Review of Centre Of The World, The

Introduction

Ok, let`s briefly dissect this plot then. Following a chance meeting with rock drummer and lap dancer Florence in a coffee shop, Richard (computer nerd, plays Unreal Tournament, no social skills, spends his time looking at porn on the web) offers her $10,000 to spend three days with him in Las Vegas.

Who`s thinking of cheese stuffed 1990 rom-com Pretty Woman here? Sounds a bit too familiar doesn`t it? Well, this film is more dot-com than rom-com, and perhaps more Last Tango in Paris than Pretty Woman. But the basic premise is similar, it`s just the execution that differs.

Video

An average 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer is given to us here. The film was shot with a combination of Betacam and miniDV, there`s a lack of sharpness, and some print damage, and the colours do waver a bit. Apparently the region 1 disc contains a commentary which explains why the image quality is so variable.

Audio

A DD5.1 soundtrack is given to us, but you do wonder why they bothered. The extra channels are hardly used at all, and a simple stereo soundtrack would have sufficed. There`s very little else to say though!

Features

A meagre splattering of lightweight extras. First there are two alternative endings that both consist of the same footage as the original ending, just re-cut. "Behind the Cyberscenes" is a "making of" documentary about the porny web site of the film, and not the film itself. There`s also an extended scene and some production notes.

Conclusion

A tedious film that gets caught between being arty porn and porny art, and if you scratch at the porny exterior, you`ll find very little in the way of plot and character development underneath. You care nothing for the people here, so it doesn`t really matter what happens to them. If what happens is good or bad, who cares? What actually happens is utter drivel, and you`ve just wasted your time watching it. If you want to watch porn, buy a porn film, if you want to watch art, buy an art film. Just don`t buy this one.

It`s slow, plodding and dull, and just when you hope something good might happen, it doesn`t, and the film ends with a massive whimper described by some as ambiguity, but described by me as pathetic.

The DVD is also rather average, and again there`s a better one in region 1. One to avoid.