OK, why the hell would anyone call this documentary "best movie ever"? I don't get it... Besides the fact that Bob Flanagan shows incredible strength in dealing with the cards he has been dealt with and chose to conquer his constant state of pain through S&M this movie didn't give me anything. I don't get S&M and therefor most of the performance stuff was pretty uninteresting to me. I wasn't even disgusted with most of this... maybe I am desensitized due to watching to many "sick" movies. But my problem is that the "Art" of Bob and Sheree is most of the time pretty non-existent and ridiculous. Taping a bunch of facial expressions to the wall, stacking alphabet spelling cubes or doing monitor installations reminds me of cheap school projects and is as uninteresting as the penis nailing and genitalia close ups could shock anyone who is into being shocked anyway.
I never heard of Bob Flanagan before seeing this movie and I have deepest respect for him trying to live a sexually fulfilled life and expressing himself in his state. But as for the documentary ... there is a bonus on the DVD about Sarahs (a girl who meets Bob through the "make a wish" foundation and suffers of a similar illness) fate after the documentary. I think that one is extremely exploitative and voyeuristic and kind of made me ashamed to have watched the documentary itself (even more than the appalling discussion between Bob and Sheree after Sarah left). It just gave me two insights... I too felt that the deathbed scenes were the hardest to take in this movie and as much as everyone talked about an ugly penis being nailed I really wonder if its me or most of the other people here being desensitized. And secondly Sarahs Husband pretty much sums it up when he says "Don't watch sick... I don't get it". Honestly the bonus gave me the impression that everyone involved in the piece was as disappointed with it as myself because even Sarah didn't appear natural.
I never heard of Bob Flanagan before seeing this movie and I have deepest respect for him trying to live a sexually fulfilled life and expressing himself in his state. But as for the documentary ... there is a bonus on the DVD about Sarahs (a girl who meets Bob through the "make a wish" foundation and suffers of a similar illness) fate after the documentary. I think that one is extremely exploitative and voyeuristic and kind of made me ashamed to have watched the documentary itself (even more than the appalling discussion between Bob and Sheree after Sarah left). It just gave me two insights... I too felt that the deathbed scenes were the hardest to take in this movie and as much as everyone talked about an ugly penis being nailed I really wonder if its me or most of the other people here being desensitized. And secondly Sarahs Husband pretty much sums it up when he says "Don't watch sick... I don't get it". Honestly the bonus gave me the impression that everyone involved in the piece was as disappointed with it as myself because even Sarah didn't appear natural.