The extreme highs and lows of contemporary teens witnessing the "end of everything" provide some of the funniest and most insightful scenes in the subversive cinema of Gregg Araki, whose new low-budget film "Nowhere" completes his "Teen Apocalypse" trilogy that includes "Totally F***cked Up" and "The Doom Generation".
With a downright surrealistic supporting cast -- from Jaason Simmons and Thyme Lewis to Beverly D'Angelo and Jeremy Jordan -- "Nowhere" is a sexy, savory cinematic cocktail for savvy moviegoers, but distributor Fine Line has its work cut out. Best theatrical results will come in major markets, but over the long haul "Nowhere" should find many appreciative fans as a video rental.
Loosely structured, even for Araki, and less biting than his previous five films, "Nowhere" again features the talented James Duval ("Independence Day") as a sensitive soul afoot in a swirling atmosphere of partying and pop culture that reflects and magnifies every emotion and physical urge.
A wild day in the life of Dark (Duval), "Nowhere" has bimbo-vaporizing aliens, drag queens, a scary televangelist, and characters called Zero, Dingbat, Handjob and Ducky, but at its romantic core the film explores the perils and pleasures of relationships, both serious and casual.
Dark's love interest Mel (Rachel True) is too wild to commit. She has a bitchy butch lover (Kathleen Robertson), and late in the game she gets down with gorgeous twins Surf and Ski (Keith and Derek Brewer).
Dark fantasizes about nice-guy Montgomery (Nathan Bexton), but the former is so confused he can't make any progress. It doesn't help when he starts to see a lizard-like alien zapping friends and strangers.
Other subplots include the downward spiral of a drugged-out musician (Jordan) who has a painful encounter with a dominatrix duo (Chiara Mastroianni, Debi Mazar); the dream-shattering encounter of sweet-girl Egg (Sarah Lassez) with the dreamy Teen Idol (Simmons); and the sexual adventures of brother-sister twins (Ryan Phillippe, Jordan Ladd) with their respective potent lovers (Heather Graham, Lewis).
The film goes nowhere Araki hasn't gone before, but the wickedly shocking finale underscores the filmmaker's go-for-broke sensibilities and piercing wit. There's even a bit of violence to balance out the film's inverted sitcom charm. Whether or not it's true for every viewer, Araki seems to maintain control of a film that's genuinely unpredictable.
NOWHERE
Fine Line Features
Why Not Prods.
Writer-director-editor:Gregg Araki
Producers:Gregg Araki, Andrea Sperling
Director of photography:Arturo Smith
Production designer:Patti Podesta
Costume designer:Sara Jane Slotnick
Casting directors:Rick Montgomery, Dan Parada, Mary Margiotta, Karen Margiotta
Color/stereo
Cast:
Dark:James Duval
Mel:Rachel True
Montgomery:Nathan Bexton
Kriss:Chiara Mastroianni
Kozy:Debi Mazar
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
With a downright surrealistic supporting cast -- from Jaason Simmons and Thyme Lewis to Beverly D'Angelo and Jeremy Jordan -- "Nowhere" is a sexy, savory cinematic cocktail for savvy moviegoers, but distributor Fine Line has its work cut out. Best theatrical results will come in major markets, but over the long haul "Nowhere" should find many appreciative fans as a video rental.
Loosely structured, even for Araki, and less biting than his previous five films, "Nowhere" again features the talented James Duval ("Independence Day") as a sensitive soul afoot in a swirling atmosphere of partying and pop culture that reflects and magnifies every emotion and physical urge.
A wild day in the life of Dark (Duval), "Nowhere" has bimbo-vaporizing aliens, drag queens, a scary televangelist, and characters called Zero, Dingbat, Handjob and Ducky, but at its romantic core the film explores the perils and pleasures of relationships, both serious and casual.
Dark's love interest Mel (Rachel True) is too wild to commit. She has a bitchy butch lover (Kathleen Robertson), and late in the game she gets down with gorgeous twins Surf and Ski (Keith and Derek Brewer).
Dark fantasizes about nice-guy Montgomery (Nathan Bexton), but the former is so confused he can't make any progress. It doesn't help when he starts to see a lizard-like alien zapping friends and strangers.
Other subplots include the downward spiral of a drugged-out musician (Jordan) who has a painful encounter with a dominatrix duo (Chiara Mastroianni, Debi Mazar); the dream-shattering encounter of sweet-girl Egg (Sarah Lassez) with the dreamy Teen Idol (Simmons); and the sexual adventures of brother-sister twins (Ryan Phillippe, Jordan Ladd) with their respective potent lovers (Heather Graham, Lewis).
The film goes nowhere Araki hasn't gone before, but the wickedly shocking finale underscores the filmmaker's go-for-broke sensibilities and piercing wit. There's even a bit of violence to balance out the film's inverted sitcom charm. Whether or not it's true for every viewer, Araki seems to maintain control of a film that's genuinely unpredictable.
NOWHERE
Fine Line Features
Why Not Prods.
Writer-director-editor:Gregg Araki
Producers:Gregg Araki, Andrea Sperling
Director of photography:Arturo Smith
Production designer:Patti Podesta
Costume designer:Sara Jane Slotnick
Casting directors:Rick Montgomery, Dan Parada, Mary Margiotta, Karen Margiotta
Color/stereo
Cast:
Dark:James Duval
Mel:Rachel True
Montgomery:Nathan Bexton
Kriss:Chiara Mastroianni
Kozy:Debi Mazar
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
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