THE SESSIONS
RYAN: We screened The Sessions pretty early, prior to any real buzz about it, so all I knew going in was Helen Hunt Sex Worker and I was like, “Sign me up!” Had I paid more attention, I would have realized she’s not a hooker.
CAROLINE: [laughs’ I knew a bit about this movie because John Hawkes of Winter’s Bone and Martha Marcy May Marlene fame had been getting early Oscar buzz. My main question, howe’er, was, “What the hell does it mean to be living in an iron lung?” I’ve heard that expression many times over the years and I never knew what it meant until seeing this movie.
RYAN: It’s quite impressive, the strength of spirit and character it takes to endure living that way. And knowing this movie is based on a true story makes it all the more impressive.
CAROLINE: This movie is a bit of a slow burn. It reminded me a little of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly from a few years ago in terms of its main character having a severe medical problem. But by the end, I realized how much I had enjoyed the movie.
RYAN: Can we just talk about Helen Hunt’s full frontal moments and how amazing she looks?
CAROLINE: Girlfriend is in great shape, though her Botox was out of control. Her forehead has nary a line. Luckily, it didn’t affect her performance, which is outstanding as usual.
RYAN: She’s really good in this role, and her chemistry – or lack thereof – with John Hawkes was very interesting.
CAROLINE: The whole scenario the movie is based on is fascinating. I’d never even heard of a sexual surrogate before, but after you get over the initial shock, it starts to make perfect sense. I mean, how else is a 38-year-old dude in an iron lung supposed to lose his virginity?
RYAN: Exactly. And where does one draw the line between sex surrogate and prostitution? I mean, either way you’re getting paid for sex.
CAROLINE: I think Helen’s character explains it pretty well in the movie, but yes, it’s an awkward, blurry line. Helen’s character really is like a therapist though; albeit one who will have sex with you.
RYAN: What’s unique about this film is that there are many sex scenes, but they’re not at all sexy. It speaks to the effectiveness of the screenplay and the performances, especially John’s. He and Helen are both receiving Oscar buzz, but I could especially see him getting the nod.
CAROLINE: Of course he will; he’s playing someone with an impairment; that’s Oscar gold right there. But in this case, it’s truly deserved. I don’t even know how he spent so much time with his body contorted like that.
RYAN: Totally freaky, I can’t imagine. I also don’t know how Helen spent so much time in those awful costumes. They were so dowdy.
CAROLINE: Yeah, but it takes place in the 80s, so her fashion sense can’t be helped. I also want to give a shout-out to the supporting cast, especially the people who played John’s attendants. I thought they were all great, even the dude in a tiny role. Surprisingly, this movie didn’t make me cry. I kept expecting to well up since there are some very emotional scenes. It definitely moved me, but never to tears.
RYAN: I did not come close to crying, which is to be expected.
CAROLINE: Yes, you are cold and dead inside.
— BOTTOM LINE —
RYAN: This is a good, sometimes-funny-sometimes-awkward but interesting character study. It almost felt like an adapted play at times, so to me it’s not really a must-see in the theater. It’s more for those who really want to follow the Oscar-worthy flicks or for those who, like you, want to know what it means to live in an iron lung.
CAROLINE: Ha. I see your point about it not necessarily being a must-see in the theater, but I really liked this movie and would recommend it strongly to people who are very into film and follow all the award-worthy ones. It’s a must-see for a niche group of people, but yes, probably not for everyone. It’s so well written and acted but definitely an art house type movie. I look forward to seeing what Oscar noms it will get.
— RATING —
