The Sessions

Here's a dialogue driven movie that suffers from the written and directed by syndrome. Other then all of Helen Hunt very little is shown and very much is talked about. Lucky for us a sex surrogate limit therapy to six sessions. The best news although it seemed like more they didn't go the limit. If there is an award for nudity Helen Hunt will get a nomination. As far as a acting award, the on and off Boston accent won't help her cause. Comparisions will be made to the excellent French film the "Intouchables". The main difference, one has you leaving the theater uplifted the other leaves you down in the dumps. Only one writer director decided on a cat on an iron lung as a final shot. If your looking for a good story here's a maybe. If you are looking for a good time at the movies go elsewhere.

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source: The Sessions

I randomly watched this film last night without having the first idea to what it was about or who was in it. It was a great film which, for me, focused mostly on the balance between a mans severe disability and his incredible mind yet his desire to just be like any other man. If there were more people with his romantic mind, the world would be a better place. But asides from the film being great and unique (which is rare these days), I was interested to read others reviews as it does touch upon, and thus become itself, a controversial subject. It was of no surprise that some of the reviews dragged out some of the most narrow, if not closed minded opinions you would expect from such a subject matter. Do read them for yourselves. All the people involved with this film should be proud. It is the immature, primitive, possibly religious bigots who have tarnished a beautiful true story with their closed mindedness that should be ashamed. I would rather be Mark O'Brien than them!

Oscar worthy performances from Helen Hunt and John Hawkes and great support from William H Macy in a film that tells a sensitive story well and makes you feel better about the world.

With The Sessions, Ben Lewis delivers an intimist and very sensitive movie about this man who is going to discover his sexuality and find love at the same time. The excellent John Hawkes embodies the endearing Mark O'Brien with an undeniable accuracy and the quest of this character trapped in an iron lung is depicted with a sweet and sour tone and a lot of humour. Despite the movie being pretty well made, it it still difficult to be really passionate about this story probably because of the slight lack of rhythm and the relative redundancy of the action. However, The Sessions deserves credit for tackling in a beautiful way, and without any melodramaticism, such a difficult subject.

This movie is a small treasure for the honest and courageous acting, the lovely and subtle touches of humor, and the way that it touches those who are adult and open-minded. Once again it reminds us that the greatest films are those that take a minimalist approach (scenes just long enough with sufficient dialog and subtle splashes of music) and allow for the thinking movie lover to interpret as they wish. (Last week we watched this movie's polar opposite - the truly awful "We Bought A Zoo" - which violates every great movie guideline in every possible way). It is a movie that makes you think and will stay with you for quite awhile. View it and enjoy it!

This powerful true story based on the life of Mark O'Brien hits all of the right notes and is full of heartwarming surprises. Adapted from bed-ridden O'Brien's article about his experiences losing his virginity to a kind sex surrogate (and learning about the even greater pleasure of loving and being loved in return), "The Sessions" is witty and true, with performances that will certainly garner attention come Oscar time. Helen Hunt has a shot at a supporting nom as the caring sex surrogate, but it is John Hawkes' dedicated role as Mark that is easily one of the best lead performances of the year. He is inspiring, and so is this moving film. -Thomas Bond