From writer/director Ben Lewin comes a sex comedy that is based on a true story where a man in an iron lung attempts to lose his virginity to a sex surrogate in 1988. John Hawkes plays Mark O’Brien, the paralyzed poet (due to polio) who can spend a short time out of his iron lung to see Cheryl (Helen Hunt) over 6 sex sessions. He consults a priest (William H. Macy) and has interesting conversations with him on the actions he is willing to take in his predicament.
John Hawkes received his first Academy Award nomination last year for “Winter’s Bone” in the Supporting Actor category, and with this performance its possible he could be getting another chance for Best Actor. The film took film festivals by storm, garnering accolades such as the Special Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance. Great performances from William H. Macy and Helen Hunt as well, the latter in many full nude scenes with a sense of comfort and naturalness.
It was made at an estimated $1 million, having made a profit of almost $700,000 so far. At such an incredibly meager budget, the film’s caliber suggests a much larger budget. Hawkes is the highlight of the film though, playing O’Brien’s interesting, poetic, and hilarious character with naiveness and dexterity. The film walks a fine line between sex and religion, with Hawkes and Macy on either side and it agreement – Macy’s character being the “someone the blame” for O’Brien’s actions. It also stars Moon Bloodgood, Adam Arkin, W. Earl Brown and Rhea Perlman.
“The Sessions” is now playing in select theaters.
