Besser als Sex

There would be many people in the world that believe there many experiences that are better than sex. I am one person that has to agree, as I believe the world has a lot more to offer than just sex. This film, while being very sexually liberating for the characters that appear in it, is also very touching and funny for the audience that watches it. Although this movie deals with controversial issues involving sex, it is a film I believe any adult can enjoy. This is one classy Australian romantic comedy.

When Josh and Cin meet at a party and decide to spend the night together, it seems to them like the perfect solution. With Josh leaving in three days to go back overseas, what can possibly go wrong? It is one night of sex and the will never see each other again. What is there to get complicated? It will be fun without all the usual expectations. It is just sex. They both know that. But as their night stretches into another night, what seemed so safe and easy starts to get out of control. They both find themselves faced with the possibility that what they want is… better than sex. But will either of them be able to admit it?

Taking on the roles of both the writer and director of ‘BTS' was Jonathon Teplitzky. Jon wrote a very original and very witty script, getting help from script editor, comedy actress Genevieve Mooy. I am sure he did his homework on the issues relating to casual sex and what such an experience can be like. Then the way that he wrote these very unique ‘to the camera' personalities into the screenplay was great, because I felt they were very well crafted characters. Also the use of voiceovers, as tool for us too hear what the two main characters are thinking while they are engaged in a very heavy sexual encounter were hilarious. I could not help but laugh when Josh is thinking of a ‘cake recipe' to delay a climax, and when Cin says ‘I love you' as she comes.

When in the director's chair Jonathon shows even more class. I feel the camera shots that Teplitzky gives only enhance the way we experience the movie, like the many different angles we see Josh and Cin in when they are in bed. The cinematographer, Garry Phillips does a great job in bringing off the shots Teplitzky wanted. Teplitzky also made this film a very fun experience to watch, and I believe it is through his direction that we are allowed to feel that way.

The main stars in this film were Josh (Aussie heartthrob David Wenham) and Cin (Susie Porter). Both are very good in their roles. They were very professional, considering that they had to share many sexually moments in the film. Both of these actors shared a chemistry that made you believe they could ever end in this sort of situation. It is my opinion that Wenham was born to play his role. These roles were extremely important in the success of the film, and I have to say both Wenham and Porter pulled them off.

There were other roles that I liked in the film. Sam (Catherine McClements) is an iffy friend of Cin. McClements is very good in her cameo performance in the movie, as her flirtatious ways would be concerning for any girlfriend to take, in front a prospective boyfriend. What happens when Sam officially meets Josh for the first time was very funny. There is also the character of the Taxi Driver (Kris McQuade). She was very observant when it came to Cin, as she knew what she was like. McQuade had a very deep husky voice, but for some reason I liked her role. There was also the great role taken on by people simply known as ‘girls' or ‘guys' in BTS. The Girls included B (Dina Gillespie), C (Emily Saunders), D (Laura Kennelly), E (Leah Vandenberg) and F (Tammy McIntosh), while Guys included A (Mark Priestly) B (Tamblyn Lord) C (Jason Clarke) D (Jason Chong) and E (Tim Richards). All these people, while not having major roles in the film, made this aspect of the movie very memorable for me.

The music of BTS was also a highlight of the film. Composer David Hirschfelder and his musical crew did a great job in giving this movie a really good feel. It is another movie that has had a very subtle by very effective score. I love the way Hirschfelder used such instruments as violins, guitars drums and pianos. The way Hirschfelder has the piano twinkling half way through the film was terrific. The good songs of the soundtrack include Gets me up by Sneak and Stay the same by Kylie Minogue.

This movie does not have many locations or characters, but that did not distract from how good a film it was. I think it only enhanced the film all the more, and made what was shown to seem all the greater. It would be safe to assume that many people have been in such a situation as the one presented in this film. If this is true, than what the movie showed would have only been more entertaining for that group of individuals/couples. This is a very good piece of Australian cinema, one that I highly recommend to you, if you are yet to see it.

