"The summer I was eight years old, five hours disappeared from my life. Five hours, lost, gone without a trace..."
These are the words of Brian Lackey (Brady Corbet), a troubled 18 year-old, growing up in the stiflingly small town of Hutchinson, Kansas. Plagued by nightmares, Brian believes that he may have been the victim of an alien abduction. Local Neil McCormick (Joseph Gordon Levitt) however, is the ultimate beautiful outsider. With a loving but promiscuous mother (Elisabeth Shue), Neil is wise beyond his years and curious about his developing sexuality, having found what he perceived to be love from his Little League baseball coach (played by Hal Hartley veteran Bill Sage) at a very early age. Now, ten years later, Neil is a teenage hustler, nonchalant about the dangerous path his life is taking.
Neil's pursuit of love leads him to New York City, while Brian's voyage of self discovery leads him to Neil - who helps him to unlock the dark secrets of their past. Based on the acclaimed novel by Scott Heim, Mysterious Skin explores the hearts and minds of two very different boys who come to find the key to their future happiness lies in the exorcism of their collective demons.
Our Take
Armed with strong performances and an amazing contrast between its beautifully shot story and unsettling subject matter, Mysterious Skin is our first serious contender for best film of 2005. While some of the controversial thematic elements are not for everyone, we highly recommend this movie to those looking for a compelling, thought-provoking drama.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail to view the full-sized picture.
