one, but then again most films treat industries that way. No doubt co-writing the film with Lorelei Lee, an active porn actress, had a strong affect on the tone toward an industry that puritan moralists abhor.
What struck me was that I didn't really find any point to the film. There were no lessons learned, no insights gained or epiphanies discovered by any of the characters. Angelica was not a weak character made strong, or a confused individual finding clarity. The sub-plots were underdeveloped and often abandoned without any real resolution. Even the implication of step-father abuse was shown on screen but then abandoned.
Why resurrect her alcoholic mother later in the film when it was superfluous? What exactly was her relationship with Andrew? We are led to believe he might be gay and then ultimately he isn't? That struck me as quite unrealistic. Strong attractions are often acted upon in close quarters. A scene with him feeling her up in her sleep would be more telling and realistic than spending 10 minutes of screen time on her mother and sister.
I am not sure what the purpose of the Francis character was? No romantic relationship was really developed (likely due to too little available screen time), so when he dropped the judgment bomb on Angelica it sounded very hollow and without grounds. Probably due to the fact that very little screen time was given to develop the two and so no real loss was empathetically felt by the viewer.
I could go on, but what I truly see here is that there were two films crammed into one. There was so much material that could and should have been developed into two projects.
Things like: (1.) The evolution of Andrew's relationship with Angelica as a Porn star. (2.) Angelica's falling into the relationship patterns of her mother (3.) Margaret's relationship issues stemming from attraction to a porn starlet she works with. (4.) Angelica sorting out her sexuality as a result of her work activities in the porn industry. (5.) Angelica's relationship with her alcoholic mother and the sister she left behind.
Any couple or perhaps three of these plot lines would have made for a compelling story in itself. To Shoe horn all of this into one film is simply too much, it would be too much for Chris Nolan who successfully pulled off Inception!
I didn't hate this film, I was mostly disappointed by it. Like a parent being disappointed in an under-achieving child.
The performances were excellent but the story was too dense and ambitious for a single film.
I look forward to more of Lorelei Lee's collaborations. She has an insight that should be mined.
A good film that could have been greater.
What struck me was that I didn't really find any point to the film. There were no lessons learned, no insights gained or epiphanies discovered by any of the characters. Angelica was not a weak character made strong, or a confused individual finding clarity. The sub-plots were underdeveloped and often abandoned without any real resolution. Even the implication of step-father abuse was shown on screen but then abandoned.
Why resurrect her alcoholic mother later in the film when it was superfluous? What exactly was her relationship with Andrew? We are led to believe he might be gay and then ultimately he isn't? That struck me as quite unrealistic. Strong attractions are often acted upon in close quarters. A scene with him feeling her up in her sleep would be more telling and realistic than spending 10 minutes of screen time on her mother and sister.
I am not sure what the purpose of the Francis character was? No romantic relationship was really developed (likely due to too little available screen time), so when he dropped the judgment bomb on Angelica it sounded very hollow and without grounds. Probably due to the fact that very little screen time was given to develop the two and so no real loss was empathetically felt by the viewer.
I could go on, but what I truly see here is that there were two films crammed into one. There was so much material that could and should have been developed into two projects.
Things like: (1.) The evolution of Andrew's relationship with Angelica as a Porn star. (2.) Angelica's falling into the relationship patterns of her mother (3.) Margaret's relationship issues stemming from attraction to a porn starlet she works with. (4.) Angelica sorting out her sexuality as a result of her work activities in the porn industry. (5.) Angelica's relationship with her alcoholic mother and the sister she left behind.
Any couple or perhaps three of these plot lines would have made for a compelling story in itself. To Shoe horn all of this into one film is simply too much, it would be too much for Chris Nolan who successfully pulled off Inception!
I didn't hate this film, I was mostly disappointed by it. Like a parent being disappointed in an under-achieving child.
The performances were excellent but the story was too dense and ambitious for a single film.
I look forward to more of Lorelei Lee's collaborations. She has an insight that should be mined.
A good film that could have been greater.