Center of the World, The

Aroview: A frank, if indulgent erotic drama from eclectic dir. Wayne Wang (SMOKE), about two lost souls transacting intimacy in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Sarsgaard plays a 'dotcom' millionaire in near-burnout mode who pays lap-dancer Parker to share a weekend of pleasure with him, an encounter delineated by certain restrictions (eg. no actual intercourse). Both characters soon find their inner emotional needs disrupting this business-like scenario. Yet despite a certain gritty 'realism' (helped by the digital video format) and the often fearless performances, Wang's sense of emotional truth is disturbingly joyless.

more matches…