Shortbus (Unrated) DVD review by The Digital Dorm - News Reviews | Digital Dorm
JoBlo.com
Arrow in the Head
Digital Dorm
Movie Hotties
JoBlo Videos
Movie Fan Central
Pimpin' Poster Palace
Join / Register| Log In| RSS Newsfeeds| Advertise| Contact Us
003086
SEARCH BY TITLE # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Shortbus (Unrated)
DVD
Reviewed By: Jason Adams
Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Actors:
Sook-Yin Lee
Paul Dawson
Lindsay Beamish
Rating:
Movie:
DVD:
Overall:
Printer-friendly version
Critic's 10 Latest
Bunraku
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Zookeeper
Green Lantern (SE)
Horrible Bosses (SE)
Alfred Hitchcock: The...
American Loser
Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Assassins
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
A sex therapist who?s never had an orgasm, a depressed gay man worried about his lover, a dominatrix who yearns for a more traditional lifestyle and other such colorful characters deal with love and sex in New York City.
Mass orgies ensue. Seriously, all those people on the cover. They do it.
IS IT A GOOD MOVIE?
When a movie opens with a montage that includes a guy filming himself urinating and farting in a bathtub and then attempting to give himself head, a warning flag immediately goes off in my mind. I can respect that people have different tastes. And I?m not some Jerry Falwell-type prude, but there are just some things I?d rather not see. And SHORTBUS definitely solidified ?Watching a guy jerk off into his own face as he cries? as a part of that list. Granted, the rest of the movie isn?t as jarring as that opening scene (although just as graphic), but it does set up the tone to let you know that you?re in for a very ?unique? experience.
John Cameron Mitchell is a talented filmmaker. I liked his previous film, the trans-rock opera HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, and I can see what he was trying to do here. Sexuality and expression has changed a lot in recent times (at least publicly) and it?s definitely ripe for examination in film. Spending three years with non-professional actors cultivating the story and script gave way to some very natural and honest performances in SHORTBUS. It also creates an effortless balance between the comedy and a darker underlying drama. There are some very funny parts in this movie (?Are you in?!?), but given the character situations it?s equally harrowing.
However, for all of Mitchell?s intentions, I still can?t really understand the mountains of praise this movie received. My guess is that people saw the unsimulated sex scenes and labeled it ?Brave!? and ?Bold!?, which coupled with its indie movie status must make it a great film, right? Not so much. Looking past the graphic content, SHORTBUS is a pretty boring movie with a lackluster narrative. There are way too many scenes of people sitting around just talking about sex, spouting off ?facts? and making it all feel like a documentary. And while the film obviously reveres the realism of its characters, some of the ridiculous things they say or do come close to self-mockery. Things like Sofia?s therapy techniques, the menstrual blood performance art and some surprising gay guy clich?s (?Monogamy is for straight people!?) just made it confusing.
I know Mitchell?s aim was to ?demystify sex? in the modern age by openly showing a lot of it and I guess in that regard he was successful. But in the end, SHORTBUS just didn?t add up to mean much of anything to me.
VIDEO/AUDIO
Video: 1.78:1 widescreen. I didn?t notice any problems with the transfer. Mitchell has a good visual eye. (Although some of the images I will never be able to unsee.)
Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital surround. I really liked Mitchell?s choice of music, especially the very HEDWIG-reminiscent ending song.
THE EXTRAS
There's a couple worthwhile features here if you enjoyed the movie (mainly, the commentary and the Making Of feature):
Filmmaker and Cast commentary: After spending two years workshopping and creating the movie from scratch, the group has a very good, very funny rapport together which makes for an entertaining commentary. It?s also funny to hear each actor?s reaction to their more ?revealing? scenes.
Gifted and Challenged: The Making of SHORTBUS (30:32): This is a case where the making of the film is actually different than your average movie (and not just because of all the sex). See the uh, ?unique? audition tapes sent in by the actors, the years of rehearsal and filming, as well as the final presentation of the film. There?s also a little outtake where one of the actors accidentally has an orgasm a bit early.
How to Shoot Sex: A Docu-Primer (8:15): Raw footage from the orgy scene with commentary from Mitchell and Lee explaining how one professionally approaches filming a roomful of humping people.
Deleted and Extended Scenes (29:53): Eight scenes, most of which are just extended versions.
A few different Trailers, Previews and a nice Thank You section to the ?Shortbusriders,? or people who helped promote the film on the Internet.
FINAL DIAGNOSIS
So, a guy ?makes a deposit? in his own face; is that really any different than Ben Stiller busting one in his ear in THERE?S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY? Call me a hypocrite, but yes, yes it is. I?m sure some of you will really like SHORTBUS and more power to you. It?s just not my cup of tea. I didn?t feel it had any depth other than its shock value, and ?brave? doesn?t always equal brilliant.
Extra Tidbit: Sook-Yin Lee was the host of a radio show for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and was almost fired from her job for her involvement in SHORTBUS. It wasn?t until people like Francis Ford Coppola, Julianne Moore and REM?s Michael Stipe wrote letters on her behalf that she was allowed to keep her job.
DVD RATING SYSTEM
DEAD ON ARRIVAL (AVOID AT ALL COSTS)
FAINT VITAL SIGNS (NOT RECOMMENDED)
RECOVERING (RENTAL FARE)
HEALTHY AS A HORSE (WORTH BUYING)
DOCTOR'S ORDERS (A MUST HAVE!)
Register to post | Movie Fan Central | Rules / Guidelines
Remain respectful at all times. No writer abuse. For all corrections, suggestions, criticisms, email us instead.
Username:
Password:
Not Registered? Sign-up!!
