Swimming to Cambodia

Rating:
Summary: Spalding, where are you??
Review: The recent disappearance of Spalding Gray has made me realize what I don't like about this film: its narcissism. It's Gray's defining characteristic. After a while, despite Jonathan Demme's fabulous direction (he makes the best of a limited repertoire) it just gets boring.

Rating:
Summary: Spalding, where are you??
Review: The recent disappearance of Spalding Gray has made me realize what I don't like about this film: its narcissism. It's Gray's defining characteristic. After a while, despite Jonathan Demme's fabulous direction (he makes the best of a limited repertoire) it just gets boring.

Rating:
Summary: Watch out for explicit content
Review: There's no denying Gray's story-telling abilities. However, this film should carry a rating (preferably "Rated R"). While I enjoyed many parts of this film, I do not much care for profanity. I care even less for graphic descriptions of sexual encounters. There was no warning that this material was in this film. Had I known that these elements were included in this video, I never would have purchased it.

Rating:
Summary: UNFORGETTABLE!!!
Review: This film blew me away. This guy sits behind a small desk on-stage in a small auditorium with a couple of maps of Southeast Asia behind him and talks for two hours. Spalding Gray's descriptions of Phuket, Thailand beat any travelogue hands-down. His oral history of Cambodia is as fascinating as it is succinct. His word-pictures and imagery of his experiences in Southeast Asia, on the train from Philadelphia to Chicago, and in his girlfriend's downtown New York neighborhood display his mastery of the art of storytelling. You don't just hear it, you experience it! This film is worth playing again and again and again.

Rating:
Summary: About Life & Death
Review: This film shoots straight at you to think about quality of life, and death. To correct another ... review (but hopefully not be hyper-critical), the reference to the "Killing Fields" is absolutely about Cambodia (and is only remotely linked historically to Vietnam). Spalding Gray is truly captivating in this film.

Rating:
Summary: About Life & Death
Review: This film shoots straight at you to think about quality of life, and death. To correct another ... review (but hopefully not be hyper-critical), the reference to the "Killing Fields" is absolutely about Cambodia (and is only remotely linked historically to Vietnam). Spalding Gray is truly captivating in this film.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books ever
Review: This is the best Spalding Gray book. Based on his experiences acting in "The Killing Fields", this was originally a one-man play/monologue....whatever you want to call it, "Swimming" is a trip through the senses of the late-20th Century. It's all about experience - DON'T MISS IT!

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating story as told by a madman.
Review: This movie is simply amazing. Spalding Gray sits behind a small wooden desk with a glass of water and talks. Sounds simple right? Well you just have to experience his twisted perception of reality to understand. After this, you'll want to seek out every monologue he's done, as I have.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping and Intensive
Review: Yes, it is a documentary and, yes, it is a monologue. Yes, he discusses the sex trade in Cambodia which is extemely explicit. But this is about Cambodia. This is about the Killing Fields. This is about our involvement in that history. There is nothing gratuitous. Gray is captivating as he sits on a darkened stage with his words and topics accented with strategic lighting, maps, sounds and video clips. You will leave this film with a new understanding of what happened from Cambodia to Kent State. He also has a unique insight into mankind. In this, his "Talking Cure", you will be compelled to try to answer the question that he wrestles with - 'Is morality a moving feast?'. This is an important film.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping and Intensive
Review: Yes, it is a documentary and, yes, it is a monologue. Yes, he discusses the sex trade in Cambodia which is extemely explicit. But this is about Cambodia. This is about the Killing Fields. This is about our involvement in that history. There is nothing gratuitous. Gray is captivating as he sits on a darkened stage with his words and topics accented with strategic lighting, maps, sounds and video clips. You will leave this film with a new understanding of what happened from Cambodia to Kent State. He also has a unique insight into mankind. In this, his "Talking Cure", you will be compelled to try to answer the question that he wrestles with - 'Is morality a moving feast?'. This is an important film.