I thought it could have been more deep. I remember a scene that featured an old man and I think he was talking about his past and wishing he had done more to help people... that was kinda deep.
Ok, first of all, I loved that scene, but I think it's rather silly to say something like that. What Mitchell wanted to put on screen, he put on screen. If he wanted to film a full blown, "serious", heart wrenching drama, he would have done that. This film is about sex. A side issue are relationships, and there is a very interesting subplot involving abuse and suicide. So, I wouldn't exactly say it has no plot...it has several highly interesting ones...
Hedwig and the Angry Inch, John Cameron Mitchell's first film, is better. I liked Hedwig and her song world accompanying tales of her screwed up love life and sex change.
I disagree...I own both films but found Shortbus to be superior. To me, Hedwig lacked a more catchy soundtrack to be considered a classic. I liked some of the songs (like the title track which kicked much ass), but the rest is just filler. He does have a wonderful sense for comedy and I loved how he incorporated animation into it.
My biggest complaint is with the ending. The musical number. I think it makes it feel more plotless because it wasn't a very good wrapup. Hedwig was the same way. Mitchell really likes his song sequences.
The ending was one of the most effective and wonderful closures I've ever seen, it gave me goosebumps...It was quite a cathartic experience, actually made me disregard the illogicalities in the psychiatrist's story
WARNING: "Shortbus" spoilers below
(how did she manage to achieve that orgasm all of a sudden?)
(how did she manage to achieve that orgasm all of a sudden?)
. The gay couple was for me the main reason why I loved this film so much. Both actors did an incredible job, but Paul Dawson was just amazing. All the more astonishing because you wouldn't really expect such great interpretations from actors who are actually willing to do uncensored sex scenes.