The Center of the World (2001)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Wayne Wang

Writers (WGA):

Wayne Wang (story) &
Miranda July (story) ...

Release Date:

25 July 2001 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A couple checks into a suite in Las Vegas. In flashbacks we see that he's a computer whiz on the verge of becoming a dot.com millionaire...

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Sexual Fantasy | Stripper | Female Frontal Nudity | Lollipop

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Shane Edelman	...	Porter
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Richard Longman
Molly Parker	...	Florence
Karry Brown	...	Lap Dancer
Alisha Klass	...	Pandora Stripper
Mel Gorham	...	Roxanne
Lisa Newlan	...	Porn Site Woman
Jason McCabe	...	Pete (as Jason Mccabe Calacanis)
Travis Miljan	...	Dog Owner
Jerry Sherman	...	Old Man
Carla Gugino	...	Jerri
Pat Morita	...	Taxi Driver
Balthazar Getty	...	Brian Pivano
Robert Lefkowitz	...	Motel Manager
John Lombardo	...	Gondolier

Also Known As:

The Centre of the World (UK)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:R(A) (cut) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:III | Italy:VM18 | Japan:R-15 | New Zealand:R18 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Artisan Entertainment

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Jerri is yelling at Florence in the hotel room, the crew and equipment are reflected in the mirror.

Quotes:

[About Richard's gift of $2000.]
Jerri: What planet is he from?
Florence: I'm still trying to figure that out.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Indie Sex: Extremes (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Millenium

Worth one viewing

"Center of the World" is a very well photographed drama and is highly worth a viewing, but has several flaws.

"Center of the World", an almost mirror image of "Leaving Las Vegas" (better film), is about a computer whiz named Richard's (Peter Sarsgaard) three day escape from his everyday life to Las Vegas with a stripper named Florence (the lovely Molly Parker), who he pays to go with him under the conditions they won't have sex.

But Richard's promise eventually gets the best of him and he begins to obsess about having the best sex of his life with Florence. Florence, meanwhile, holds Richard back with teases and a "Fire and Ice" (Don't ask me) routine off screen.

With each tease, the characters' chemistry builds up and we begin to wonder if Richard and Florence are actually falling in love.

"Center of the World" has beautiful cinematography. The entire film was shot on tape and a few scenes are in one of the best shades of black and white I've ever scene.

Peter Sarsgaard is very good as the naive but extremely polite computer whiz and Molly Parker (although very better in "Pure") pours herself into the tough role of Florence almost as good as Jennifer Connely portrayed Marion in "Requiem for a Dream".

The film does have several flaws though. It has far too many sex scenes (often gratuitous), the chemistry between the two characters blooms and dies at any given time and the surprise ending is almost ruined by two scenes directly after the surprise (you'll have to see for yourself).

"Center of the World" is a good film worth watching once.