Soderbergh's Fault

Here's why "Gray's Anatomy" is a disappointment...

Spalding Gray's best work "Swimming to Cambodia" was a concert shot on film. When an actor performs for a live audience with no breaks or special effects, everything rests on his ability. He creates the energy, he paces the story. The audience responds with laughter, and the dialogue between actor and audience creates the show. It's theatre, and "Swimming to Cambodia" works because it's a piece of theatre caught on film. It's raw and edgy, and this 2 hour masterpiece flies by in 30 minutes because Spalding Gray is a brilliant storyteller, and the director trusts him.

Unfortunately, director Steven Soderbergh doesn't trust Spalding Gray. "Gray's Anatomy" tries to be a film instead of a concert and that doesn't suit Spalding's style. The embellished lighting, multiple camera angels, excessive sound effects and pointless interviews kill the story. The film is shot over several weeks instead of in one night, so the unity isn't there. And since there's no audience, Spalding performs for the camera. Imagine a comic doing stand up for an empty room. That's this film. Spalding's material is as good as always, but Soderbergh gets in the way and the final product falls flat.