The moment occurs when Paul is at his lowest point in his pre-porno directoral phase in Atchison's "The Pornographer." He slips his ten dollar bill in the cash acceptor; a slight detail that seeming prices Paul's failure as a communicator in a media dense realm. He watches as the girl dances - moves - sways for him. His eyes are deep, their interest purely on the figure. He speaks through the phone, asking the girl to say "I love you." She pauses - another detail that is subtlely breezed over - and spouts off standardized garb for her watcher. It is a quick scene, not nearly as profound as DeNiro's Travis Bickle staring into a glass of water liquidating alka seltzer. Yet, the acting and the pacing really pull of something magical. Paul's character is found within these images. This specific scene is startlingly poetic in understating the emptiness in Paul's fantasies and his need for understanding of his own problematic life. Atchison really holds something marvelous here; an interesting loser whose own problems cannot and will not be solved by anyone - let alone himself - and the journey he takes into understanding what his desires and goals mean to him and also the sad pattern that they seem to hold in society.
Yet, the film also falters at points; looking specifically at the ending and also the final image the film leaves the viewer with. Nothing destroys an intriguing character study like a mutilated cliche.
Problems aside; RENT IT! Films like this (also filmmakers) deserve far more opportunity and publicity than is ever given to them.
Yet, the film also falters at points; looking specifically at the ending and also the final image the film leaves the viewer with. Nothing destroys an intriguing character study like a mutilated cliche.
Problems aside; RENT IT! Films like this (also filmmakers) deserve far more opportunity and publicity than is ever given to them.