Todd A

Whose cruel intentions? The characters’? Or the filmakers?

If I have to see one more pre-puescent-looking actor or actress discussing sodomy in a movie, I’ll just puke. preferably in the lap of the producer who green-lighted the film.

Not only does Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character offer her rectum to her step-brother as the spoils of a wager, but Selma Blair’s character (post-corruption) makes a remark about oral sex WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN TOLERABLE IF SHE RESEMBLED AN ADULT IN THE SLIGHTEST DEGREE, but in context was so inappropriate, i was lecturing my television on family values.

Mind you, I have no problems with explicit films. But I prefer my sexuality in adults. This film like so many other teen flicks eroticises children, or at least young adults who still resemble children.

Assuming he gets a decent agent and stops having babies (tell me that was planned), Ryan Phillipe could be well on his way to being the next Nicolas Cage. He displays a range of emotion from grim to smug previously seen in the talents of Demi Moore and Jean Claude Van Damme.

A great big problem with the world of techno/drum and bass/electronica is that if you’re not making the newest sound and breaking all sorts of new ground, you’re incredibly stale. Witness Madonna’s electronica album. Savvy enough for VH1, but to any educated listener of the genre, extremely dull.
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Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy is Will Oldham’s latest nom de plume. As the title implies, the album is dark. It takes us back to some of his early Palace recordings on There Is No One What Will Take Care Of You and Days in the Wake. Sparse instrumentation accompanies Will’s distinctive, plaintive vocals.
The first track ‘A Minor Place’ is perhaps the most accomplished song on the album and serves as a herald of what is to follow: ‘Well, I’ve been to a minor place, and I can say I like its face…’ The last track ‘Raining In Darling’ is perhaps the least realised song, ending at 1 minute 47 seconds just after Will croons what we assume is a chorus. The abrupt ending of the song and album leave the listener in his minor place.

Throughout I See a Darkness, there is a warmth to the music. The darkness is very organic and human. And because of that, more frightening.

-ta