Glass, Necktie Movie Review

As independent films go, Glass, Necktie has one of the most ambitious home video releases I've ever seen. Not only is it on DVD instead of VHS, it's got a commentary track, outtakes, a short film, and even more extras -- more than you get on most studio DVD releases.

Unfortunately, it's also one of the most pretentious home video releases I've seen in a while, starting with a ridiculous title that honestly has nothing to do with the movie (despite what director Paul Bojack might say on his commentary).

The story itself fares slightly better -- a psychological thriller about infidelity, with a creepy couple inviting another guy to sleep with the wife -- while the husband watches through a two-way mirror. The sex games take their toll on everyone involved: the couple, the guy doing the cheating, his wife, his wife's co-worker, a relative of the couple... where does it end? Packed into a brisk 80 or so minutes, the ambitious number of subplots and thematic elements explored here is just too overwhelming -- the result being a muddy drama that is meant to be deep but really comes off as a little pedantic.

The good news is that Glass, Necktie is quite a well-made production, with good acting, good dialogue, and good direction. None of it is particularly inspired -- and many of the performances are studded with first-timer false starts and awkwardness -- but it's not an altogether bad film. When Bojack gets a few more low-budget productions under his belt, he should be a menace to the Hollywood scene -- he's definitely a director to keep an eye on.

Forgot her neckwear.