DVD Review: On_Line (B-)

On_Line (2002)
Directed by Jed Weintrob
Starring Josh Hamilton, Harold Perrineau Jr., Isabel Gillies, John Fleck and Liz Owens
MPAA: R
Grade: B-

Review by Scott Standish

Being in the online biz, I can verify that most sectors (movie reviews for example) aren't huge money makers, especially after the dot com bubble. Online porn is the exception to the rule and one of the hottest areas in that sector are sites that feature live web cams. On_Line, the new film from Jed Weintrob, examines how that business changes the lives of the people behind the scenes.

The plot line is very basic: John (Josh Hamilton) starts an online porn biz with his roommate Moe Curly (!) and their lives are turned upside down by the people they meet through the site. Harold Perrineau Jr. (Matrix Reloaded) plays Moe and he does an excellent job of playing the partner that is in it as much for fun as for money. John is still trying to get over a painful break-up and he's not doing a very good job of it, continuously obsessing over his ex. He seems drawn to the voyeuristic side of the biz more than the money. If there is anything to be learned from this film, it is that if you get into the online porn biz, focus on the money and try to stay detached from the people that you work with.

Well, as you can imagine, On_Line has plenty of steamy scenes, but it wisely never crosses the line of what is truly acceptable for an R rated film. While On_Line is not the deepest of films (philosophically) you might find it a guilty pleasure. On_Line won the Best Film award at 2002 Cinequest San Jose Film Festival.

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