Sharp Stick

In writer/director Lena Dunham's edgy, original, cheap indie "Sharp Stick" quietly on-the-spectrum care-worker Kristine Froseth lives in Hollywood with hippy-dippy single mum Jennifer Jason Leigh & wannabe internet sensation sis Taylor Paige (the rising star so good again). At 26 virgin Froseth suddenly undergoes a sexual awakening, first via simple Jon Bernthal (hubbie of Dunham, the parents of the Down Syndrome lad Froseth cares for) then thru various strangers she uses to tick off a check-list built thru watching porn (!) particularly her fave adult-star Scott Speedman. It's certainly out there, with meaning unclear, but is well-cast, original, watchable fare.

Because Jon Bernthal, I watched this film, when I saw its rating, I hesitated for a long time. But I still gathered my courage and opened it. After watching it, my mind was greatly shocked. I simply couldn't believe what I had seen. This film exuded a strange and uncomfortable feeling from beginning to end. Just a few minutes into it, I felt extremely tortured - the plot was incomprehensible, a complete mess, and chaotic... I don't understand why Kristine Froseth acted like this. She made me feel uncomfortable, making her look either stupid or mentally challenged. But I believe she's not that bad. And Lena Dunham, could you please get out of the frame? Her acting was terrible, and I don't want to see her on screen anymore. Jon gave a decent performance and showed off his physique. To my surprise, Ebon was also in this film.

There were too many parts of this film that I couldn't understand, making me want to quickly find some other good movies to cleanse my eyes.

(I wrote the review in Chinese, but the website doesn't allow me to send it in Chinese, so I used a translator to translate it into English)

When I read the synopsis on Sharp Stick, I thought this could be interesting, particularly in the hands of Lena Dunham. There are a few interesting elements here, like when the naive lead character first discovers sex and becomes initially obsessed with porn and makes it her mission to try all of the different sex positions/styles she discovers through porn herself, and tracks that journey via two large posters taped to her bedroom wall. As for the performances they're all solid and contribute something to the overall experience. Personally, the one exception might be Jennifer Jason Leigh. In general, I like her and think she's done some great work, but for me her selection struck me as JJL doing another typical JJL type of work and would have liked to see someone not so expected in this role. The film looked good but the story itself just didn't develop in a way that made me really care much about the characters, but was rather just observing them. The Dunham character and her husband in particular seemed random with no backstory or development. Despite some solid elements Sharp Stick just isn't so sharp.

I watched Sharp Stick as an in-flight movie so not at optimal picture quality, but it was still a reasonably enjoyable movie.

The main problem is the age and character of the main protagonist. As another reviewer commented, it seems as though she was written as a much younger character, but made older in the final script (possibly to avoid offending current paranoia/social mores?) It isn't really credible that any woman in her mid-twenties, living in LA, wouldn't have heard of basic intimate acts. Particularly with a very sassy, savvy sister.

There is a lot of intimate action in this, though in terms of nudity it's not explicit. I thought the first scenes were well done, but the central plot of adultery was somewhat brushed aside along with the husband and wife. Why she later does what she does - extreme behaviour/acts for anyone - didn't seem very realistic.

I did enjoy Scott Speedman as adult actor Vance. Luka Sabbat was also very good, although the final "happy ending" (not intended as a pun though I suppose it could be!) wasn't convincing, and was odd. I didn't feel the animated sequences really fit the tone of the rest of the movie.

But all in all it's interesting and certainly worth a view on a long haul flight.

This was made by the kids that were rejected from the high school drama group. I can't think of a category this doesn't stink. 2/10 for being in focus with clear audio.

The non plot meanders aimlessly as we're slowly and without a hint of subtlety directed to watch the protagonist, because she's obviously going through some stuff. We're also given back story using the heaviest tools... come on... show don't tell!

Overacting from most of the cast can only have come from direction... or maybe the whole cast was high?

I loved Girls, but this isn't even worth your time to find out. Fly a kite, write an awful review or take up building... but give this a miss. 2/10.