Fantastic!

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Remember that Christian Slater already did a film about an alienated guy in a small town who alleviates his anomie by narrating his streams of consciousness. It was called "Pump Up The Volume." Only in that film, he spoke on a Ham Radio show, rather than into a cheap tape recorder.I enjoyed this film. Let's get certain things out of the way first. Yes, the characters, while funny, quirky, and interesting, were over-baked and unrealistic. Yes, to a degree, it showed a condescending portrayal of small town folk, and yes, it portrayed a clergy person who was all too happy to admit that he had not faith, thus keeping in step with the Hollywood view of religion.The most confusing scene to me, by far, was when he makes a sincere religious blonde strip for him, after she tells him that she will do anything to comfort him. Another reviewer said that he did this to humiliate her and highlight her naivete, so that Hollywood could take another swing at religious people.But maybe he felt he was doing it to her for her own good...to call her bluff and make her re-analyze the extent of her convictions. Or maybe he was just horny, and he liked the power surge that she offered him at that moment...the idea that she was his slave.I don't know why he stood back-to-back with her, unless that was some kind of symbolic bonding mechanism or his way of showing that he was just as confused and lost as her..that he was her mirror image.Having said all that, the dialogue and delivery were excellent, and Slater's facial expressions were priceless.One clarification..The main character did NOT come to town to kill himself. (Unless you want to go out on a limb and say that maybe he really did.)He just wanted to get the people off his back and alleviate their fear that he came to town to kill them.The movie was an example of "existential" French philosophy. It was also a commentary on the vastness of America, and how that can affect some people. This guy was "a nowhere man." All his life he had simply blended into the framework of mid-sized city life, without any distinction. He had no special skills or attributes. But the one thing he could call his own, was his longing for something better.His age, 30, was significant. That's when you first realize that your youth is over forever, and you look into the future as either a glass half full or a glass half empty. No doubt, turning 30 is part of what made him quit his job and head for the sea.There are numerous references in dialogue, to the fleeting nature of life, and to the idea that many people are living lives of quiet desperation. This proposed the idea that our lack of time should motivate us to act on our dreams, or that we all live with the illusion that we are never going to die. There is always tomorrow.The film managed to squeeze in a gay guy, some black folks, some minor sex, kids, religion, deafness, and hunting.Another reviewer also mentioned that the film moved at the pace of life. (Or at least in a small town) I like that. It's true. In real life, we have many boring, uneventful moments when we are just sitting in a room, or walking.Most movies have so much background music going, that you don't notice these moments, or the music romanticizes them. In Julian Po the music is subtle and non-existent at times, so we get a real sense of how boring certain moments in life can be. (Him pacing in his room) If you can suspend belief with regard to certain unrealistic plot devices, like a lack of ways of getting out of the town and a hotel with no guests, and you are the type who can relax and appreciate dialogue, check this one out.

Just the name of the picture makes you want to see if this is a BOMB or an interesting story! As I watched the beginning of the picture and watched Christian Slater,(Julian Po),"Mindhunters",'04, stroll down this very old town that looked like it was from the Dark Ages, it started to capture my interest. Julian Po picks this town to sort of destroy himself and runs into all kinds of situations, meeting a minister, barber, hotel owner and lots of women for warm romantic SEX! Po meets Robin Tunney,(Sarah),"Paparazzi",'04 who arranges all kinds of candles around his bed and falls madly in love with him. Christian Slater and Robin Tunney gave outstanding performances in a rather difficult character role. You can possibly laugh and cry with this film.

I've only seen this movie once, so my interpretation might be a little off, but it seemed to me to be an allegory of the price of fame, how famous people, in American popular culture in particular, are often driven to suicide. Of course there are a few holes in my theory: Julian never sought fame himself, but the relentless media attention (the group of children who followed him around), the riches and free stuff he received, and the boredom of a small town (representing America in general) has nothing better to do than make a celebrity out of an ordinary person. And finally, the callousness of the people when they drive him to suicide sums up the allegory.Forgive my interpretation if it's wrong... but those were just my ideas.

Indeed, if it's simple, it works. But the irony herein lies when you realize that simplicity and deep thought combinations, make extraordinary things. And this film, in my opinion, is simply delightful. Simple purpose, yet very thought-provoking in itself. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. Being one of the few who find that the critics aren't always "up to par" so to speak, I think this flick was definately worth it's weight in gold. Go have some fun. Watch this. And when you're through, though you may be left saying "Uh... but..." see if you don't feel the same.