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The Center of the World

Play trailer Poster for The Center of the World 2001 1h 26m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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34% Tomatometer 82 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Desire carries two young people into deep, uncharted emotional waters in Wayne Wang's candid drama "The Center of the World." A story of a straightforward sexual arrangement that disintegrates into emotional chaos, the film explores what happens when our fantasies of pleasure, power and love collide with the messy, unpredictable reality of human feelings.
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The Center of the World

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Critics Consensus

For all its tease, the movie doesn't have more to say than money can't buy you love.

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Critics Reviews

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 06/19/2003
2.5/4
What follows in Wang Wang's (Chinese Box, Smoke, Chan is Missing) new film The Center of the World is the dark side of Pretty Woman only without the Cinderella-like pretensions. Go to Full Review
Michael Thomson BBC.com 10/23/2001
3/5
A sexually frank tale of urban isolation and emotional need out of the dotcom revolution. Go to Full Review
Glenn Kenny Premiere Magazine 09/04/2001
Thanks to Wang's tidy, knowing direction, we are subject to some fresh, unsettling insights. Go to Full Review
Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 07/20/2009
B
...rings with a perfectly hollow pitch that's a digital video punch to the solar plexus. Go to Full Review
MaryAnn Johanson Flick Filosopher 11/19/2008
I don't go to the movies to be intentionally bored, and it's hard to develop any kind sympathy for characters who aren't even emotionally involved with themselves, never mind each other. Go to Full Review
Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review 08/07/2008
1/5
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Audience Reviews

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David F @dfulmer 10/08/2022 Erotica about a dot com computer baron who hires a stripper to accompany him to Vegas. It's pretty much the film you imagine after reading that last sentence. See more 12/11/2016 I am a fan of Molly Parker. Molly sizzles in this story but it didn't have sufficient story or plot to carry it for 90 minutes. There were times the story said she cared for the client and but the plot never supported the story. See more 01/10/2016 After seeing Molly Parker in "House of Cards" I was curious to see what other movies she was in. I came upon this indy film which is like a cynically darker version of "Pretty Woman." See more Bill T @Spuzz 05/29/2015 Sometimes in my world of movieviewing, where these days it's filled with explosions and action and whatnot, you want a very very simple movie. And this is what it is. Essentailly, it's Wayne Wang's interpretation of Pretty Woman. A wealthy-about-to-get-richer computer programmer hires a hooker for the weekend in Vegas, and they learn about themselves and others, but in the complete opposite of PW, ends in a way that PW should have ended. Full of naughty bits, this film does oiverextend it's welcome a wee bit. See more 01/21/2014 A sad, sad movie about disconnection. Definitely not one to watch with a group - borders on pornographic at times, both visually and verbally. Peter Sarsgaard is a very good actor, but maybe a bit too handsome for the part he's playing here. One of the more depressing meditations on modern relationships I've seen. The 2001 technology is kind of hilarious now. See more 12/03/2012 A rich computer nerd brings a stripper to Vegas and tries to get her to fall in love with him. I'm surprised by this film's weak story and slowly moving plot. At the helm is Wayne Wang, and among the film's four writers are Paul Auster and Miranda July. These are all strong talents; perhaps there were too many cooks in the kitchen. What's troubling about the film is that we get such a concentration on character, but none of the real questions are answered. Why does Richard become so obsessive? Why does Florence break the rules? Where is the line between sexual obsession and love for these characters, and how do they determine it? These aren't minor issues; rather, they're at the heart of whatever the hell the film is saying. Additionally, Jerri wanders into the story on her way to another film. Overall, despite the wealth of talent that went into the film, it's unfortunate that the result is not a sum of its parts. See more Read all reviews
The Center of the World

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Movie Info

Synopsis Desire carries two young people into deep, uncharted emotional waters in Wayne Wang's candid drama "The Center of the World." A story of a straightforward sexual arrangement that disintegrates into emotional chaos, the film explores what happens when our fantasies of pleasure, power and love collide with the messy, unpredictable reality of human feelings.
Director
Wayne Wang
Producer
Peter Newman, Wayne Wang
Screenwriter
Ellen Benjamin Wong, Wayne Wang, Miranda July, Paul Auster, Siri Hustvedt
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment
Production Co
Artisan Entertainment
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 20, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.1M
Runtime
1h 26m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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