Edmond

3 out of 7

William H. Macy continues his cinematic plight to make people act right in this surprisingly disturbing indie release written by David Mamet. Macy plays Edmond Burke, who after meeting with a fortune teller, decides that he must change his life. He does this by leaving his wife and searching for fulfillment in sex, though sex that he doesn’t have to pay too much for (the ironic part of this all is that his wife, who isn’t even given a name in the film (Rebecca Pidgoen) is very sexy). He tries first in a strip club with an “Allegro B-Girl” (Denise Richards – Allegro B is the name of the strip club). Then with a girl in a peep show, appropriately titled “Peep Show Girl” (Bai Ling) and then with a high-scale gentleman’s club girl, whose cast name is “Whore” (Mina Suvari). All of his searching only results in him being used or disregarded, until, within the same night, he purchases a brace-knuckle/knife combination from a pawn shop (where he pawns his wedding ring) and beats up a pimp who tries to rob him. After this, Edmond is feeling much more alive and finally finds the sex he wants in a waitress, Glenna (Julia Stiles). Sadly, though, this fulfillment doesn’t last as Edmond kills Glenna. He is ultimately arrested, sent to jail and sodomized by his cellmate, cast name “prisoner” (Bokeem Woodbine). The film ends with Edmond accepting his “bitch” role in prison and falling asleep cuddling with “prisoner.”

The film’s only redeeming quality is that Edmond regularly seeks humane interaction among people, even if he is seeking it within the underbelly of society (and, it should be noted, after not acting humanely with his wife in the up-scale part of society). Ultimately, the film boils down to some sort of exercise in karma, as Edmond does not act responsibly, but then seeks to find it in others. I’m sure there’s plenty of psychoanalysis that could be done on this film, but that isn’t really my schtick.

The film’s one redeeming quality (besides the all-star cast)? It’s only 80 minutes long. So, if you don’t like it, you won’t suffer for long.

P.S. Watch out for George Wendt, Norm from Cheers, as the Pawn Shop Guy. His role isn't big or interesting, but its "Norm!"