Sex, lies, and digital videotape (Full Frontal (DVD))

Member Name: TJ-Mackey

Product:	Full Frontal (DVD)
Date:	10/12/02 (301 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny, Well acted, Lots for film fans to enjoy

Disadvantages: Ugly cinematography, Little plot, Definitely not for everyone

A movie within a movie within a movie...

Nicholas is a confident, up-and-coming black actor who is travelling to the location of his latest shoot - a David Fincher film in which he's working alongside Brad Pitt. Catherine is a journalist, following Nicholas around to get the inside story on his successes, his career, and his thoughts on the movie industry. There's a definite hint that there's more to their relationship than this, and just who is writing those unsigned love letters to Nicholas?

But wait... Nicholas is also called Calvin, and Catherine is also Francesca. And is this film really called 'Full Frontal', or is it 'Rendezvous', as the opening title card suggests? Everything becomes blurred (even the picture at times), and in the world of movie-making, what exactly is real, and what is an illusion? That's essentially the premise for Steven Soderbergh's latest release - a low budget, rough-around-the-edges film that lifts up a rock and looks into the lives of a collection of people working in and around Hollywood. Be prepared for lots of in-jokes, nods to other movies (including his own), and a sardonic swipe at those working in the entertainment industry of which Soderbergh himself is most definitely a part.

But will you enjoy it? If you go in expecting another 'Ocean's Eleven' or 'Erin Brockovich', then I'd have to say "probably not". 'Full Frontal' is much closer to Soderbergh's earlier films in terms of style and production, although the influence of his Hollywood successes aren't hard to spot. A lot of the action is shot on digital videotape, giving an ugly feel to the cinematography that contrasts dramatically with the scenes from 'Rendezvous', which are filmed in gorgeous 35mm. Given these differences, you might think it simple to distinguish between what is real and what is part of the "movie-within-a-movie", but Soderber
gh rarely makes it that easy...

The screenwriters for 'Rendezvous' are Carl and Brian, who also happen to be staging an off-Broadway play about the life of Hitler (the title of which would be criminal to spoil). Brian (Rainn Wilson) is excited about an upcoming date with a young woman he has met on the internet, while Carl (David Hyde Pierce) has apparently reached an impasse in his marriage to personnel director Lee (Catherine Keener), and is facing trouble at work. Lee's sister Linda (Mary McCormack) is a masseuse who is stopping off in LA before flying to Arizona to meet an artist she has fallen in love with on the internet. Everyone is in town to celebrate the birthday of film producer Gus (David Duchovny), although when the party does finally begin, things could hardly get any worse for the host.

Before signing on to appear in the film, all of the actors had to agree to a set of rules laid down by Soderbergh, which he attached to the screenplay when sending it out. These were:

1. All sets are practical locations.

2. You will drive yourself to the set. If you are unable to drive yourself, a driver will pick you up, but you will probably become the subject of ridicule. Either way, you must arrive alone.

3. There will be no craft service, so you should arrive on set "having had". Meals will vary in quality.

4. You will pick, provide, and maintain your own wardrobe.

5. You will create and maintain your own hair and make-up.

6. There will be no trailers. The company will attempt to provide holding areas near a given location, but don't count on it. If you need to be alone a lot, you're pretty much screwed.

7. Improvisation will be encouraged.

8. You will be interviewed about your character. This material may end up in the film.

9. You will be interviewed about the other characters. This material may end up in the finished film.

10
. You will have fun whether you want to or not. If any of these guidelines are problematic for you, stop reading now and send this screenplay back where it came from.

I have my doubts about how many of these rules were actually enforced, but it's obvious how much of a reputation Soderbergh now carries for him to be able to persuade stars such as Julia Roberts to agree to such requirements. In the final cut though, Roberts actually has the least to do, and it's the other performances that are the most noteworthy. David Hyde Pierce is surprisingly good as the neurotic Carl, while Catherine Keener is a revelation as his wife Lee, demonstrating a wide range of emotions over the course of the film. Mary McCormack is also impressive throughout as perhaps the most down-to-earth character, although I suspect her one scene with David Duchovny will be the most memorable. Nicky Katt, however, steals the show. Seen earlier this year in 'Insomnia', Katt's performance here as Hitler in Brian and Carl's play is truly hilarious, and one scene in which two SS officers are dancing around behind him as he attempts a serious conversation is quite brilliant.

On the whole, 'Full Frontal' is a film that won't appeal to everyone. Some of the action is non-linear, characters aren't immediately who they appear to be, and the grainy look and feel of the picture will put many people off. However, there's plenty here for film fans to enjoy and the impressive acting is certainly another positive. Sure, Soderbergh tries to be overly clever at times (some would say pretentious), but who really cares when it works so well? It's not his best film, but 'Full Frontal' is definitely worth taking a chance on.

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