Center of the World (USA; 86min.) directed by: Wayne Wang starring: Molly Parker; Peter Sarsgaard

Emily says: "I thought this movie was the shallowest thing I've seen in years! I thought neither of the characters were realized in any form whatsoever and the trajectory of the relationship fizzled, was there really a relationship here at all? hardly! And why bother with the drumming identity if you're not going to do anything with it except a little bathtub scene? Who is Molly Parker in this movie, do we ever find out? I must warn people away from this one!" 2 cats

Laura says: "I finally caught up with "The Center of the World" last night and for the most part I thought it was a bit boring. The only time I thought the two central characters really seemed to connect was when they were playing his video game. We didn't get much on either character - Richard's father died recently and for some obscure reason he's not participating in making his own IPO succeed. That seemed deep compared to what we get on Florence (I like Molly Parker, but she's approaching type-casting for psycho-sex babes!). The DV used on this was pretty ugly looking, nor were their accomodations befitting someone who paid $10K for a 3 day companion. I did like the way it was ended and the way it presented Las Vegas, but not enough to recommend it (unless you're looking for some titillation)." 2 cats For Laura's complete review: "http://www.reelingreviews.com/thecenteroftheworld.htm"

Michael says: What is the center of the world? Wayne Wang looks at it from two angles, male and female. As seen from the eyes of computer whiz-kid and multi-millionaire, Richard, the center of the world is his PC. Flo, stripper, lap-dancer and drummer, claims that central spot is the woman's sexual organs, from where all life comes. When Richard pays Flo 10,000 to spend three days and nights with him in Las Vegas, we see how these divergent views influence the thoughts and feelings of these two fascinating and trouble characters. Molly Parker (THE FIVE SENSES and KISSED) and Peter Sarsgaard (BOYS DON'T CRY) do superb jobs in bringing these two slightly two-dimensional characters to fully realized life. Add Flo's friend Jerri into the mix (played marvlously by Carla Gugino from SPY KIDS) and the sexual tension and emotional dissonance becomes all-to clear. While CENTER OF THE WORLD is not all that original in its overall story, the performances and situation make it fresh and enjoyable. I was stunned when it reached its just over 90 minutes running time. The time went by very quickly. Not sure if this is everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it and recommend it." 3.5 cats

Nathaniel says: "I agree that it wasn't terribly original but I loved its ambiguities. I know there's disagreement here on the characterizations -but that's what I found most interesting and successful about the film. It leaves a lot open to your personal feelings about sex, commerce, relationships, and identity. I think, for me, the key thing was not that he didn't know who she was - but that neither of them knew themselves to any real degree. The thing about her music -I agree with Emily here that she was NOT passionate about that. I would take this further and say that she believed herself to be but wasn't. The glazed over expression, the reliance on it as her dream as opposed to her reality. And I think this is true of her relationship with Jerri too (an extremely vivid Carla Gugino) . She's clearly connected to her -but doesn't want to be... in much the same way that she doesn't want to feel what she feels for Richard. I'm probably psychoanalyzing more than I should but I think she was getting a lot more from her night job than her daydream -and her fear of this (again the scene pitting her against Jerri) is what really threw the weekend off course -and not her fear of feeling something for Richard. As for him, his issues are much clearer so the character is a little less involving. But his breakdown (which I found really unsettling) was ostensibly about her lack of feeling for him -but I think again...deeper than that it was about his lack of feeling. He was looking for rescue from his own emptiness and mistook it for hers. I understand the objections to the film -it's certainly not going to be a crowdpleaser... but I really liked it. I think it touches on some very important contemporary issues that I imagine other filmmakers will be dealing with soon enough . Molly Parker and Peter Sarsgaard were both terrific regardless of whether or not the characters as written were. "

Scot says: " I also enjoyed this film. But I don't really see the relationship in the same way as y'all have been describing it. Michael seems to be certain that no matter how hard the couple try, the relationship is only a financial transaction. Emily seems to think that no matter how they attempt to distance themselves from strong emotions, they inevitably will arrise. I think the tragedy of the relationship is that it falls somewhere in between. Both Richard and Florence clearly enter into the agreement with expectations that can never be met. He wants a love affair. She wants to make some cash quickly. The only time and place when their desires were compatible was when he visited her in the club. That's the reason we see them there again in the end. (Ah, but is it "again?") I have no inkling how Florence feels about drumming. And I don't know what Richard's high score is in Quake III. These questions seem irrelevant to me. "

Tim says: "I thought this movie had a lot of potential, but left me feeling somewhat empty afterward. I still can't figure out why it was significant that Molly Parker's character was a drummer." 2 cats