"Mysterious Skin" has much in favor of it. It's portrays a powerful story, finely acted and well directed. Yet the real mystery that remains is that despite all this, the film as a whole remains less potent a document than it aims to be.
Araki, with his usual fearlessness, plunges into the dark depths of child abuse. Admirably he strives for an authenticity where most other films that deal with this subject have failed. The abuser in question recalled a charismatic gym teacher from my own junior school whose abuse was less extreme than portrayed here, but his methods were identical. He lavished much attention on his victims and instilled in them a sense of their being "special" in being chosen. The scene in which one of the victims recalls how he felt he was genuine loved by his abuser is brave and unparallelled in cinema.
"Mysterious Skin" is about the devastation that is wreaked in the lives of two diametrically opposed characters as a result of having been taken advantage of as young boys. The Neil character was aware of his situation all along and is set on a path of undiscerning sexual activity most often with older men. Brian, the introverted, highly sensitive child, obliterates any recollection of his abuse while pursuing his solution in the realms of a possible alien abduction of sorts.
Araki's treatment of Neil's story is far more convincing than that of Brian, which by its very nature is harder to bring to the screen. Their ultimate meeting up while touching, does not quite ring true.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt deserves much admiration in his cinema career choices. Following the awful "3rd Rock from the Sun", he has been attracted by difficult and complex roles such as those he played in "Manic" and "Sweet Jane". He seems to have been the perfect choice for playing Neil. Brady Corbet does well too in his role.
Gregg Araki has made a huge leap forward in "Mysterious Skin" and seems to be poised to becoming an important force in American Cinema. For all its merits this film falls somewhat short of its mark.
Araki, with his usual fearlessness, plunges into the dark depths of child abuse. Admirably he strives for an authenticity where most other films that deal with this subject have failed. The abuser in question recalled a charismatic gym teacher from my own junior school whose abuse was less extreme than portrayed here, but his methods were identical. He lavished much attention on his victims and instilled in them a sense of their being "special" in being chosen. The scene in which one of the victims recalls how he felt he was genuine loved by his abuser is brave and unparallelled in cinema.
"Mysterious Skin" is about the devastation that is wreaked in the lives of two diametrically opposed characters as a result of having been taken advantage of as young boys. The Neil character was aware of his situation all along and is set on a path of undiscerning sexual activity most often with older men. Brian, the introverted, highly sensitive child, obliterates any recollection of his abuse while pursuing his solution in the realms of a possible alien abduction of sorts.
Araki's treatment of Neil's story is far more convincing than that of Brian, which by its very nature is harder to bring to the screen. Their ultimate meeting up while touching, does not quite ring true.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt deserves much admiration in his cinema career choices. Following the awful "3rd Rock from the Sun", he has been attracted by difficult and complex roles such as those he played in "Manic" and "Sweet Jane". He seems to have been the perfect choice for playing Neil. Brady Corbet does well too in his role.
Gregg Araki has made a huge leap forward in "Mysterious Skin" and seems to be poised to becoming an important force in American Cinema. For all its merits this film falls somewhat short of its mark.