HOME
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Mysterious Skin
QQQQ
It's probably no coincidence that the second season of
3rd Rock From the Sun arrives the same day as this critically acclaimed,
emotionally wrenching, and frequently disturbing examination of two Kansas
teen-agers forever changed by a shared traumatic experience as children.
Both 3rd Rock and Skin feature terrific performances from
actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but it's unlikely that fans of his goofy aliens-among-us
TV series will know what to make of his shockingly raw portrayal of an unapologetic
male hustler. Early in the story, it's easy to discern that a molestation
experience shaped our two protagonists, but the effect it has on one of
them is what makes Skin an unshakable experience. For Gordon-Levitt's
Neil, sex becomes an emotionless commodity and his sole source of income,
but for Brian (Brady Corbet), the abuse manifests quite differently. Plagued
by nosebleeds, blackouts and nightmares, he's convinced he has been repeatedly
abducted by aliens until a long-awaited meeting with Neil reveals the dark
truth. Both leads are outstanding, and director Gregg Araki, whose grimy,
sexually charged dramas never quite seem to gel, delivers his most potent
work to date. Obviously not for all tastes, it's the kind of picture that
will get under your skin and stay there for days. As for extras, it's great
to have commentary from Araki, but also check out the two stars reciting
passages from the source novel.