|
Upcoming Release Calendar
38
12 Rounds Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
67
$9.99 Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
|
Center of the World
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|
||||||||||||
MPAA RATING: Not Rated
Starring Shane Edelman, Balthazar Getty, Carla Gugino, Shirley Knight, Molly Parker, and Peter Sarsgaard
An erotic drama about a young computer wizard (Sarsgaard) who persuades a beautiful stripper (Parker) to spend three days with him in Las Vegas. Their arrangement becomes a journey into the dark secrets of their sexuality. (Artisan Entertainment)
| GENRE(S): | Drama |
| WRITTEN BY: |
Ellen Benjamin Wong
(story) Wayne Wang Miranda July Paul Auster and Siri Hustvedt |
| DIRECTED BY: | Wayne Wang |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: December 18, 2001 Video: December 18, 2001 Theatrical: April 18, 2001 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 86 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Marcus G. gave it an 8:
This is a movie that wants to seduce you - okay, yes, it has sex upfront and center and some viewers might be standoffish or abashed - but it's really not what you think. (Ignore any snickers from the audience from the outset. Watch it alone if you can't find a like-minded crowd.) This film's real attraction kicks in after the erotica is over and the movie winds down. Because it's at that point you entertain the idea that the movie is not so much a story of sex, or the sex trade, or money or about getting paid or about dirty money or about the shady side of life which so many of this film's viewers may never see. This movie is about everybody's life. In watching it, not only do you witness what the infamous Las Vegas sells its seekers, but you also feel yourself being provoked, titillated and illuminated. Good movies get their audiences involved in different kinds of ways, and this one is so uniquely gripping you may find yourself wondering what exactly it is you've seen. Molly Parker and Peter Sarsgaard are both wonderful and more than memorable.
Chad S. gave it a 6:
Richard (Peter Saarsgard) might've had Florence (Molly Parker) at "you don't look like a stripper." When Richard pays Molly to join him in Las Vegas, he probably doesn't mean to treat her like a whore, because this technological maverick seems posited to be the anti-Richard Gere, and "Center of the World", the anti-"Pretty Woman". After two years of housebound isolation, albeit, productive, Richard is out of practice in the dating game, and thinks that a transaction of money could be the only way a woman might find him attractive. It's clear to us that Florence, contrary to her claim, does fall in love with her benefactor, but she remembers the money and Richard's slight hesitation when he reluctatntly introduces her to a business colleague. Contact with the outside world, temporarily breaks Richard's illusion that Florence is his girlfriend. There's an interesting dynamic at work between Richard and Florence, but "Center of the World", however, billed as an erotic film, features a lot of sex that's neither titilating or romantic; which is a big deal, since we have to believe Richard fell in love/lust with Florence during their sessions.

| Return to top of page |

Popular on CBS sites: iPhone 3G | Fantasy Football | Moneywatch | Antivirus Software | Recipes | E3 2009
About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use