I'm a big admirer of Molly Parker, who might be the best indie actress today. From taking unconventional roles to her appearances on many Canadian T.V. programs, she always shined and might be a future Oscar winner; she's a superb actress from the old-school. She's not a phony type like most Hollywood types; perhaps that's why she's shunned the big time. I would also shed a tear if she ever got married, unlike others, who probably get married every year to spend the big money they get.
Center of The World (rented with the vastly different Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventures) is about Richard (Peter Sarsgaard), a dot-com millionaire who has spent the last two years as a recluse in front of a computer, trying to shake off the pain of a dissolved relationship. One day, out and about, he is captivated by Florence (Parker), a drummer in a band who works as an exotic dancer. Surprised that the ordinary looking Florence is a stripper, he goes to the club and she looks much different and way more beautiful. After a period of time in which he's a customer of hers, he asks her to go to Las Vegas with him. She eventually agrees but there must be some conditions, such as no sex, no kissing, and they must be together only at certain times for their "encounter" (although they spend the day together as "friends"). So they go to the greatest city in the world, get the best room at New York New York, and the viewer sees these two in a "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?" style movie, where they let out their secrets and sexual fantasies for everyone to see.
We see the two of them slowly falling into love, but there seems to be a barrier that prevents them from being together, and that barrier comes into play during their three days together.
Wayne Wang and his writers deliver a superb script, and Parker and Sarsgaard deliver awesome performances. You'll forget you're watching a film and are instead watching a human drama that is from the real world. Playing Unreal Tournament, the encounters in the bedroom, the ride of the Coney Island roller coaster; all of it is from a real world. And of course, Las Vegas continues to show it's beauty and splendour.
The DVD contains a director's commentary, two alternate endings, a documentary about an adult website created to promote the film, production notes, and a soundtrack for your CD-ROM. Also, the opening credits, typed in the way the nervous, naive Richard himself would do it; backspacing his many typos is very cool. If you want to see why indie film making is gaining a growing contingent, check this one out.
