Lost And Delirious

Most helpful review Lost And Delirious

• What a thought-provoking movie

   

  By You can call me Dave from Manchester , 01 Dec 2004

  [Highly rated reviewer]

  OK, so I wasn't expecting this to be much. I have an extremely naive ideology that any movie that hasn't cost a fortune, and been promoted more than a McDonald's employee, is going to be pants.
  
  I was expecting this to look like a low budget channel 5 drama... and have worse acting.
  
  On the contrary, the film is beautifully lensed (by French Cinematographer Pierre Gill) and looks stunning.
  
  As a plus, the DVD isn't presented in CinemaScope Extra Wide Wide Very WideScreen and will fill up all of the telly that you paid for.
  
  There aren't any extras or special features that I remember, except for a trailer.
  
  I admit that I got this film originally just because of Piper Perabo. I had no idea what I was about to see, and frankly, I didn't care... as long as she was in it.
  
  What I saw was incredibly touching and tragic.
  
  Dispite what I have read about the movie since, it is not a Lesbian porno. This is good and bad. The scenes you will probably remember the most are all executed beautifully, and very tastefully.
  
  The story is loosely based on 'The Wives Of Bath' and revolves around three girls in a boarding school, who all have very different backgrounds. The film is narrated from the POV of 'Mouse' (The O.C's Mischa Barton) who discovers that her 2 roommates, Paulie (Piper Perabo) and Tori (Jessica Par?), are a little more than 'mates'. She accepts it, but Tori's sister finds out when she bursts in on them in bed together (apparently, in movies, people don't knock first, or say 'goodbye' when finishing a phone-call). She is, how you say?, Pas tr?s heureux. Scared that her little brat-of-a-sister would tell mummy and daddy that sister is a lesbo, Tori breaks off the relationship with Paulie, and gets herself a boyfriend. Paulie is devastated, and sets about trying to win back Tori - through a series of rather mannish stunts.
  
  The film is best described as being about 'Love'and the destructive effect it can have to someone in the teenage years. It's also equally about acceptance. A line from the film that describes it best is when Paulie says to Mouse 'I'm not a Lesbian, I'm Paulie in love with Tori'.
  
  It is a very serious, tragic and moving film. If you're a bloke watching it with your girlfriend, make sure you have a large supply of tissues on hand (OI! I mean't for the inevitable crying) and be prepared for 'the talk' that WILL follow afterwards. I'm not going to give away what happens, but it's a moving ending that will make you think.
  
  The soundtrack complements the film nicely, with highlights including 'Beautiful' by Me'Shell Nd?geocello, and 'You had time' by Ani DiFranco. The original score by Yves Chamberland isn't great, but does the job. If Thomas Newman had scored the film though... I would of wept like a baby girl.
  
  The film largely takes place in an anonymous year (I read somewhere it was supposed to be set in the 70's, but I saw modern cars, so I guess it's set in the here-and-now), and touches on the fact that society still doesn't see same-sex relationships as 'appropiate'. Let's make it clear, this is not a Lesbian or Gay film. I'm not gay, but I still felt for the characters.
  
  Give it a go, it's worth it.
  
  So... Don't watch if:
  
  You're into special FX. The most technologically advanced thing I saw in this film was a Gardener.
  
  You're into comedies.
  
  You fancy Mischa Barton from 'The O.C'. She's 15 in this film. That's wrong.
  
  Your expecting a Lesbian porno with the hot one from Coyote Ugly. It's nothing like that, and she can really act. In fact, it's her dynamic performance that powers this film.
  
  Do watch if:
  
  You want to watch a challenging, entertaining and insightful film. This isn't called a 'movie' for nothing.
  
  It will move you.

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