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The Center of the World 2001 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Wayne Wang
NR, 86 min. (graphic sexuality, nudity, profanity) |
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Starring: Molly Parker, Peter Sarsgaard, Carla Gugino
Producers: Peter Newman, Wayne Wang
Screenplay: Ellen Benjamin Wong
Cinematography: Mauro Fiore
Distributor: Artisan Entertainment
Released: 5.04.01 (Limited) |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
The Center of the World tells the story of two people who are looking for something. One is looking for a potential relationship,
while the other is interested in money. One has money, the other doesn't. Sounds like the perfect context for a
businessman-stripper relationship, huh? Well, unfortunately for director Wayne Wang, the film can basically be reduced to whether or
not the two people will have true sex during their escapade to Las Vegas one weekend. While that may be enticing enough
to draw some viewers, it holds little merit for investing a few hours of your time. Artisan Entertainment released the film unrated
because it was slapped with the kiss-of-death NC-17 rating - an unnecessary graphic sexual scene at the beginning
of the film was the culprit, and its elimination probably would have garnered it a more friendly R rating. With or without that
questionable scene, the film stands as a disappointment.
Richard (Peter Sarsgaard) is a computer whiz-kid that is about to become a millionaire in his company. He's a loner - he
gets everything he needs from his many computers, except a real relationship. His frequent visits to a strip club result in
his offer to a stripper, Florence (Molly Parker), to embark on a trip to Las Vegas for a weekend. His offer - $10,000. Obviously,
this is big money for Florence, but she's wary of Richard sticking to her preset rules - no toching, kissing on the mouth, sex, etc.
Predictably, Florence begins to have geniune feelings for Richard, who claims he is falling in love with her. Where's Freud when
you need him? Uncomfortable and frightened by this development, Florence understandably closes ranks and begins the
process of separating herself personally from Richard. This leads to heartache for both parties.
The highlight of the film is some of the more subtle moments between Sarsgaard and Parker, who both give good performances
despite the absence of much to work with. They're given shallow roles, but try desperately to inhabit their characters with
feeling and troubled hearts. Their arrangement - she gives him a lap dance from 10 pm to 2 am for three nights - is strangely
detached from their budding relationship outside the confines of sexual desire. In some ways, they both find what they're
looking for, and, when they find it, are too afraid of what that might mean in the future.
In a commentary I read about the film, Wang admits he almost becomes more of a soft-porn director than artistic expressionist,
and that's a brutal but honest indictment against his own work. It's likely some people may find some pleasure in viewing
the film for stimulation purposes, but they'll be disappointed with what they discover here. The center of the world may revolve
around computers, but it also inhabits relationships and their affect on peoples' lives, something that this film doesn't succeed
in presenting or arguing for.
© 2001 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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