I have finally seen a movie in which Uma Thurman has made me stop and say, "Holy crap! This girl can freakin' act!"

"Hysterical Blindness," based on the stageplay by Laura Cahill, who wrote the screenplay as well, is simply about two girls in their twenties, stuck in the 80s, trying to move on with their lives. Unfortunately, they feel to do that, they must have a man at their sides, instead of simply…well…moving on.

Debby is a desperate and self loathing girl looking for love in the same dingy bar her runaway father used to hang in. At her side is Beth. Both were high school friends, and the hottest things around at that time. However, things are different now. The older they get, the less desireable they feel. Beth has even had a child at a young age, who gets left a home while mom goes to the usual bar.

In the meantime, Debby's mother Virginia has met a man for the first time since her husband ran off, and is having a fabulous time with him. Debby is immediately spiteful to him, possibly because the man isn't her father. Another reason could be, her mother is having better success finding a man during the day as a waitress than Debby is, hanging in a bar where she's already slept with most of the guys who hang there.

That's about it. It's a highly character driven picture with next to nothing for a plot. It's people talking and coping, simply. However, their inner pains, motivations and confusions are what drive us to keep an interest in them.

Director Mira Nair did well allowing the viewer to see these aspects of the characters through performances. However, some of her shot choices, particularly the hand held stuff between Virginia and her man, were severely out of place. Its works for the bar, but not for the fancy restaurant.

Uma Thurman (Kill Bill movies) plays Debby with such an on the edge awkwardness and desperation, you can't help feel sorry for her at times, while other times, you want to get up and shut the movie off. Her desperation is almost unbearable to watch. Scenes between her and Justin Chambers (In Control of All Things) as Rick were unbearably magnificent. You could feel the tension leap out of the screen during their "morning after" scenes.

Thurman's performance was an absolute knockout. I was completely thrown by her jersey girl exterior in this one, and as we get to see the complexity of Debby, I saw the Thurman can be a master--or the female equivalent of a master--of her craft. She won a Golden Globe® that year for this HBO financed picture.

Juliet Lewis (What's Eating Gilbert Grape?) hasn't always been a favorite of mine. She always has this voice she uses in her roles which grains on my nerves. However, as Beth, she finally hit a role where her silly voice works like a charm. You'll have to see it to know what I mean.

Gina Rowlands (The Notebook) was awesome as Virginia, while Ben Gazzara (The Big Lebowski) as her boyfriend really presented something different from what I've seen him do in the past. Both Rowlands and Gazzara won Emmy Awards® that year for their portrayals.

Overall, I thought the picture was extremely interesting and has a lot to say with its characters. However, its lack of plot makes it this side of almost dull. Thurmans's performance carries the picture, so if you're a fan of hers, and haven't seen "Hysterical Blindness," you will be pleased.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?

This movie was difficult to watch because I thought it was incredibly boring and I had lost focus several times wanting the movie to end. The only thing keeping my attention was Uma Thurman wearing those 80's stonewash 501 blue jeans that made every woman's ass look perfect. Without her, I would have made Benn turn the movie off after 20 minutes.

I agree that Uma did a fabulous job in the movie. Most of her scenes were so uncomfortable that I wanted to stab my eyes with scissors so I would stop watching it. It is obvious that her character has a pain that I can't relate too and for the most part neither could Benn. This story is definitely written from and for a women's point of view and because of that I could not completely understand Deb's constant turmoil. But Uma did do that part well, even if I couldn't understand it.

One small interesting part about Juliette Lewis's character's relationship with her daughter is that it was clear that the daughter, Amber Autumn, played by Jolie Peters (Marci X) was clearly the parent in that relationship. Amber made Beth responsible, or told grandma, Beth's mother, and got her in trouble. Other then that, Lewis was ok, but not stellar in her role, but she did look good in her stone wash 501's.

The rest of the movie was boring. I thought the relationship between Deb's mother Virginia and her new boyfriend Nick, happened way to fast to have the emotional breakdown that happened to Virginia when she found out Nick had passed away. Both Gazzara and Rowland's did a nice job; I don't think it was award worthy though.

The production was great, it felt like I was back in 1985 with the clothes and the music and the cars. It was great listening to pre-award winning Phil Collins.

Anyway, if you are a guy I think you will be bored within the first 10 minutes. Some women will probably relate to this movie quite closely. But for me I say that unless you like Uma Thurman, skip it.

Brian - the Naked Gun