The Center of the World

Released Apr 20, 2001

1 hr. 26 min.

Drama

List

34%

82 Reviews

Tomatometer

40%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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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david f

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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."

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

bill t

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

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Wayne Wang

Director

Peter Sarsgaard

Richard Longman

Molly Parker

Florence

Carla Gugino

Jerri

Balthazar Getty

Brian Pivano

Shane Edelman

Porter

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

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.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 19, 2003

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 22, 2002

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

...rings with a perfectly hollow pitch that's a digital video punch to the solar plexus.

Rated: B

Jul 20, 2009

Full Review

MaryAnn Johanson

Flick Filosopher

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.

Nov 19, 2008

Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 1/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Ira Deutchman, Greg Johnson
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
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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