Catch the "Shortbus" if You Can

Had a chance to catch Shortbus today. This is John Cameron Mitchell's follow up to Hedwig and the Angry Inch. All I can say is "Wow!"

Even though I loved Hedwig, I'd held off seeing Mitchell's latest because I thought it sounded a little gimmicky (he filmed the actors engaged in actual, multi-varietal sex acts). I'm happy to report that this film is brilliant and a worthy follow-up to Hedwig.

It is jarring at first. (The opening scene has a main character pleasuring himself via auto-fellatio.) But after the first few minutes you forget that, hey, the people onscreen are naked and doing naughty things.

What ultimately comes through is a real sweetness. These are characters who are trying desperately to connect with other human beings. Sex is just their means of communicating. And their fumbling attempts at making true, human connections are at turns hilarious and heartbreaking. Well, sorry to gush, but if you get a chance to see this film you owe it to yourself. Check out the (censored) trailer below.