Kiss the Sky

Wrenching depiction of the male midlife crisis, in full bloom - completely acted out, with a kiss-off to the proverbial "American Dream." Well-cast with great scenery and direction, this film brings the audience into the internal struggle of two 40-something men trying to figure out what they and women really want out of life and relationships. With hopes and desires crumbling all around them, the American Dream not satisfying them, they accept the notion of process and continuous unsettlement, whether back with their families or off in a Buddhist monastery. The problem is not in what they have or do not have - it is with themselves. Very poignant angst captures the postmodern mindset.

I picked up this movie because I have become interested in the career of Willim L. Petersen and wanted to see as much of his film work as possible.

I have read the comments here and do not agree that this is mostly a man's movie. I am a 50 year old woman and have spent some time questioning my life choices over the past year. I enjoyed seeing the mid-life crisis issue from a man's perspective; sort of like I had been allowed into a secret club for a little while. Clearly men and women are just wired up differently, making communication difficult if not impossible at times. I am tickled to have had access to this little glimpse of the way some men think and feel.

As for William Petersen, well, the role of Jeff was a good role for him, allowing him to be charming and gritty at the same time. Anyone who is interested in Petersen's acting will enjoy this movie for that alone.

I don't know who the person was who wrote the summary, but he/she did this movie no justice by dismissing it as a couple of guys on a mid life alcohol/drug fueled crisis. My take: I've been in the video biz for 20 years because I love movies--especially those amazing auteur classics Hollywood somehow let slide for so long in the 70s-- and I'm now 48, comfortable, guilty, confused, and feeling totally misunderstood, misjudged, and about to give up. Then I run across "Kiss the Sky", this incredible movie that actually tries to honestly describe the emptiness inherent in being a successful upper middle class (probably white) American Male. How many buddy movies have you seen like "City Slickers" or "Very Bad Things" that almost get that ineffable feeling of loss and despair right only to cop out with lowest common denominator humor or cheap sentiment? "Kiss the Sky", given the times and given the state of the movie industry is the closest we'll ever get. Deftly sidestepping cliches and easy answers, this tale of 2 middle aged guys who are smart enough to know that their material success doesn't mean that much and isn't really their doing anyway goes bravely if imperfectly where no movie that I have ever seen has gone before. ("Leaving Las Vegas" has some resonance but it's ultimately a one man story, not a generational statement.) I don't know where this movie came from or how it got made or who was nuts enough to think it had any commercial viability (it doesn't except if it's hawked as a hard R straight-to-video cheapie, and the person who wants that will be disappointed by this.) Anyway, if I'm speaking to you, watch this movie!

That's all my wife could say while she was watching this movie. And I recommend that men not identify too much with these guys if the want to stay in their SO's good graces. I had to promise that I would not... several times during this movie.

Kiss the Sky has not received a lot of attention and the critics panned it. Nonetheless, it holds your attention, and it actually inspired a "deep" conversation afterwards. And I'm not a deep guy. This is bad TV at its best.

It is too bad this rates only a 5.8 by IMDB users. There is more to this film than the rather low rating. Check out the reviews on this page.

There are some great thought-provoking lines, especially by the Zen Buddhist monk, but also the dialogue between the two men and what happens to their marriages and families. Anyone caught up in the stress of today's modern world (and that is nearly all of us, right?) should watch this movie.

In particular, I recommend that all men watch this. It would be a good film for a men's group or those interested in psychotherapy. You women as well, especially married-career-family women: grab your man and watch and discuss it.

The biggest flaw was that I doubted if two men would REALLY do what they did on that island, with the young blonde and the construction. Too fanciful for me. But the messages in the film WERE reality-based.

The manner that sex was handled was done maturely. It is rated R18 down here in New Zealand, but the sex scenes are mild and not at all pornographic, and the resulting-final ethics are admirable and understandable.

It was refreshing to see a film with unknown actors, that is - without box office mega-stars.

By the way, my wife was half asleep in bed, ill with the 'flu, while I watched this. At first she mumbled that it was a silly B-grade movie, but as it went on she realized that it was actually a worthwhile film with depth.