Monogamy (2010)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Expected more

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Theo (Chris Messina) is a Brooklyn wedding photographer with girlfriend Nat (Rashida Jones). He starts a side business Gumshoot to take faux voyeuristic pictures of his clients. Nat is taken aback by his client Subgirl (Meital Dohan). He starts stalking the mysterious woman. Nat is hospitalized for a minor injury and they're planning for their wedding. It all comes to a head and he breaks up with her.This needs more drama. The Subgirl character is almost a red-herring. The movie needs a powerful scene between her and Theo. He's not that compelling. His drama is all in his head. This could be "Blowup" but it doesn't have nearly enough of moody or style. These are interesting actors especially Rashida Jones but there isn't enough of much else.

The film, as I see it, shows that Theo and Nat are stuck in the so-called erotic block. Clues are numerous, though rather understated. The title of the film is somewhat ironic, if not paradoxical. There is monogamy and monogamy. What Theo encounters in his tracking down of the exhibitionist blonde is the erotic side of that often humdrum institution called "marriage", or monogamy for that matter. In other words, Theo encounters what can happen to be the gateway to heaven on earth and can help monogamy become erotic and thus thriving (counterintuitive though this may seem culturally). An erotic couple may engage in role play thus allowing themselves to enter altered states of consciousness (for it's in the brain that eroticism burgeons, sex being merely a function) after which they happily return to "normal". Goes without saying, it shouldn't be taken for a recipe, i.e. success formula, which would be rather reductionist, for art is metaphor, first and foremost... The actor Chris Messina renders the anguish of the fellow about to enter what "only death should the couple part" in a beautifully nuanced way that testifies to the depth of his talent.

I saw this film at Tribeca and it really stayed with me. I was pleased it won BEST NY NARRATIVE - it was by far the best film at the festival. The concept of man being faithful has obviously been explored in film, but this is a fresh and very well told story. The acting is superb, both performances from Messina and Jones feel so real and true. While watching the film you truly feel like you are in this couple's apartment and lives, watching them struggle and deteriorate. Shapiro does a beautiful job giving the movie breath, letting us feel the reality of the situations. The cinematography is also beautiful - again real New York, not the one of shiny romantic comedies. it's definitely worth seeing when it gets released next year.

Monogamy (2010) was co-written and directed by Dana Adam Shapiro. The basic concept of the film is interesting. A photographer--Theo, played by Chris Messina--moonlights as "Gumshoot." Gumshoot is hired by people to take candid shots of themselves. It's an interesting thought--what do we look like when we're being photographed, but we aren't posing.The problem begins when Theo starts to photograph a striking blonde woman with whose life he becomes obsessed. This obsession begins to control him and eventually begins to cause a split between Theo and his fiancé Nat (Rashida Jones). I can't identify with a guy who doesn't have all that much going for him, and yet puts a wonderful relationship in jeopardy in order to follow his obsession. Of course, that's the point of the movie--if the obsession made sense, it wouldn't really be an obsession. If you can see things from Theo's point of view, you'll enjoy the movie. If not, probably not.We saw this film, at the Rochester 360-365 Film Festival. (Dumb name, but good festival.) It will work better on a large screen than a small screen, because part of the enjoyment comes from seeing the Brooklyn and Manhattan locations. In my opinion, not a film worth seeking out, but probably worth a look, especially if you're from NYC.