jakasper1

I'll keep this short and just say I went to a late-night screening of this movie, and was laughing from the fake-trailer a la "Grindhouse" beginning to Tom Cruise's "Risky Business" updated dance-fest at the end. It is totally hilarious! Lots of cameos, lots of funny bits. Robert Downey Jr. steals the movie for me.

I like the take-offs from "Platoon" and "Apocalype Now." I like the fact that Ben & Co. weren't afraid to poke fun at everyone: mentally impaired, minorities, etc. It's a comedy, people! And they were biting the hand that feeds them by showing the obnoxious, silly, and self-important crew members, director, studio execs, and agents. I used to work for people like this, and the smug attitude was spot-on.

Can't wait till the DVD comes out with all the behind-the-scenes bloopers and outtakes. They all must have been falling out when making this movie. I know I practically fell out of my seat laughing at the movie theater.

I worked as a volunteer at the L.A. Film Festival the year that "Things Behind the Sun" was its centerpiece, its main film of the festival. I wish I had known more about it at the time, because I would have loved to have seen it in person and talked to Allison Anders, its director.

What a moving and gripping film. What happens in childhood, both good and bad, tends to stick with us throughout the rest of our lives. How we deal with trauma in our early years can scar and stunt us forever. That's what this film is about. It was horrifying to learn that the director, Allison, Anders, experienced rape at a young age as the girl in the film did, in Florida, in the exact same house that is used in the film. Kim Dickens, Gabriel Mann, Don Cheadle, Eric Stoltz, Elizabeth Pena and Rosanna Arquette all give stellar performances in this little-scene film. The music by Sonic Youth is a haunting addition to the movie.

This was an independently made film, which should have won tons of awards and gotten more publicity. I have caught it on cable and can now purchase it on DVD. I highly recommend this film, but it's not for the squeamish or easily offended. Years later, I still remember how great a movie it is.