CMRS gives ‘Better than Sex': 4.5 (Very Good – Brilliant Film)

This film is simple in plot line---the growth from a one-night stand of a relationship that is expected to end as one party has to leave in a few days---but manages to build the characters with a mixture of soliloquy, quick comment from friends, reaction to fast sexual progression, and so on. It gives the feeling that it was once a stage play, but does not suffer for this. It has a few amusing weird bits, like the taxi driver. It is no blockbuster, but it is well-acted, well photographed, well scripted, has an interesting ending, and is generally warming, while succeeding admirably in making you see the characters without seeing their appearance.

I get so tired seeing heroin thin, twenty-somethings in romantic comedies, especially ones with lots of nudity. This one has the luminous Susie Porter reclining, pacing and prancing around nude, with the most fantastic confidence and comfort with her body. She doesn't have the perfect body mind you, but the type that I love more than a Hagen-Daz milkshake. She's got some meat on her bones, but she isn't fat. She is voluptuous, curvaceous, with the sweetest milky white, freckled skin. Her smile can take your breath away, and her eyes seem like they can see every lie you've ever told, and you want her to know. She's a WOMAN, a real woman, not some kid trying to be a woman. Most times with *women* you get lots of trying to be younger, but Susie LIVES in her body, her soul is older, wiser and more mature. She knows how to treat a man too. She lets a guy be a guy without sacrificing her will or self-esteem. Oh, I'm supposed to review this movie... OK...

Basically in this excellent flick you are watching two adults fall in love. Both are mature and confident, but they're leery of jumping into a relationship, but it never lingers on past baggage, and nobody needs to "get free" of some obstacle before they can continue. I've found that women rarely say they're ready for love, or looking for love, but if it presents itself to them they won't chase it off. Basically a woman is never NOT ready to fall in love, and this movie does a great job of showing men how a woman who isn't even THINKING about falling in love, can. It also illustrates luxuriously how head games, lies and bullsh*t are NOT the way to enjoy falling in love. Most young people think that head games are the only way to get what you want, or how to protect your heart, which is toss-all. Here two people say what they mean and mean what they say, and what they don't say they don't say because they're not sure yet that they feel it.

Have you ever met someone and it just clicked and while it was clicking you spent a day or three in bed? This movie sumptuously wallows in that intoxicating experience. These two people devour each other sexually and while they do, passion blossoms and intimacy becomes more and more desirable. I can't remember a movie that so eloquently illustrates the difference between lust and passion, between sex and intimacy.

Buy this movie now, you will not regret it, but watch it with a lover because watching it while you're single will make you jones too much for the real thing and that could be depressing. View it with someone you love and it could re-kindle a little magic, it will at least get you laughing and getting aroused in the same room.

A movie about adults for adults that makes you feel like a kid.

"Better Than Sex" is yet another mostly bedroom two-hander on a relationship, like "About Last Night" and "Breaking Up," but is quite charmingly done in a frank and funny tone.

With a gimmick of a time-bound, three-day relationship setting the limits, the talking to the camera by the two lovers and their friends works as a way to show what's going through their heads. This technique is especially useful when dealing with the visual problem foreign movies have grappled with but American movies have avoided since "Klute" (especially "Pretty Woman"): how to show when sex changes with feelings.

There is a touch of magic realism with a bemused cab driver, but she also could be their whimsical thoughts.

The Australian actors are not of the pencil-thin/gym worked-out American variety, but are lustily and cheerily robust as we see quite a bit of them.

What was confusing was the order their days together are presented -- did my projectionist mix up the reels or was the print I saw mixed up? At one point one character says "We've already had our first fight," which hadn't happened yet, and he leaves with a bag he hadn't brought over. But then later both the fight and the bag appear. I also got confused as to what was which with an indication of "The Third Day" vs. "The Last Day." There's a possibility it was shown out of order for emotional effect, but then I think the changed red sheets didn't appear at the end.

The Aussie pop songs are nice, but incidental and hardly noticeable.

(originally written 11/17/2001)

This movie is very very good. It is highly enjoyable, definitely a couples movie. David Wenham and Suzie Porter are great as the leads, they are definitely one of the only screen couples that actually had chemistry, it was amazing to see. It is very funny, and very sexy, and very Aussie, what else can you ask for in a movie?

The direction in this movie is very well done, the story is good, I really loved this movie. And at times this film is better than sex! Congrats to the Producers you have yourselves a winning movie. 10/10 from me!!!