XX/XY (2002)

Director:

Austin Chick

Writer:

Austin Chick (written by)

Release Date:

24 October 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

There's no room for honesty in a healthy relationship...

Plot:

Three friends begin a dangerous three-way relationship that spirals out of control, leading to dire consequences that haunt them ten years later.

Plot Keywords:

Animator | Break Up | Producer | Threesome | Gay Interest

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Mark Ruffalo	...	Coles
Maya Stange	...	Sam
Kathleen Robertson	...	Thea
Kel O'Neill	...	Sid
Ben Tolpin	...	Guy at College Party
William Keeler	...	Boss
Paula Roth	...	Mom
Lee Cobb	...	Stepfather
Zach Shaffer	...	Nick
John A. MacKay	...	Mitchell
Tommy Nohilly	...	Undercover Cop
Jeff Ward	...	Stunt Cop #1
Keith Siglinger	...	Stunt Cop #2
Evan Neumann	...	Guy Who Asks for His $ Back (as Evan Neuman)
Petra Wright	...	Claire

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language, and brief drug use.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:16 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Robbins Entertainment

Trivia:

A married couple that director Austin Chick knew were so affected by the emotional repercussions of their friend's film that they started divorce proceedings shortly after seeing it.

Quotes:

Guy who asks for his $ back: I saw your picture once in filmmaker magazine and I saw your movie.
Coles: Oh, yeah.
Guy who asks for his $ back: Yeah, I really didn't like it much.
Coles: Uh, I'm sorry.
Guy who asks for his $ back: I was kind of wondering, can I have my money back?
Coles: Um, you know that ticket you bought, I didn't get any of that money. It all went to the distributor and executive producers. I didn't see a dime.
Guy who asks for his $ back: But you made it, you're responsible.
Coles: What was it, eight bucks?
Guy who asks for his $ back: Nineteen. I took a girl. She didn't like it at all either. She said she thought it was morally reprehensible, especially in its depiction of women.
Coles: All right, there you go and tell your girlfriend that I said I'm sorry.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Soundtrack:

Mama's Always Onstage

Every Character in this Film Needs to Grow Up!

After suffering through "Closer," I honestly was not prepared for another depressing film filled with artificial dialogue that purportedly deals with contemporary "adult" relationships. But that is precisely the kind of clichéd material that "XX/YY" recycles in this embarrassing film experience. How is it possible for an actor to say the line "there is no room for honesty in a healthy relationship" with a straight face?

The characters, story, and even the film's style were all unbearable. The editing of this film was amateurish, and there were too many awkward close-ups on the characters smoking, drinking, kissing, vomiting, and even flossing their teeth!

The story traces the development of three characters who bounce around to different relationships. We see the threesome in their exuberant, youthful phase. And at the midpoint of the film, we meet them in their "mature" phase. But the problem with the screenplay is that the characters do not really change. By the end of the film, I wanted to take Mark Rufalo's character aside and give him some good advice, as follows: "Grow up!"