Saw it last night at the Philadelphia Film Festival and I felt the whole of this film wound up (emotionally) less than the sum of its parts. Very good concept, good casting but (it might be just me) I had absolutely no emotional connection on a sustained basis with any important character (white male or Asian female).
****Semi-spoiler alert (general summation only)***** The end of the film was a bit garbled to me,both visually (a bit dark in shade) and I couldn't be sure in one or two of the end sequences which character was returning to his "real" life
Perhaps because I viewed it toward the end of a long day of film and food, at a rather crowded and occasionally too warm venue, I found the pace to be too slow and confining at times.
Baldwin as usual gave a good performance with an edgy undertone.
Not for everyone; not not for anyone. OK (but how realistic I cant say; seemed way too sanitized to me) peek into what goes on (perhaps) behind the curtain of parlors, and the folks who might patronize them.
I did not view them all as desperate, lonely or exceptionally needy. I viewed one or two of the patrons as possibly conflicted, but absolutely there to "escape" the drudgery or routine of their "real" lives.
****Semi-spoiler alert (general summation only)***** The end of the film was a bit garbled to me,both visually (a bit dark in shade) and I couldn't be sure in one or two of the end sequences which character was returning to his "real" life
Perhaps because I viewed it toward the end of a long day of film and food, at a rather crowded and occasionally too warm venue, I found the pace to be too slow and confining at times.
Baldwin as usual gave a good performance with an edgy undertone.
Not for everyone; not not for anyone. OK (but how realistic I cant say; seemed way too sanitized to me) peek into what goes on (perhaps) behind the curtain of parlors, and the folks who might patronize them.
I did not view them all as desperate, lonely or exceptionally needy. I viewed one or two of the patrons as possibly conflicted, but absolutely there to "escape" the drudgery or routine of their "real" lives.