The Center of the World (2001)

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Although more infamous for its sex scenes than its acting and direction, Wayne Wang does marvels with a digital camera and his actors in a very good independent film.

Richard (Peter Sarsgaard) is a young computer genius worth a million or so who takes a liking to Florence (Molly Parker). They decide to take a trip to Las Vegas together, with Richard paying for everything, and some harsh guidelines set up by Florence: no kissing on the mouth, together for just four hours every night, and no actual sexual relations. Goofy Richard goes along with the demands, and the two skip town to Vegas. Richard is skipping more than just town, his computer business is about to go IPO, and his partner can not seem to get a hold of him. Florence and Richard settle into a routine, and try to get to know each other after being so intimate physically. Richard's love for Florence is obvious, but slowly Florence begins to have feelings for Richard that are not of the usual prostitute/John type. Jerri (Carla Gugino), one of Florence's screwed-up friends, notices a change in Florence when she is with Richard. Eventually, the couple begin breaking their rules, and this brings out everyone's true colors on the future of the relationship.

The title of the film is interesting in that Richard thinks the center of the world is his computer, and Florence thinks it is a female's physical sexuality. In the film, Florence's definition seems to be decided on, with Richard using his Center (moneywise) to get to her Center. The film treads through the familiar sexual obsession territory, but without going to the lengths that have been touched on in dozens of late night Showtime and Cinemax series and made-for-cable fodder. Richard is a genuine babe in the woods, trying to project a dangerous side, when in fact he is a nice guy who wants to help people. Try and keep track of how many times he asks Florence and others if they are okay or all right. Florence is a great character, unable to contain her growing emotional attachment, so she uses her own body as a wall to Richard's love. You find yourself wishing these two screwed up people would get it together. If anything, I sometimes found the sex got in the way of the plot. Both people share innocuous stories from their past, then follow through with kinky sexual acts, but I got more from the stories. Wang does a great job with the digital camera. He is respectful of his actors, not getting into everyone's face because he has the technology to, but he stays close enough to give the audience a voyeuristic feel in the hotel room scenes. While some scenes run long here and there, I found the two main characters so different and so interesting, I did not mind the slow spots. There is a lot of sex and nudity here, but only one very brief (and controversial) scene set in a strip club that constitutes anything you would see in an adult film.

"The Center of the World" is less than an hour and a half long, but speaks volumes about its characters. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, I am still smarting from sitting through Wang's "Chan is Missing," one of the most dull, over-celebrated, and pointless films ever made. He has come a long way, and I recommend this effort.

Stats:
(2001) 88 min. (* * * *) out of five stars
-Directed by Wayne Wang
-Screenplay by Ellen Benjamin Wong, Story by Wayne Wang & Miranda July and Paul Auster & Siri Hustvedt
-Cast: Peter Sarsgaard, Molly Parker, Shane Edelman, Carla Gugino, Balthazar Getty, Maryjane Green, Alisha Klass, Mel Gorham, Pat Morita, Lisa Newlan, Ian Gomez, Jason McCabe, Travis Miljan
(Unrated)