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Hurry Shop - Mysterious Skin (Deluxe Unrated Director's Edition)
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List Price: $24.99
Our Price: $13.85
Your Save: $ 11.14 ( 45% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Strand Releasing
Starring: Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison, George Webster
Directed By: Gregg Araki
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: NC-17
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0712267260027
Format: Closed-captioned
Label: Strand Releasing
Manufacturer: Strand Releasing
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Strand Releasing
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2006-03-20
Running Time: 90
Studio: Strand Releasing
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Painful, and healing for me.
Comment: I am a survivor of sex abuse. Boys like myself are too often Victims, but not so much "survivors" of abuse. Many boys end up in graves from suicide, many of us end up alone. The majority of sex abuse victims are little boys. We hardly ever get help like females do, because girls are encouraged to tell and talk, we are forced into stoic quietude. Films like "Mysterious Skin" help me heal a bit, and yeppers, help me close old wounds. Yep, this film, though tasteful, could make those unfamiliar with abuse feel "squirmy" and uncomfortable. All said and done, this is a good, if not great film. I would lean towards great, and do lean towards great. What makes a film like this different is the fact that independent film doesn't rely on big studio sales, just being a good film is oft enough for the artists and actors. This is great as "art," and as a commercial piece. I am immensely impressed with this, and other works like it. Take a chance, folks. Not every movie has to be Transformers or the latest Angelina vessel. I love it. Its catharsis for me, and folks like me.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Repels & Fascinates
Comment: "Mysterious Skin" was adapted for screenplay by director Gregg Araki from Scott Heim's novel. Araki's reputation for bold films continues with this tale. Araki was nominated for Best Director for the film by the Independent Spirit Awards. He won the same type of award from the Seattle International Film Festival (Golden Space Needle Award), from the Rotterdam International Film Festival (MovieZone Award), from the Bergen International Film Festival (Jury Award) and from the Brisbane International Film Festival (Interfaith Award). I found the theme of child abuse made this a very difficult film for me to watch. The performances and the film's final frames made it rewarding.
Two child actors do excellent jobs in the film. The wide-eyed George Webster who plays young Brian and Chase Ellison as young Neil who recently filmed with Julia Roberts in "Fireflies in the Garden" both do excellent jobs, despite the difficult context of their performances.
Brady Corbett who has been on TV's "24," plays young blond Brian who has blotted out the memory and "loses time," even though he is haunted by it.
The film, however, belongs to Joseph Gordon-Levitt who did such a great job in Stop-Loss and was from TV's "Third Rock from the Sun." He was nominated for "Beakthrough Award" by the Gotham Awards and won a Best Actor award from the Seattle Film Festival for this film. As the teenage Neil, Joseph plays with great distrust to the world. He is harsh and angry.
The most difficult to watch was Bill Sage as the baseball coach who takes advantage and abuses the children. My reaction is that anyone who takes advantage of child in this way deserves capital punishment. That said, Sage's good looks and pleasing smile spin a web in which these children fall due to parental neglect.
Brian's parents are played by Lisa Long who has worked on many TV shows including "Desperate Housewives," "Eli Stone" and "Dharma & Greg." Chris Mulkey who was in North Country (Widescreen Edition) and works frequently on TV always has this look like he could flip you off or swear at you given the least provocation. While he may be the greatest guy in real life, he excels at these roles. Elisabeth Shue who was nominated for an Oscar for "Leaving Las Vegas" in 1996 plays Neil's single mother who is as centered on her social life as she is on her son's.
Jeffrey Licon plays Eric, Neil's best friend & eventually Brian's. His flamboyant hair & makeup make him a standout in this small-town setting. Some may recall him playing the Goth Kid God on TV's "Joan of Arcadia." His role in the film is interesting, although one wonders at his unrequited love for Neil. Perhaps his function in the film is to show how much Neil toughens up during his sojourn in New York.
Three supporting roles should also be recognized. Michelle Trachtenberg from TV's "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" & who won a special Jury Prize for Breakthrough Performance from the Sarasota (I think that's right) Film Festival for Beautiful Ohio does a good job as the flamboyant Wendy who moves to New York City and brings Neil there. Mary Lynn Rajskub who plays on TV's "24" and appeared in Little Miss Sunshine plays Avalyn Friesen who is on crutches and believes she was abducted by space aliens. Of the guys who patronize Neil's personal business, the best performance is by Billy Drago as the AIDS-infected Zeke. Drago often plays creepy characters, but this is one creepy guy who displays his bliss. It was a weird mix, but a memorable performance. (I hope that was makeup on his yellow teeth!)
"Mysterious Skin" is a difficult but powerful film. It repels even as it fascinates. While I'm returning it the day after I watched it because I want it out of my house, it was an excellent film to watch. The strange DVD extra where the two leading young men read excerpts from the novel point out to me how valuable a class in Oral Interpretation can be. Overall, this film was an excellent achievement. Enjoy!
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Good performances, terrible direction
Comment: The performances in this movie are very good. However, the actual depictions of some of the events in this movie are far too graphic and verge on parody. Some of the scenes are so over-the-top they come off as insincere and cringe-inducing. Save your money.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Poor delivery.
Comment: The movie itself was actually pretty good. The delivery, however, left much to be desired. When I received the DVD it was visibly damaged. When I opened the DVD box I realized the full extent of the damage to the product. The box was practically shredded and the DVD itself was horribly scratched, so much so that the DVD would not play. If you wish to see this movie, don't do so through Amazon.com.
Customer Rating:
Summary: mysterious skin
Comment: 'Mysterious Skin' definitely tackles a wallop of a subject, and in doing so, it fearlessly portaits an utterly heart-breaking, though moving, and quiete often disturbing story that is ultimately powerful, and yes, mysterious.
The story is about two 18 year old boys, Neil and Brian, who were victims of sexual abuse 10 years ago by their little league coach (Bill Sage). The film focuses on each boy as Brian desperately tries to remember what happened to him while the other, Neil, can't forget. In Brian's search for answers, he comes across Neil in a group picture from their little league team whom he believes has the answer to what Brian calls his "lost time".
Directed by Greg Araki (who also adapted it from Scott Heim's novel of the same name), I expected something pretty sensational, even exploitative considering Araki's previous work. However, I was extremely impressed to see that Araki's direction and writing had really matured. The film was focused, complete, and controlled. In other words, it felt like I was watching something a vetran filmmaker had directed which is quite an accomplishment. Even with a small budget, the film never felt cheap or badly made. Araki uses many interesting camera tricks and placement that really make the film feel fresh and new.
The acting, especially from the film's two leads, is fantastic! Joseph Gorden-Levitt really proves he has some serious acting chops. Brady Corbet is equally wonderful but this is Levitt's moment. The suppoting cast is also great and, well, supportive.
It's no surprise that in dealing with this tough subject matter that the view will experience some difficult scenes to digest. However, rest assured, none are exploitative nor are they sensationalized. They are delt very delicately with and are there for a purpose. In fact, many of the unsettling scenes are remarkably powerful and leave the viewer an indelible impression. You won't soon forget about 'Mysterious Skin' for quite some time.
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