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Mysterious Skin (2005)
Released By: TLA Releasing   Rating: R   In Theaters: 5/6/2005
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Studio: TLA Releasing
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Gregg Araki
Language: English
Official Website: http://www.mysteriousskinthemovie.com/
Theatrical Release: 5/6/2005
Home Video Release: 10/25/2005
Cast: Elisabeth Shue, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michelle Trachtenberg, Brady Corbet, Mary Lynn Rajskub
Published ID: 357021
UPC: 807839001754, 712267260027,
Plot: Two young men are haunted by similar events from their past, though the effects manifest themselves in very different ways, in this powerful drama from independent filmmaker Gregg Araki. In the summer of 1981, Brian (George Webster) and Neil (Chase Ellison) are both eight years old and playing on the same little league baseball team in a small Kansas town. One day, after a game, Brian blacks out after getting caught in a rainstorm, and five hours later he finds himself sitting in his basement with his nose bleeding and no memory of what happened to him. Over the years, the event -- particularly the missing five hours -- weigh heavily on his mind, and he becomes convinced that he was kidnapped by space aliens. Teenaged Brian (now played by Brady Corbet) becomes friends with Avalyn Friesen (Mary Lynn Rajskub), a woman who claims to have been abducted by aliens on several occasions, and she urges him to look to his dreams for patterns that might suggest what happened to him. Meanwhile, during the same summer, Neil developed a powerful crush on their little league coach (Bill Sage), who appeared to have also taken a shine to Neil. Neil's mother (Elisabeth Shue), seeing nothing wrong with their friendship, lets the coach look after Neil while she's off on one of her many dates, and before long Neil begins sexually experimenting with the older man. Neil's introduction to sex inspires him to become a hustler when he grows into his teens, and after burning his bridges in his hometown, Neil (now played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his close friend Wendy (Michelle Trachtenberg) move to New York, where he continues to cruise for a living but under significantly more risky circumstances. One day, Neil is contacted by Brian, who after seeing one of their team photos from their days in little league suspects he might have some clues as to what happened to him in 1981. Mysterious Skin was based on the novel by Scott Heim, and marked the first time Gregg Araki made a film that did not originate with one of his own screenplays. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Darkly Disturbing, Delightfully Deep
Added 10/13/2009

The film follows the lives of two boys who, at the age of 8, were molested by their little league baseball coach. The divergence in their personalities as they grow older is quite telling: one boy embraces what happened and longs to feel loved by a man, while his counterpart represses the scenario and becomes (as one character in the movie describes him) "asexual." Their reunion some 10 years after the fact ends in an intense and heart-pounding confrontation, amplified by a scene that can only be described as an exemplar of catharsis.

Both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbett deliver amazing performances, exploring a range and depth of emotion often missing in film. Both young men portray their character's unique perspective on the world perfectly: Gordon-Levitt in a numb and even nihilistic fashion, Corbett as a naive and trusting soul who has been gravely injured at a deep, psychological level.

The film rests in the same category of cinema as works such as "The Mudge Boy" and "My Own Private Idaho." This is perhaps the most phenomenally dark gay-coming-of-age film to date!

The themes and issues of child molestation stand apart from those of homosexuality and the two are not confused, even in the minds of the protagonists. Gordon-Levitt's character is avowedly gay while Corbett's is not. The clear distinction between pedophilia and homosexuality is both welcome and refreshing.

Personally I am appalled at the 1-star rating some users have given this film for its content. The film is graphic, disturbing, and shockingly provocative. Yet the characters are believable and likable over-all, the direction is superb, and the whole work is enthralling.

Michelle Trachtenberg and Jeffery Licon deliver sound performances in their respective supporting roles.

Five stars are given because Amazon won't allow me to give six.


3 out of 3 people found this helpful.
FREEKING WONDERFUL!!!
Added 10/6/2009

ive been waiting along time to see this movie again i saw it on cable a long while ago and could not think of the name then i get on amazon and found it this movie is crazy yet amazing. A very good movie put the kids to bed because its not for the faint hearted
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
mysterious skin
Added 9/29/2009



Sorry I can not rate this because I never received it from vender!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!he promised me next day delivery, after I never received the first one...........never got that one either...but I am charged for it.....

0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
Gritty, Disturbing and Poignant
Added 9/19/2009

Very few "gay films" can claim to have an impact beyond mere fluff, but this film holds its own against many mainstream releases in terms of acting/character development/plot and production values. Gordin-Levitt does an amazing job as a troubled teen who is just trying to survive given the circumstances he was brought up in. I would highly recommend this film to anyone, gay or straight. I even recommended it to my family and they liked it as well.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
4 Stars But Beware
Added 9/12/2009

I give this film 4 stars because of the brilliance of the acting, writing, directing and cinematography. However, the subject matter is extremely disturbing. ****SPOILER ALERT**** This film is about child molestation and the way that 2 different boys\victims of the same perpetrator have tried to process the destruction to their lives. They have both suffered horribly and have dealt with the pain in 2 entirely different ways which proves to be a very terrifying and fascinating juxtapositon.

I would not want to watch this film again, it was heartbreaking and infuriating but I commend the creative team for tackling such a difficult subject that very few people want to acknowledge in life or on film.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Darkly Disturbing, Delightfully Deep
Added 10/13/2009

The film follows the lives of two boys who, at the age of 8, were molested by their little league baseball coach. The divergence in their personalities as they grow older is quite telling: one boy embraces what happened and longs to feel loved by a man, while his counterpart represses the scenario and becomes (as one character in the movie describes him) "asexual." Their reunion some 10 years after the fact ends in an intense and heart-pounding confrontation, amplified by a scene that can only be described as an exemplar of catharsis.

Both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbett deliver amazing performances, exploring a range and depth of emotion often missing in film. Both young men portray their character's unique perspective on the world perfectly: Gordon-Levitt in a numb and even nihilistic fashion, Corbett as a naive and trusting soul who has been gravely injured at a deep, psychological level.

The film rests in the same category of cinema as works such as "The Mudge Boy" and "My Own Private Idaho." This is perhaps the most phenomenally dark gay-coming-of-age film to date!

The themes and issues of child molestation stand apart from those of homosexuality and the two are not confused, even in the minds of the protagonists. Gordon-Levitt's character is avowedly gay while Corbett's is not. The clear distinction between pedophilia and homosexuality is both welcome and refreshing.

Personally I am appalled at the 1-star rating some users have given this film for its content. The film is graphic, disturbing, and shockingly provocative. Yet the characters are believable and likable over-all, the direction is superb, and the whole work is enthralling.

Michelle Trachtenberg and Jeffery Licon deliver sound performances in their respective supporting roles.

Five stars are given because Amazon won't allow me to give six.


3 out of 3 people found this helpful.
FREEKING WONDERFUL!!!
Added 10/6/2009

ive been waiting along time to see this movie again i saw it on cable a long while ago and could not think of the name then i get on amazon and found it this movie is crazy yet amazing. A very good movie put the kids to bed because its not for the faint hearted
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
mysterious skin
Added 9/29/2009



Sorry I can not rate this because I never received it from vender!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!he promised me next day delivery, after I never received the first one...........never got that one either...but I am charged for it.....

0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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