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June 7th, 2006 by Cory Mailliard (Permalink)
Director: Gregg Araki Year: 2005 Add Comments |
You know, I’m not sure if Gregg Araki’s Mysterious Skin is a good film. This is no doubt a product of the guttural revulsion it purposely evokes. Still, I respect that by thirty minutes in it had sparked an intense internal debate—not only about its subject matter but also its merits as a piece of art—that has continued for days after the initial viewing. Though it’s ham-fisted and obvious during a few key scenes (and hampered by a few performances that just don’t stand up under scrutiny) I find myself returning again and again to a few worrisome questions. I feel I must recommend anything that causes me to seriously wonder if I can parse molestation in to “good” and “bad” molestation—a disgusting idea made worse when I realized that I already had.
The eye of this psychic storm is the relationship between Neil (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and the unnamed Coach (Bill Sage). A self-aware homosexual, the young Neil falls in love with Coach—a man more than happy to reciprocate. What troubles most is not that I had Coach pegged as a monster—he is—but my sudden realization that my decision may not have been based on his obviously degenerate actions. Since Neil is something of a willing participant, I was forced into viewing the situation through the same prism I had viewed recent stories about attractive female teachers bedding their underage students. I reflect now on the typical barroom consensus (which I shared) that those boys were lucky bastards. The unfortunate conclusion is that I gave those young women a pass because the relationship was heterosexual. It’s not a pretty thing when you’re confronted with prejudices you thought you had exorcised. It says something that Mysterious Skin made me defensive enough that when I caught scent of the homophobia in the room, I immediately assumed it was coming from Araki. But weeks after the initial viewing, I still can’t trace the source of my distaste. All I find is the vague sense that Mysterious Skin purposely exploits homosexuality to disgust its audience and the understanding that I wouldn’t have been so disgusted were it not for my own intolerance.
The film plays like an extended nightmare its main characters are unable to wake from. Images and poses are repeated and echoed again and again, reminding uncomfortably of the horrific event that has seeped subconsciously into every facet of their lives. There are scenes here I don’t think I will ever forget, and I mean that as high praise.
It’s not often you find a film that you can really fight with. Mysterious Skin is willing to stand and take any punch you can throw at it. Just don’t be surprised if it responds with a haymaker to the chin.
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