剧情介绍
Fraughtwithoverobvioussymbolism,Hartleysearlyfeatureisnonethelessajoytowatch.Halhereshowsushisuncannyabilitytocasthischaractersperfectlycameearlyinhiscareer.AdrienneShelleyisanearperfectfoiltoherself,equalpartsannoyingteenburgeoninginhersexuality(thoughusingsexforseveralyears);obsessedwithdoomandinspiredbyidealismgonewrongsheisdeceptively–andsimultaneously–complexandsimple.HerAudreyinspiressomanylevelsofsymbolismitisalmostembarrassinglyrich(e.g.,hermodelingcareerbeginningwithphotosofherfoot–culminatingherdoingnude(butunseen)work;Manhattanmove;Europetrip;herstealing,thensleepingwiththemechanicswrench,etc.)AsJosh,RobertBurkegivesanabsolutelymasterfulperformance.Areformedprisoner/penitenthereturnstohishometowntofacedownpastdemons,accepthislotandbeginanewlife.Dressedinblack,andrepeatedlymistakenforapriest,hecorrectseveryone(Imamechanic),yetthesymbolismisrich:heabstainsfromalcohol,hepracticescelibacy(is,infactavirgin),andseeminglyhastakenonvowsofpoverty,andhumilityaswell.Thehumilityseemshardesttoswallowseeming,attimes,almostfalse,apretense.Yet,aswelearnmoreofJoshweseegenuinenessinhismodesty,thathishumilityisindeedearnestandbelievable.Whatseemsironicisthecharacterisfairlyforthrightinhissimplicity,yetsorichlydrawnitbecomestheviewerwhowantstomakehimoutasmorethanwhatheactuallyis.Afascinatinglywrittencharacter,perfectlyplayed.ThescenebetweenJoshandJane(awonderful,youngEdieFalco...Youneedawomannotagirl)ishilarious...real.ButHartleycantleaveitassuchandhistrick,havingtheactorsrepeatthedialogueover-and-overbecomesfrustratinglyartyandannoying...untilagainitbecomeshilarious.Whataterrificsenseofbizarrerealitythislendsthefilm(likekidsinaperpetualamnot/aretooargument).Hartleysweavesallofasmallneighborhoodsidiosyncrasiesintoatapestryofseemingstereotypesbutwhichdelvesfarbeneaththesurface,thecatalystbeingthateveryonebelievestheyknowwhattheunbelievabletruthofthetitleis,yetnotwopeoplecanagree(includingourhero)onwhatexactlythattruthis.Awonderfullittlemoviewithsomebigideas.
