30 Beats

Marginally enhanced by the presence of a few experienced actors (Jennifer Tilly, Paz De La Huerta, Lee Pace), writer-director Alexis Lloyd’s Manhattan-set sexual roundelay is a shoddy feature debut. The film is a loosely strung-together series of sexual encounters between Manhattanites whose personalities contain an interest quotient less than what you might find on your average reality TV show.

From its opening assignation between a virginal African American girl and a geeky thirtysomething white guy, the tone is more actor's workshop than showcase. No small measure of disappointment stems from the filmmaker’s refusal to show any of the indicated intimacy at hand. Instead, we get stilted dialogue about bisexuality, “the fluidity of sexual energy and self-control.” Everything about the film’s situational foreplay and post-coital resolutions is posed, postured, and pretentious. You might think that there would bE a modicum of entertainment value in seeing semi-nude young actors showing off for the camera, but you’d be wrong.

Rated R. 88 mins. (D) (One Star - out of five/no halves)

Click Here to Visit the FilmBlog for Artwork, Movies, Music, News, Photos, Politics, Posters, Reviews, Trailers, Videos, and More

Tweet