The Blue Tooth Virgin (2008) Reviews

• The perils of criticism

  mintonmedia2009-09-21

  Clever mini-budget comedy/drama that wickedly probes real truths about screen writing and, more seriously, explores the lies we tell each other and ourselves and the costs and rewards of absolute truthfulness. Consisting of eight dialogues (comic or serious and sometimes morphing from one to the other) beautifully (and non-statically) shot in various locales around LAlaland, it manages to be about not just creativity but the basis of friendship and--most importantly--about whether we can ever avoid trying to be what we feel others want us to be and do and follow our instincts about what WE really want out of life. It may feel much like a play, but the strong visuals and uniformly excellent acting make that an asset rather than a liability. (Karen Black as a strange, expensive script consultant is especially good.) The writer/director calls this "Rohmer lite"...and if you get that reference, you'll probably like the film.

• About understanding one's self, and trying to accept constructive criticism

  napierslogs2010-10-02

  Screenwriter Sam (Austin Peck) has written "The Blue Tooth Virign". He's awfully excited about it; he tells his friend David (Bryce Johnson) that it's a thriller driven by characters, and he wants David to read it and give him notes. This film offers an hilarious and critical analysis of his script, David trying to tell Sam what he really thought about it, and Sam trying to accept who he really is. Sam has to learn to accept some harsh criticism of his work, but worse, some harsh criticism about what kind of person he is. David's life is easier, but he has to figure out how to give criticism and to open up about what he wants out of writing, and try not to lose a friend through honesty. I got really wrapped up into what I can learn about myself as a writer. This film got me more interested in understanding myself more than these characters, but that just may be one of their ultimate goals in writing and making this film. I laughed a lot during their discussions about "The Blue Tooth Virgin", I laughed a little bit during the script consultation, and I really appreciated their attempts to help me become more self-aware as a writer. For anyone who really wants to examine their selves and their creative craft, this is a must see. I now may be more open to constructive criticism on my work. Maybe.

• Completely underrated gem

  whineycracker20002014-04-08

  First of all, let me just assure you that I have no connection to this film or its makers whatsoever, I just randomly picked this up at the public library the other day out of sheer happenstance. All I can say is:I was completely giddy after viewing it. I can't believe I had never heard of this film! Okay, so the production is slightly marred by a limited budget, but that ultimately does not detract from the overall effectiveness, as it relies solely on clever dialog and intelligent characters. Basic Plot: A sophomoric LA screenwriter(Sam)eagerly seeks the advice (and, ultimately, validation) from his pedestrian/artistically- ambivalent buddy(David) on his latest screenplay and when the input is less than flattering, Sam questions both David's loyalty as a friend and his own merit as a writer. He ultimately tries to find validation from others, including his live-in girlfriend, but the feedback is at best dubious, and he subsequently begins a meltdown. Now admittedly, this subject has been explored to varying degrees in other films (Solandz's Storytelling, Adaptation, and a handful of Woody Allen films come to mind) but what sets this film apart from the crop is that there is not one shred of hypocrisy on the part of the filmmakers: the film is very, very humble in the way it explores the neuroses of its characters. It does not condescend to it's subjects the way (I believe) the aforementioned films tend to do (don't get me wrong, I think those films are absolutely brilliant and pioneering in their own right). This film comically, yet honestly, examines the role of human ego in the creative process, while openly questioning the screenwriter's motivation for wanting to tell stories in the first place. The structure of the film is appropriately straight-forward, but there are plenty of surprises, and the film earns them. The two main characters get the job done and the scene with the late Karen Black had me in stitches- I completely forgot what an astounding actress Black really was. She delivers a show-stealing performance so nuanced and hilariously dead-pan that it must be seen to be believed. The beauty of her scene is that she brilliantly walks the shaky line between being an absurd caricature and a conduit of truth: she is completely integral to conveying the film's message without spelling anything out to the audience. One has to read between the (utterly hilarious)lines. What else can I say without mentioning spoilers? The film is unapologetic to its characters as it gleefully confronts topics that I suspect many people in creative professions avoid (again, the role of narcissism and ego in the creative process). I have the sinking suspicion that this independent winner will not reach many audience members that would most benefit from seeing it. The most telling aspect of the film's integrity is that it was clearly made by people who knew that it would never get a wide release, make millions of dollars, or catapult their careers into mainstream viability. It was made to be made, simply because the filmmakers had something substantial to get off their chests. The fact that the film is both keenly observant,thought-provoking,and truly hysterical makes it some kind of small miracle. **** Stars. Seriously, see it!