Enthusiastic Sinners: A Raw, Unapologetic Adult Romance
Enthusiastic Sinners is the third narrative feature from indie writer, director, and producer Mark Lewis. This two-hander chamber piece gives viewers a glimpse into a raw, naturalistic romance that’s thoroughly and unapologetically adult. Amidst the softcore sleaze that fogs the film, Lewis and cinematographer Ryan Andrew Balas capture the sincere warmth and real-life beauty of two strangers intimately getting to know one another.
Enthusiastic Sinners is the saga of a married cop, Bruce (Christopher Heard), a small town widow, Shelby (Maggie Alexander) and their 24 hour lust story that turns into a love story.
On paper, Enthusiastic Sinners’ premise seems like a porno (and in some ways, it kinda is) — a lonely married cop gets a call to a rural cabin, only to find an equally lonely (and equally horny) single-parent widow, and, well, you can hear the bowchickawowow music fading in right now — but it wrestles with a bit more than sweat-soaked naked bodies and carnal pleasures. In many respects, it’s the kind of project that Boogie Nights’ Jack Horner (played by the late great Burt Reynolds in one of his best roles) dreamt about — a dirty movie with a real story — and while it certainly begins as a softcore porno about a 24-hour tryst, it slowly and naturally evolves into something a bit more tender and sweet, playing like a rustic, small-town USA version of Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise that’s just as interested in bedroom antics as it is its characters.
The film’s many sexual outbursts will be the main deterrent for many viewers — and that’s completely understandable because it’s unapologetically adult, filled with full frontal (both male and female) and long-winded bouts of intimacy. Surprisingly, the bold rendering of adult liaisons is the least interesting aspect of Enthusiastic Sinners, and a viewer will have to patiently wait for the characters to finish in order to get to the good bits, which, ironically, are all the introspective and self-reflective conversations that punctuate the story. One can easily get the impression that the droning sex scenes — which Ryan Andrew Balas captures flaws and all in romantic shallow focus — are only there to pad out what would be a fairly solid short film into feature length, which undercuts some of its impact. However, the carefree, bare-it-all approach to the scenes will be appreciated by some, since it seeks to venture into more realistic and honest terrain, which Hollywood and most independent film seldom dare to go.
Unlike being voyeuristically forced to watch these characters make love, it’s a genuine pleasure watching Shelby and Officer Bruce get to know each other, and their relationship unfolds in a believable way. Lewis shows a knack for writing very casual dialogue that shades new definition into both characters with each new compelling conversation. A lot of credit goes to Christopher Heard and Maggie Alexander who deliver Lewis’ soul-searching dialogue with natural conviction. The film relies heavily on the strength of its leads, and while some segments are admittedly stiff (pun absolutely intended), both Heard and Alexander give strong performances. The back and forth exchanges between the pair is often entertaining, and it’s enhanced by their undeniable chemistry — which only the sex scenes really interfere with.
Part of Enthusiastic Sinners’ issue is how the sex scenes have a sleazy air to them, due to their frequency and gratuitous nature, which contrasts against the sweetness and charm of our characters getting conversationally acquainted. The sex doesn’t really further the plot — it only illustrates how comfortable the characters are with one another (and doesn’t need to run on for several minutes or appear multiple times for us to get the hint) — and when sex is used to deliver a pivotal moment, it lacks any resonance and falls flat. Lewis and Balas enhance the story’s realism though with their warm, naturalistic approach. In a lot of scenes they rely almost exclusively on natural light, and construct very eye-catching moments using the sun, fireworks, and candles as the primary source, which helps to visually strengthen the characters’ growing intimacy.
With Enthusiastic Sinners, the sex gets in the way of things, and the couple’s relationship, which isn’t without its moments of profundity or beauty, essentially doesn’t amount to much. Plus, an odd third act plot device (either written into Lewis’ script or done in post by Balas, who also served as editor) further muddles the wind down. All in all, after the candles are snuffed out and the affair stretches breathlessly to a close, we’re left wondering what it was all for and too exhausted to really search for an answer.
Recommendation: This one won’t satisfy everyone, but if risqué adult liaisons and naturalistic romances are your bag, it’s worth a day in court and can be found on iTunes or Amazon.
Rating: 2.5 lusty encounters outta 5.
What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!