Fraughtwithoverobvioussymbolism,Hartley'searlyfeatureisnonethelessajoytowatch.Halhereshowsushisuncannyabilitytocasthischaractersperfectlycameearlyinhiscareer. AdrienneShelleyisanearperfectfoiltoherself,equalpartsannoyingteenburgeoninginhersexuality(thoughusingsexforseveralyears);obsessedwithdoomandinspiredbyidealismgonewrongsheisdeceptively–andsimultaneously–complexandsimple.HerAudreyinspiressomanylevelsofsymbolismitisalmostembarrassinglyrich(e.g.,hermodelingcareerbeginningwithphotosofherfoot–culminatingherdoingnude(butunseen)work;Manhattanmove;Europetrip;herstealing,thensleepingwiththemechanicswrench,etc.) AsJosh,RobertBurkegivesanabsolutelymasterfulperformance.Areformedprisonerpenitenthereturnstohishometowntofacedownpastdemons,accepthislotandbeginanewlife.Dressedinblack,andrepeatedlymistakenforapriest,hecorrectseveryone(I'mamechanic),yetthesymbolismisrichheabstainsfromalcohol,hepracticescelibacy(is,infactavirgin),andseeminglyhastakenonvowsofpoverty,andhumilityaswell.Thehumilityseemshardesttoswallowseeming,attimes,almostfalse,apretense.Yet,aswelearnmoreofJoshweseegenuinenessinhismodesty,thathishumilityisindeedearnestandbelievable.Whatseemsironicisthecharacterisfairlyforthrightinhissimplicity,yetsorichlydrawnitbecomestheviewerwhowantstomakehimoutasmorethanwhatheactuallyis.Afascinatinglywrittencharacter,perfectlyplayed. ThescenebetweenJoshandJane(awonderful,youngEdieFalco...Youneedawomannotagirl)ishilarious...real.ButHartleycan'tleaveitassuchandhistrick,havingtheactorsrepeatthedialogueover-and-overbecomesfrustratinglyartyandannoying...untilagainitbecomeshilarious.Whataterrificsenseofbizarrerealitythislendsthefilm(likekidsinaperpetualamnotaretooargument). Hartley'sweavesallofasmallneighborhood'sidiosyncrasiesintoatapestryofseemingstereotypesbutwhichdelvesfarbeneaththesurface,thecatalystbeingthateveryonebelievestheyknowwhattheunbelievabletruthofthetitleis,yetnotwopeoplecanagree(includingourhero)onwhatexactlythattruthis.Awonderfullittlemoviewithsomebigideas.
