We often tout realism in art or, perhaps more commonly, we conversely grouse about how this or that work of art is not realistic enough. Except for the initial setup of the romance, The Sterile Cuckoo is otherwise very realistic.
Pookie Adams strikes up a conversation with a random guy at a bus stop. It turns out they're going to the same general area for college.
She latches on to him for dear life, apparently at random because he doesn't talk to her much or otherwise even show any interest in her.
It turns out Pookie is an antisocial outcast while the guy is a normie who wants to have the normal college experience - have some fun, study to please his parents, meet new people, not get into much trouble, etc.
The guy relents at Pookie's stubbornness and the two keep clashing over many things, with Pookie clearly becoming attached to the guy and clearly needing that attachment in a pathological way.
Very realistic, with the needy and crazy Pookie really conveying that type of person well and the guy continually flabbergasted and nervous, sort of being swept away by her attention but also finding her and her immense amount of psychological baggage stifling and repellent. The romance between the two is also sincere. They behave awkwardly and they seem confused and innocent about many things.
Unfortunately, truth itself does necessarily provide the best sort of entertainment at all times. It's a long and boring film, with lots of pointless empty space. While all three of the principal actors (Pookie, boyfriend, and boyfriend's roommate) give great acting performances, neither pookie nor the boyfriend are very compelling. Pookie has a seething frustration and discontent that never quite goes anywhere except makes boyfriend a little uncomfortable. Boyfriend, is, of course, completely boring and normal and hardly does anything other than react uncomfortably to things.
Tim McIntire gives a great performance as roommate, even though he's on camera less than 10% of the time. In fact, I saw a website where he was lauded as one of the actors that should have been famous but wasn't (he died fairly young). And yes, I agree, he's good. I saw it from his first scene.
One of the realest movies I've seen, but also too boring and pointless to recommend. Although if you have a personal connection to the subject matter you'll probably appreciate seeing your life on screen much more.
Honourable Mentions: Down and Dirty Duck (1974). 8th greatest movie of all time. A bildingsroman about a lewd Duck teaching a lame guy how to be a man.
Pookie Adams strikes up a conversation with a random guy at a bus stop. It turns out they're going to the same general area for college.
She latches on to him for dear life, apparently at random because he doesn't talk to her much or otherwise even show any interest in her.
It turns out Pookie is an antisocial outcast while the guy is a normie who wants to have the normal college experience - have some fun, study to please his parents, meet new people, not get into much trouble, etc.
The guy relents at Pookie's stubbornness and the two keep clashing over many things, with Pookie clearly becoming attached to the guy and clearly needing that attachment in a pathological way.
Very realistic, with the needy and crazy Pookie really conveying that type of person well and the guy continually flabbergasted and nervous, sort of being swept away by her attention but also finding her and her immense amount of psychological baggage stifling and repellent. The romance between the two is also sincere. They behave awkwardly and they seem confused and innocent about many things.
Unfortunately, truth itself does necessarily provide the best sort of entertainment at all times. It's a long and boring film, with lots of pointless empty space. While all three of the principal actors (Pookie, boyfriend, and boyfriend's roommate) give great acting performances, neither pookie nor the boyfriend are very compelling. Pookie has a seething frustration and discontent that never quite goes anywhere except makes boyfriend a little uncomfortable. Boyfriend, is, of course, completely boring and normal and hardly does anything other than react uncomfortably to things.
Tim McIntire gives a great performance as roommate, even though he's on camera less than 10% of the time. In fact, I saw a website where he was lauded as one of the actors that should have been famous but wasn't (he died fairly young). And yes, I agree, he's good. I saw it from his first scene.
One of the realest movies I've seen, but also too boring and pointless to recommend. Although if you have a personal connection to the subject matter you'll probably appreciate seeing your life on screen much more.
Honourable Mentions: Down and Dirty Duck (1974). 8th greatest movie of all time. A bildingsroman about a lewd Duck teaching a lame guy how to be a man.