(1999)
2
Laura Abraham
Body Shots tackles a subject most Hollywood films would rather avoid: date rape. The story focuses on a set of eight characters, all vapid, self-centered yuppies living the high life in Los Angeles. It doesn't take long for the film to become an us-vs.-them dialogue about gender differences surrounding the definition of consensual sex. A worthy topic indeed, but a difficult one for these inexperienced actors to pull off. Director Michael Cristofer refuses to use traditional narrative methods; he often shoots in a documentary style, and jumbles the chronology of events for effect. Couple this with fast-moving camera work and odd angles, and Body Shots is a seemingly never-ending roller coaster ride. The style detracts from the fact that the story misses the character's real problem: alcoholism. Written by David McKenna -- who also wrote American History X -- Body Shots is similarly thought-provoking and startling to watch. It just runs off track and has a cop-out conclusion.
Body Shots on AllMovie
Body Shots (1999)