Latest Blu Ray & DVD Reviews
Latest Blu Ray & DVD Releases
Best Selling Blu Ray & DVD
October | September | August | July
1
Captain America
2
Fast Five
3
Pulp Fiction
4
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
5
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
6
Captain America (3-Disc Combo)
7
Green Lantern
8
Crazy, Stupid, Love
9
Scream 4
10
Super 8
11
The Tree of Life
12
Jurassic Park Trilogy
1
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Blu-Ray)
2
Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Blu-Ray)
3
X-Men: First Class (Blu-Ray)
4
Thor (Blu-Ray)
5
Bridesmaids (Blu-Ray)
6
Captain America (Blu-Ray)
7
Hanna (Blu-Ray)
8
Bridesmaids (DVD)
9
Modern Family: Season 2 (DVD)
10
Scarface (Blu-Ray)
11
Scream 5-Film Set (BLu-Ray)
12
Green Lantern (Blu-Ray)
1
X-Men: First Class (Blu-Ray)
2
Paul (Blu-Ray)
3
Thor (Blu-Ray)
4
Super (Blu-Ray)
5
Hanna (Blu-Ray)
6
Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Blu-Ray)
7
Priest (Blu-Ray)
8
Star Wars: The Original Trilogy (Blu-Ray)
9
Community: Season 2 (DVD)
10
Pulp Fiction (Blu-Ray)
11
Your Highness (Blu-Ray)
12
NCIS: Season 8 (DVD)
1
Source Code (Blu-Ray)
2
Rango (Blu-Ray)
3
Insidious (Blu-Ray)
4
Limitless (Blu-Ray)
5
X-Men: First Class (Blu-Ray)
6
The Lincoln Lawyer (DVD)
7
Source Code (DVD)
8
Dylan Dog (DVD)
9
Priest (Blu-Ray)
10
Thor (Blu-Ray)
11
13 Assassins (Blu-Ray)
12
Super (Blu-Ray)
Blu Ray & DVD Editorial Column
Blu Ray & DVD Forum Discussions
The New UnOFFICAL RELEASE DATE THREAD
Free Bonuses With DVD Releases - Part 2
What the latest DVD you picked up (every one)?
New Improved STEELBOOK DVD Thread
The Official Criterion Thread: Release Dates,Rumors,News,Collections And More
Netflix customers -- what didja get this week?
Netflix VS Blockbuster VS Amazon Prime
What DVDs have you ordered throught the web lately?
2011 DVD/Blu-ray Purchase Journal
Any Specific Collections Within Your DVDs and Blu Rays You're Particularly Proud Of?
Pictures of your DVD Collection
Removal - January 3rd, 2012
Complicated Blu-ray/Old Componentry Home Theater Question
buying off of sellers on amazon.com
blu-ray player question about 24 and 60 hz
Warner Bros. Closes the 'Harry Potter' Vault on December 29th
Worst DVD you've ever bought - including in boxsets
What titles HAVE to have blu ray announcements soon?
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes - December 13th (Full Press Release)
The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption - January 17th
Boardwalk Empire?
The Crow
Apollo 18 - December 27th, 2011
Being Human: The Complete First Season - November 15th, 2011
Legend (1985)
Any One Collect Boy Meets World on DVD? Good Sale @ Best Buy
The Help - December 6 (Full Press release)
30 Minutes Or Less - November 29th, 2011
Kung Fu Panda 2-December 13th
The COMPLETE Blu Ray/HD-DvD thread
Alien Anthology blu-ray set: Jizz-inducing
Giorgio Moroder Presents Metropolis - November 15th, 2011
Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil - November 29th, 2011
The Star Wars trilogy blu-ray - initial thoughts
Best Buy - Troubled Waters Ahead...
FUCK NETFLIX
DVD Collection Thread
Ruly2's DVD/Blu news (official and unofficial)
Ruly2's DVD/BLURAY release news
Wrong Turn 4: Blood Beginnings - Unrated - October 25th, 2011
joblo.com
Movie News
Weekend Box Office
Theatrical Reviews
Movie Trailers
Upcoming Movies
Most Popular Movies
Theatrical Release Dates
Actor & Director Interviews
Film Festival/Conventions
Set Visits
Movie Columns
Movie Podcasts
Movie Wallpaper & Screensavers
Movie Scripts
Movie Forums
ARROW IN THE HEAD
Horror Movie News
Horror Movie Reviews
Horror Interviews
Horror Mistresses
Horror Talk
Horror Columns
Horror Movie Database
Horror Blu Ray & DVD Release Dates
DIGITAL DORM
Blu Ray & DVD News
Blu Ray & DVD Reviews
Blu Ray & DVD Release Dates & Covers
Blu Ray & DVD Features
Blu Ray & DVD Contests
Blu Ray & DVD Best Sellers
Blu Ray & DVD Discussion
MOVIE HOTTIES
Hollywood Celebrities & Gossip
Hollywood Celebrity Photo Galleries
Hollywood Celebrities Videos
Hottie of the Week
Hollywood Celebrities Columns
Hollywood Celebrity Screensavers & Wallpapers
Boobies of the Day
Hollywood Celebrity Forums
JOBLO VIDEOS
Movie Trailers, Movie Clips & Videos
PIMPIN' POSTER PALACE
Movie Posters
MOVIEFANCENTRAL
Join/Register
Login
JoBlo Movie Show | Movie Games | Stanley Kubrick Tribute | Chat Room | JoBlo Comic Strip | Contests | Links | Advertise on this Site | JoBlo in the Media | JoBlo.com Newsletter
Site Credits | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Site Map
? 1998 - present JoBlo Media Inc., All Rights Reserved Hello | JoBlo? is a trademark of JoBlo Media Inc. All movie titles, pictures, etc... are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of their respective holders
Dedicated hosting provided by the good folks at NEXCESS.NET Web Hosting
Website Design & Development by Face3 Media
