Spanking The Monkey

This movie is seriously funny. It's not one of those movies that you watch over and over again, but definitely a funny B-movie. My husband and I have a lot of inside jokes about this movie because it's so far out there!

To sum up quickly, I don't know wether it was my frame of mind or the movie itself, but I found it difficult to connect with either of the main characters or the purpose of the movie.

After being forced to give up a prestigious internship in order to "babysit" his mother, who has a broken leg, a teenager finds himself falling in love with his mother.Much like "Happiness", a black comedy about a pedophile, "Spanking the Monkey" is the sort of film that will not appeal to everyone. This film is billed as a black comedy, and I suppose it is, in retrospect, but I didn't feel like I was watching a comedy when I was watching it. What this film is, is a truly amazing character study of a suburban family that contains some laughs but also realizes that a lot of what it's dealing with just shouldn't be laughed at. Writer/director David O. Russell ("Three Kings", "I Heart Huckabees") takes a subject that most people wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole, that is, incest, and explains how it could happen and the consequences if it does happen. The result is a film that feels completely believable and that is also completely compelling.This is an intelligent film that doesn't provide the audience with easy answers. In fact, a lot of questions that this film raises are left unanswered at the end, like, for example, who did initiate the relationship in the first place, Raymond or his mother? It is also a very restrained film, and all the better for it. Don't expect to see any sex scenes between a 19 year old and a 40 year old. Everything is left to the audience's imagination.Not being a big David O. Russell fan (I didn't like "Flirting With Disaster" or "I Heart Huckabees"), I almost didn't bother with this film (I only saw it because I bought it as party of a triple pack with two other films that I did want) but I am so glad that I did as this is one of the most incredible films that I have seen in my entire life. If you can get past the initial concept, I highly recommend that you see this film.

This is a bittersweet coming-of-age movie that's more sweet than bitter. Some of the scenes are downright hilarious, thanks to some wonderful, nuanced and well-timed performances from the actors. Just the kind of comedy for viewers fed up with the formulaic stuff churned out by Hollywood's play-safe executives. Made more than a decade ago, this is truly one of those forgotten gems that deserves to be unearthed and enjoyed. A solid 4 stars.

Brilliant, powerful, and while there are moments of dark humor, they are few and far between. This is a powerful, compelling drama, and once you get into it, you'll sort of BECOME Ray Aebelli (Jeremy Davies) and you'll appreciate one of the greatest acting performances in history. This isn't just about "masturabtion and incest." As another reviewer said, it is about being trapped in a situation you don't want to be in, and being unable to find a way out. When you view the end (which will come with a jump, that's all I'm going to say on the matter so as not to spoil it), pay attention to the metaphor that is used when he falls and....you'll have to watch.

The Bottom Line:Though Spanking the Monkey gets points for daring and can boast a sweet and winning performance by Carla Gallo, the movie's whole is not equal to the sum of its parts; it's quirky, but not especially good.

spanking the monkey has got to be in my top 5 movies of all time. first of all, I have discovered the wonderful alberta watson who plays this role like pierre rampal plays the flute. I totally got absorbed in the strange but touching plot which was by no means unrealistic or "gross" as some preferred to describe it. i'm not sure if david o. russell wrote the story as well as directed it. I have yet to find out WHO came up with this crazy yarn, for the majority of the credit should go to the writer. but, oh! alberta! since this movie I have grabbed up everything she has worked in. spanking the monkey was surprising, sexy, depressing,funny, thought-provoking, and I just can't come up with enough kudos for this award-winning work. I have only seen it on tv re-runs. I have yet to see the uncut video.oh, and jeremy ain't bad either.the foreplay between ray and "mom" is quirky, then suspicious, then anticipating, then bam!it cleverly and obligingly left the rest to the imagination to ponder... and boy, did I ponder!and i'm no lover of incest, but... it was great the way russell built the viewer "into" the film as if you were in the room with the characters, they were so good.very well acted, directed & produced. a must for any movie lover of any preference.

Sehr gut gemacht und gute Zusammenstellung . entspricht aber insgesamt nicht meinen Erwartungen und Vorstellungen. Enthält zuviel Musik und zu wenig Spannung.

Ce dvd video et très mauvais et ne traite pas du sujet ki a sur le dvd video et sur le site tre déçu. Livré avant la date c'est le seul bon pointLe sujet du film était le spanking.

The best (and quite possibly the only) film regarding the tense sexual relationship between a mother and son. The subject matter may put you off watching this classic but try not to let it. When the final credits appear (to the haunting strains of Morphine's "In spite of me") you get the kind of warm glow that only Coen brothers films conjure.... If you appreciate sublime talent and detest Arnold Scwarzenegger you owe it to yourself to watch it! And if you are an Arnie fan, watch it anyway and feel the stench of ignorance leaving your soul forever! Superb!!

Great movie with young man full of ambitions

not as good as write up ,disappointing