Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993) 95 Minutes

It was a long, warm summer night with a short, weary Crew in attendance. The ‘So Bad It’s Good’ rotation had officially ended with the prior week’s ‘Starship Troopers’ behind us. It was a fresh new theme at hand, and the skies were the limit.

It was Wildcard Slim’s pick, the first since his ‘Ms. 45’ pleased the Crew many weeks back. What was the new theme going to be? Where would the echo derive from? Would the upcoming 4th of July play a part in his Pick? The answer: No.

Slim took to the tiled stage and explained that his Selection was one that had a great impact on him, but may not have the same impact on the Crew. It was a film that educated him greatly on the many ups and downs of love. And the Crew, nestled quietly in their chairs, sighed at the prospect of an unwanted theme like love plaguing the Screen. But it did, and 1993’s ‘Bodies Rest & Motion’ erupted across the fabric on the wall.

Although the film failed to break new ground with the MovieNight Crew, it did reunite two costars from a prior MN Selection: Eric Stoltz and Phoebe Cates from ‘Fast Times At Ridgemont High,’ with Stoltz rekindling his stoner character, now a 20-something housepainter. Bridget Fonda also stars in the film, as does a newcomer to the canon: Tim Roth. Not to mention, a quick cameo by Peter Fonda. Written by Roger Hedden, who penned such films as ‘Sleep With Me’ and ‘She’s So Lovely,’ and directed by Michael Steinberg, ‘Bodies, Rest & Motion’ is a masterpiece of broken love and broken hearts, but not so much an entertaining film for four guys who have been drinking.

“You have terrible work habits!”

“Not when I’m actually working.”

Written by: Roger Hedden

Directed by: Michael Steinberg

Nubs Comments:

Once again Wildcard Slim saw the presence of a prevalent doob-up scene in a film as a chance to treat us to a chick-flick. Though it wasn’t near the catastrophe of Holy Smoke, this Bodies, Rest, and Motion is about a woman thwarted by a jerk boyfriend and forced to find herself while having the most effective yard sale of all time, definitely making it a chick-flick. Wildcard seized his small window following Marty and the “so bad it’s good” rotation and seems to not have offended any of us with this pick. Other than Pat announcing he thought it was supposed to be mocked as a part of the aforementioned rotation he missed, most of us were happy to be outside with cacti, witty dialogue, Netti got some rest, and we were all thrilled to have Joby join the boys to smoke some cigarettes and watch young hotties contemplate love. Though I’m sure Joby would have preferred Starship Troopers to twenty something’s talking about their emotions, talking about their relationships, and talk, talk, talk. She’ll take a good ‘ol bug blood bath any day, that’s why I love her.

I’m willing to overlook the lack of action in this if it had a more favorable cast. Bridgette Fonda can act two emotions, smiling and looking cute or being sad while looking cute. I’ve never understood why she’s ever been in charge of carrying a film. At least she makes up for it by having the bland body of a ten-year old. No actor has ever over-acted drinking and smoking on screen more than Tim Roth. I think he can be a great actor unfortunately this movie just has him drinking and smoking throughout. Phoebe is pretty and that’s it. Amazingly Eric Stoltz deserves the Oscar here for finding a way to say, “I love you” a hundred times genuinely to his drab acting partner.

I didn’t find much to praise about this choice but I still didn’t mind it. Perhaps I was just thrilled to be outside with the crew and a nice quiet choice earns some points. Perhaps now that Wildcard has revealed all of his malicious misdemeanors to those who have crossed him, I’m too fearful to trash his flick. I suppose I’m just ecstatic to be moved enough to complete another review. Nice work, crew.

SELECTOR Comments:

I believe I now hold the record for the most “chick flicks” brought to the MovieNight canon with ‘Bodies, Rest & Motion.’ Although debatable for all intents and purposes, ‘Bodies, Rest & Motion,’ much like ‘Holy Smoke’ before it, when viewed through the filter of 4-6 grown men, can appear like a chick flick. That is, if love, relationships, broken hearts, loneliness, drunk nights and change are themes only natural to women. I, for one, believe they are not. Yes, a traditional love story is mostly aimed at females, with both parties having troubles throughout the film only to fall even deeper in love by film’s end. But a film like ‘Bodies, Rest & Motion’ is a relationship film, directed more toward males than females. In BRM, relationships don’t work, love is a sham, and the film glorifies this fact as part of the game. I am not a big fan of dramas or love stories, but I defend my Selection as a great film, which defends indecision, fickle crushes, and life-changing themes. Not every person views love and relationships the same way – and in this day and age, it would be a crime and an illusion to even try to think that love still happens like a Jane Austen novel. And that, readers, is why ‘Bodies, Rest & Motion’ is not a chick flick, but a testicle-owning tale of modern relationships.

Like Oscar Wilde said, “A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her.”

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