Mysterious Skin
Gregg Araki
This has to be the most restrained that Araki has ever been, and it’s a good thing. Araki stays pretty faithful to Scott Heim’s book, though the narrative is now focussed on Brian Lackey and Neil McCormick instead of being filtered through the various characters. It’s not easy evaluating film adaptations on their own merit because I keep thinking about the source material and looking out for what’s been changed or dropped. The pacing usually feels off because I prefer the more expansive pacing of the book. The pivotal final scene though was exquisitely directed and acted and proved to be even more moving than on the page.
Have to say that Joseph Gordon-Levitt did a great job as Neil, he’s definitely left 3rd Rock from the Sun behind. Quite a few familiar faces including Elisabeth Shue (what’s she been up to?), Michelle Trachtenberg (from Buffy) and Mary Lynn Rajskub (from 24) show up in the solid supporting cast.