Feel

I just caught this movie on Netflix and found it quite charming and quaint. Yes there's a couple of scenes that give the movie more of a 'massage parlor' feel but it doesn't weigh the movie down with sleaze. Though it does dramatically shift the feel of the movie, it does make sense given the nature of the why the patrons have chosen to visit.

It was surprisingly well done while avoiding the standard predictable stereotypical characters and plot twists you'd come to expect. Done with surprising heart given the theme. Try not to put it in a box, as it doesn't really fit anywhere, and you'll probably quite like it.

The movie is raw at times, real at times, and sweet at times. It's a bit of a melting plot. The cast was good, and the female Asian actors are gorgeous. There's not much more I can say. If you're too something a bit different give it a try.

Four disparate men in New York City (a married executive, an elderly widower, a slacker tied too closely to his mother, and a businessman with self-help issues) are each drawn to an oriental massage parlor, where the rub-downs they get from the Asian girls are not quite what they expected. Writer-director Matt Mahurin has made an unflattering movie out of inflated male fantasies; he's unflinching, for the most part, and not afraid to go out on a limb, though what he does deliver isn't exactly captivating. His direction is much better than his script, which begins with three terrible phone conversations (and another in a cemetery) and goes downhill from there. The actors are lead into some precarious and sour situations, while Mahurin's jaundiced sense of humor is undermined by flagrant ugliness. * from ****

Beautiful cinematography, careful camera work and a crisp sound track mark this sensitive exploration of the innate longing for human connection. The story is set in what is commonly regarded as a shady setting without denigrating any of the subjects. The characters are authentic individuals encountering typically human situations. Their responses communicate universal truths. The script is creative and the film is executed with a poignant sense of humor. Gentle pacing and skillful character treatment make this film a joy to view. A touching treatment, communicated with imagination and empathy. Outstanding attention to detail are a credit to the understanding displayed by actors and to the assurance of the director's hand. A landmark of film making.