Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan redefines the black comic satire of his earlier films ('Family Viewing', 'Speaking Parts'),but for all its dark wit and visual sophistication the effort doesn't add up to anything more than a cast of unattractive characters in search of a plot. These include, in ascending order of eccentricity: a handsome insurance agent who uses his control over the victims of catastrophe for sexual favors; his wife, a government film censor who secretly bootlegs violent porn movies for her apathetic sister; a filthy rich couple with a fetish for enacting elaborate exhibitionist fantasies; and so forth. The film is disturbing, perverse, sporadically funny, and totally original, bit also inscrutable to the point of confusion: it gives the impression of depth without clearly saying much about anything at all. Egoyan is a filmmaker of obvious and distinctive talents, but he needs (once again) to build a stronger story around his strange characters.

A reflection about what makes everyone's life unique, through the story of Noah's family. Noah (Elias Koteas) is an adjuster, having sex with his customers. His wife Hera watches pornographic movies for the Board of Censors. They live with their son Simon and Hera's sister in a show-flat. One day, they meet Bubba (Chris Christie),who wants to make a movie in their house.

I wish I had known about Atom Egoyan years ago. I only recently "discovered" his work, and it is generally excellent. Between this and "Exotica", I am not sure which I like more. He tells original stories, and puts Elias Koteas to good use... no one else seems to be able to do that, wasting him in supporting roles. (To mainstream audiences, Koteas is Casey Jones but little else.) Some of the plot confuses me, especially as it goes on, and it could use a second (or third viewing). And why not? This is the sort of picture to share with friends.

Noah (Elias Koteas) is an insurance adjuster. He sleeps with ladies who suffered lost and Arianne (Jennifer Dale) is the latest one who lost her home to fire. His wife Hera (Arsinée Khanjian) watches movies for the Board of Censors and she secretly films the most brutal. They have a son with Hera's sister are the only ones living in one of the model homes in an undeveloped field. Tyler (Don McKellar) is a new reviewer for the Censors. Bubba (Maury Chaykin) is a pornographer who's interested in Noah's house. There is also a sex pervert stalker.

I'm not sure what Atom Egoyan is trying to get at other than bring together a lot of the characters' dark side. The quest for a plot is left to the audience. It's a movie with a theme more than a story. One can really debate the point of each character and their significance. It's great to use modern sexual perversion as a launching off point but I like a story that moves more. It's a bit too slow and therefore feels repetitive with pregnant pauses. It's a movie that feels like it's saying something although I'll be damned if I know exactly what that is.