Atom Egoyan's "Exotica" (1994)

Publish date: 2024-05-03

Thoughts on this film? I have heard mixed things over the years, though the concept sounds intriguing, and I'm a sucker for Mia Kirshner and gorgeous DL fave Elias Koteas. Criterion put it out on Blu-ray this week. How does it stack up to his other movies?

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by Anonymousreply 15September 26, 2022 1:39 PM

I discovered Exotica in VHS days and loved it, and when I watched it again a few years ago, I still felt it held up. In the patient way it clarifies a complicated story a little at a time, its sorrowful tone and its compassion for its characters, it makes a good companion piece to Atom Egoyan's next film, The Sweet Hereafter (which has some of the same actors: Sarah Polley, Bruce Greenwood, and of course Egoyan's wife Arsinée Khanjian).

Those two probably remain his high points, although I haven't seen everything he's done since then.

by Anonymousreply 1September 23, 2022 10:27 AM

My first job was at Blockbuster in 1995 and all I know about Exotica is that it was always rented by creepy looking, often drunk older men right before the store closed at midnight. I assumed the movie was as close to porn as Blockbuster got.

by Anonymousreply 2September 23, 2022 10:51 AM

R2 I'm sure a lot of pervy dudes undoubtedly rented it to see Mia Kirshner in a school girl outfit/showing her tits, but that aside, the film is apparently very character-driven and quite depressing.

by Anonymousreply 3September 23, 2022 10:54 AM

Mia Kirshner was awful in The L Word. She doesn't appear to be much of an actress.

by Anonymousreply 4September 23, 2022 11:02 AM

Mia looked gorgeous in this. Like a cross between Debi Mazar and Mila Kunis.

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by Anonymousreply 5September 23, 2022 11:11 AM

I miss the Elias Koteas Troll. I loved him.

by Anonymousreply 6September 24, 2022 12:52 AM

Decided to pick up the Criterion disc this afternoon. I have to say that I loved this film—spellbinding is the best word to describe it. From the opening sequence on, I was already won over. Very melancholic, and the slow weaving together of the characters and their stories was done in a way that was truly captivating. Gorgeous cinematography too, and the Exotica club sets had a fantastic, gaudy, surreal look to them. Great acting overall. Kirshner is the weakest link, but she is stunning and mysterious in it, so you kind of don’t notice. The whole cast is attractive, really—Bruce Greenwood was terribly handsome, as was Don McKellar as the nerdy gay pet store owner. Was somewhat surprised to see Victor Garber in a small part as well. This was well worth my time.

by Anonymousreply 7September 24, 2022 3:01 AM

One of the best films of the '90s, in my opinion. It's great to rewatch, but nothing beats that first viewing, when the movie is always five steps ahead of you.

by Anonymousreply 8September 24, 2022 3:02 AM

R8 I found the final scene especially moving. Definitely Kirshner’s best moment in the film. Just sad.

by Anonymousreply 9September 24, 2022 4:52 AM

I loved Mia in this, Love and Human Remains, and even in The Crow:City of Angels. But my god she was awful on The L Word. Oh, I love this movie, OP. Had it on laser disc back in the day!

by Anonymousreply 10September 24, 2022 5:16 AM

I liked MK also as Mandy the terrorist on 24.

by Anonymousreply 11September 24, 2022 10:36 AM

I am jealous of the stud who got to lick Don McKellar's hairy chest in this. I laughed when he said it felt like he was having sex with "a gorilla."

by Anonymousreply 12September 24, 2022 10:42 AM

The full movie is (surprisingly) on YouTube for anyone curious

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by Anonymousreply 13September 24, 2022 10:44 AM

I remember seeing it back in the day, I liked it. I was kind of into Egoyan's movies and one year while at the Toronto Film Festival found myself sitting close to Atom his wife and someone else outside some event. I wanted to say hi I love your work but I just wandered around. I loved the scene in Exotica where the pet store guy picks up a guy at an opera, really interesting scene and the music was great.

by Anonymousreply 14September 24, 2022 12:18 PM

I first saw this age 14 and even then I knew that no strip club in the world played Leonard Cohen.

by Anonymousreply 15September 26, 2022 1:39 PM

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