Richard Longman (Peter Sarsgaard) is a dot com meteor on the rise. He's alone and depressed. He talks to Florence (Molly Parker) at his coffee place who turns out to be a stripper. He offers her $10k to spend three days in Las Vegas with him. He lays out the terms where they spend four hours each night but with limitation. He starts falling for her. Her local friend Jerri (Carla Gugino) is a card dealer.This could have been a simple two person erotic play following in the footsteps of "Last Tango in Paris". Sarsgaard and Parker are very capable actors. It wouldn't be breaking any new grounds but it would still be interesting to see the actors try their best. Sarsgaard definitely has the sadness but he doesn't strike me as a nerd who needs to pay for a girl. That guy is too beautiful to not have a dozen girls chasing after him. Director Wayne Wang is unable to deliver anything visually compelling other than some memorable erotica. The mixing of lower grade indie cinematography is distracting. In the end, this doesn't really get there.

This movie (excuse me, film) strives to be "edgy" with lots of "intense" sex scenes. At first the sex was compelling but after a while it was like, please make it stop. It's so boring!! We get it: they are two broken people with lots of problems, hang-ups, whatever. And they're channeling the emptiness of their lives into the sex. Beyond that, there's not much to this movie. Take away the sex and there's really not much here. In agreeing to join him in LV, Florence has a set of rules to which they must adhere. OK. But we don't really find out what's behind her strict adherence to "the rules." It's like a plot device that goes nowhere. Then, there's the scene where Richard runs into an old friend and Florence puts on a fake southern (?) accent and makes up a story about operating clothing line of for women's fantasies. Wow, she's so smart, witty and in- your-face! Four stars is really a stretch.

I recently saw this movie again and although the topic may still be important in todays society, as a subject for a movie it however seems a bit outdated. However, it is still a very nice movie. A lot of people are drawn towards this film because of the rumors of graphic visual material. However this is not a pornographic movie and less "shocking" than a movie like "Baise-moi". But this is definitely not the essence of the movie.It deals with the subject of realism in several aspects. One is the reality or artificiality of the life of the computer dude that lives through computers. The internet is his world and is taking over the real world. He can no longer relate to people in a regular way and starts an artificial relationship with a stripper. The movie deals with the question how real these relations can be and where the real world and real emotions fit into this artificiality.This aspect is enhanced by the use of different ways of filming. At certain times it is filmed like any other movie and this cinematic quality fits the "artificial" aspect of the movie. At other times the makers switch to a style of filming whose hand-held camera footage is reminiscent of documentaries and reality shows and whose graininess reminds us of home movies. I find that the makers have made some very nice and efficient cinematographic choices to bring their message. For that alone I find the movie worthwhile. People seem to forget that hand-held does not automatically equate to Blair Witch type movies and can convey so much more.Definitely an interesting movie to watch.

Films that cause a stir like this are rare. Some reviews rave about it, others say better to spend your money on knitting needles.The critics have a point. It is hard work, on many levels. Pre-digested sweet and tasty Saturday night stuff this is not.But the reason it has so many riled is probably because it cuts a little too close to the bone. For a generation raised on celebrity marriages and fairytale lifestyles this is uncomfortably realistic.Whether single, married, divorced or living a hermit life in Fiji, these are strange days. Does Mr. Wang have a point? Has he touched on something here? Watch it and make up your own mind.