Touches You

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

I like reviewing films I like. Trashing formula films is too easy and not as much fun. I was almost forced into that mode this week since the only recent film I had seen was Bring It On, the Kirsten Dunst vehicle about cheerleading squads that has as much substance as a cheerleader's pom-pom. And then, last night, I was saved by the Tao of Steve.This is the film that won several awards at the Sundance Film Festival including a best actor award for leading man Donal League. You may not have heard of him, but you've probably seen him in films like Runaway Bride, Jerry Maguire, and this summer's The Patriot. The Tao of Steve is League's thirty-ninth film since 1990, but almost all of his appearances have been bit parts. Here League is center stage as Dex, an overwieght, unmotivated womanizer who is fond of quoting Thomas Aquinas, Heidegger, Kierkegaard, Lao-Tse, Buddha, and pretty much anyone else that comes to mind.The title refers to Dex's belief that people like Steve McQueen, Steve McGarrett, and Steve Austin are the cool guys of the universe who have figured out how to make women want them. James Bond is a Steve, but Gomer Pyle is a Stu according to Dex, and Stus are the opposite of Steves. Dex's philosophy seems to be working since he moves from one sexual conquest to another--and then he meets a woman named Syd. The heart of this film is best explained when Dex tries to explain the motives of Don Giovanni - "Don Giovanni slept with 1,000 women because he was afraid he couldn't be loved by one."From the opening scenes it would be easy to write this off as just another trite film about a womanizing party animal, but this is really a morality play about human relationships and personal integrity. Dex never quotes Martin Buber, but he should. Buber is the author of I and Thou, and in that work Buber contrasts I-It relationships where we treat each other as objects with I-Thou relationships where humans meet and relate to each other as soul touching soul. Commenting on gender roles and the war between the sexes, Betty Friedan once said "beneath our masks we are very much alone." This is the heart of Dex's dilemma.This is the directorial debut of Jenniphr Goodman (her spelling not mine), and Jenniphr also receives first-time writing credits with Duncan North and Greer Goodman (the director's sister who also makes her screen debut in a charming performance as Syd). The chemistry between Dex and Syd reminded me of John Belushi and Blair Brown in Continental Divide. The plot is not particularly innovative, but the charm of this film is not the destination, but the journey itself. Good writing and charming performances make for a fun film that is worth a look

The only reason we saw most of it is that we dozed off and on through half of it. Normally when we end up with a dog of a film we simply stop watching it. When we had enough of this sorry story we were lucky it suddenly and somewhat surprisingly ended. Plain obnoxious. A fat guy has all sorts of women swooning over him. Supposedly because he displays such a detached attitude and is so non-possessive. He's a mentor to a younger friend throughout the film. We couldn't figure out what could attract women to this fatty. Nobody does much in this idyllic Santa Fe except mostly party, open the refrigerator, eat and drink. Nobody does much work. Didn't get this one at all. Don't bother.

How many times have I seen this movie? Somewhere between 25-50 viewings, with an additional "who knows how many" occurrences wherein I starting watching this movie with the explicit intent of falling asleep to it's indie soundtrack.I was turned on to this movie in the very same way I have discovered most of my favorite films. It's late night, I'm flipping channels, or to be completely honest, I was browsing the DirecTV guide. Most people, including me, still say flipping channels, like we actually take the time to go through all the channels, but we all know damn well that we just cruise through the guide to find something to watch. I guess I'll have to start saying "scrolling the guide" instead. Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked and I apologize.Like I said, I was "scrolling" through the guide looking for something comfortable and familiar that wouldn't challenge me too much, and I failed. I had to use that damn "info" button when I saw the title, "Tao Of Steve", so I guess I let my curiosity get the best of me. Thank Science it did.As is my custom, I normally catch these late night gems at some point in the middle of the movie, and I spend the rest of the movie struggling with the decision to either finish what is shaping up to be a great movie that I missed the beginning of, or jot down the title and catch it from the start the next time it comes on. I decided to watch the rest of it, and then just buy a copy on DVD. Does that tell you how engaging and entertaining this movie is? First off, I have a lot of respect for Donal Logue as an actor. He's done a wide variety of roles in several different kinds of media vehicles, from TV to blockbuster movies, and of course, the classic Jimmie the cab driver shorts on MTV. He was spot on in this role, he has that charisma and confidence to be able to convince you he has what it takes to bed down with any human being sporting an XX chromosomal set, unless they are wearing Doc Marten's and a flannel shirt. What can I say, he's a funny actor, and I suppose he's a fave of mine, because I have liked him even in the bad stuff he's been a part of in the past.Supporting cast was full of friends and local actors from the NM area, and while there aren't any household names in the bunch, they more than hold their own in delivering believable characters who are just what they are supposed to be, regular Joes and Janes. I have already mentioned that the soundtrack was indie, and while I am not an authority on indie music, I can recognize it. I can't say whether it was great, good, or bad, but I liked it. I also liked that the band featured live in the reunion scene was from Oklahoma, my home state.The most striking thing about this movie for me was it's beautiful photography and wonderful selection of locations. Although it was been a while since I watched the commentary, I am fairly certain it was filmed entirely in the Taos, New Mexico area, or maybe it was Albuquerque. If you've never been to NM, then GO now, it is awesomely beautiful and full of tons of stuff to do. It definitely scores some cultural points with me, as I am a big fan of the American West. The colors of the landscape truly come through the lens with full strength, and I just love the way this movie looks. I can't help but feel that the physical environment is an important ingredient in the "Tao of Steve", which is a real thing conjured up by a real man. In fact, the house where Dex lives is the actual house of the real life person who Dex is based upon. He makes a cameo during one of the poker scenes, and on the commentary he provides some interesting insight into the movie, the character Dex, and of course the "Tao of Steve".The plot is actually the only weak part of the movie, as a story, it's predictable, but I think that's okay because I found it more interesting to delve into unanswerable questions concerning the characters, and of course, as a hopelessly single young man who has never been able to get the ladies, I spent much time asking myself, "will this really work in real life, …..my life?" Well, according to Duncan North, the aforementioned inspiration for Dex, it does work, and he's living proof. So stop listening to Professor Tom Leykis you bitter bastard, and start watching the, "Tao of Steve". It has all the lessons you need.THEKEETH, (who is shockingly, still unsuccessful with the ladies)

Had no idea just how I was going to like this film and decided to stick it out. Donal Logue,(Dex)"Two Days",'03, was a very horny guy who decided he had the right formula to trick gals into going to bed and just never seemed to get satisfied. Dex would jump from one bed, look out the window and chase a skirt in a car up a few blocks and really hit on his victim. Greer Goodman,(Syd), somewhat understood Dex and had slept with him years back, which Dex simply forgot and proceeded to hit on her like any other gal. This type of situation when on through out the entire picture, with Dex trying to convince his buddies to use his formula for women. Dex was definitely over sexed and wanted to get "LAID" all the time and even with married woman. Decide for yourself if this film is for you, and maybe it is?