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 | Lollipop | Nudity | Close Up Scene | Geek

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:

Florence: What did you think? That I was falling in love with you?

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Kese Kese (Where's the Sarangi Mix)

Very sensual and daring

It's hard to find a truly erotic movie made in America. Most mainstream films have little sex/no nudity and a whole lot of violence. And what constitutes "erotic art" in films is made up horribly contrived, unbelievable Cinemax/Playboy movies. That lack any real heat and are amazingly unsexy and boring.

So a film like "Center of the World" is a rare gem. It actually is sensual, erotic and the participants in the sex scenes seem comfortable and actually engaged in what they are doing. The scenes do not come off as awkward or simulated. Which is the challenge for any film director. To make the audience believe what they are seeing is real.

What's special here is that a great actress who one would actually like to see do nudity/sexual material, has the lead female role. There's no body doubles here and Molly seems really comfortable with the nudity and explicit sex scenes. She looks absolutely gorgeous throughout the movie. And is not the traditional, cookie butter starlet that is churned out in a 1,001 Cinemax skin flicks.

Hollywood should make more of these films. Unfortunately, I think during this age of "sexual repression" in the arts, our natural human sexual needs will continue to be hidden from view on both the big and small screens.