MovieChat Forums > I Am a Sex Addict (2005) Discussion > Creative, Unusual, Entertaining

Creative, Unusual, Entertaining

posted 15 years ago by chadowens
2 replies | jump to latest

A lot of posters here didn't like the movie, but I thought it was like a breath of fresh air. Sort of creepy and disturbing air, maybe, but still not like any other movie. If you believe what the protagonist claims, it's a shockingly personal revelation of his adult life, that goes unsqueamishly into intimate detail. The guy seems to have a fetish not only for prostitutes, but also for unabashed full disclosure. He seems totally unafraid of what we might think of him, or how we might judge him, and this vulnerability is the source of the film's humor and its fascination.
There may be some nebbish similarities between his demeanor and Woody Allen's onscreen persona, but Allen never created anything as deeply or specifically personal. And no personal documentary I've ever seen has done such a fine job of creating new material with actors, and blending it with stock footage.
Also, you have to bear in mind how much he did with such a small budget. Remember this is an INDEPENDENT production. If you think it's so easy to make a movie that takes place in Paris, LA, Germany, New York and San Francisco, to mention just a few locations, all on a shoe string budget, and have it look this professional, you should try it sometime. Plus the narrative structure is quite complex, and always surprising.
All in all a very interesting and entertaining showing.

[–] OakWriter 14 years ago

I agree. This is something I think Woody Allen came somewhat close to this to with Annie Hall, but that film was so much more about mocking and compartmentalizing OTHER people that the personal stuff is more repetitious and sparse.

This film, as you point out, is unabashedly frank. To the point that I think a viewer who doesn't like it is probably similar in temperament and communication style to the girlfriends who couldn't handle Caveh's addiction. Those of us who like it are perhaps more similar to his friend Greg or even the folks in his therapy group. We may be surprised or even amused at some of his revelations - but are never laughing AT him.

I found myself nodding and smiling through a lot of his relationship reenactments - he's really touched on some very interesting aspects of human interaction, lust and psychology.

I'm really happy I saw this film and would definitely recommend it.

Caveh, if you happen to stumble upon this thread - NICE WORK man and thanks for adding something meaningful to cinema.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

I agree with both the OP and OakWriter. I wasn't sure what to make of the film at first but it was compelling to watch and very funny. It's brave to take a subject that is rarely talked about and not especially understood and that is deeply personal and explore it using film.

The distance is nothing. The first step is the hardest.