Unmade Beds

Unmade beds, 1997.

Although this is a rather funny and entertaining film I can't help wondering why it's shown in theatres. It's clearly made for TV, and Mikey even say `stay tuned' to the camera! If you haven't used your hard-earned money on ticket to Unmade Beds, then take my advice: Don't. Watch it on TV, where it belongs. Tape it and watch it on a rainy day.

The film scores highly for honesty but loses points for being unilaterally bleak.

Voyeuristic shots through New York windows are typical of NY life but are irrelevant to the story or stories. There are four individuals and each is the subject of his/her separate documentary. Each of these films is held together only by a similarity of theme and treatment. Each person is seen in action or discussing those actions.

Don't watch this film if you're thinking of using the personals to meet people. On the evidence of Unmade Beds, personals either don't work or the sample chosen does not accurately reflect their usefulness.

Some acute observation is sadly wasted here.

Whether the story is entirely true or in some parts made up, as the director stated it is, is unimportant; the film covers the intriguing subject matter of how four single New Yorkers exist for a period of nine months, featuring the real lives of two female and two male actors who play themselves, concerned with getting older and still being single. Their single scene is provocatively portrayed as being sad and luridly comical. It is a film that highlights the problems that can be found in urban areas across America, as we bear witness to the plight of these singles trying to search for a mate through the internet and the personals, faced with agonizing loneliness and unresolved psychological problems. That these four are not particularly people that I can readily sympathize with, does not alter the fact that this is a very human story being told, one that has many implications on our culture, relating how alienated a people so many of us have become in this modern world.

I really liked this movie. Unlike some other viewers, I thought that it was very true movie. It sure shows the reality of lonesome hearts and of celibacy. The actors are very comfortable with the camera and very natural, which is very refreshing.

This movie talks about a very sad, depressing topic on a light mood, which brings a nice contrast. The images are beautiful and the scenes of the city, all those people behind windows, just as if we were voyeur is really fascinating. Just in the same mood than _Dreaming with the fishes_ or _Happiness_: good american cinema (please, not hollywoodian!)

This has just taken over from the Blair Witch Project as the most terrifying movie i've ever seen. And just like it, you come away thinking, 'Could it be real?'.

My answer? Surely not. Such pure dating horror couldn't exist in the world I live in. That's what I keep saying to myself anyway, and it helps me get to sleep most nights.

Four NY singles come across as some of the most unrelentingly relationship-resistant types to ever appear on screen. Their dances with romances seem forever doomed and watching them crash and burn through a few apparently real months in their lives will strike terror into the hearts of singles of any age. Is it a comedy? A satire? All I can say for sure is that it's surely one of the worst ever first date films I can conceive of.

Compelling viewing for the rest of us though.