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REVISED POSTER ART FOR "THE OH IN OHIO"
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From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, September 1st, 2006:
"Liza Minnelli makes a silly, sensual turn as an unconventional
sex therapist"
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From Inside Bay Area (InsideBayArea.com)
- "The Oh in Ohio" — Parker Posey shines in this
engaging adult sex comedy about a frigid married ad exec who discovers
the advantages of sexual aids. Posey's terrific. Danny DeVito turns
in an amusing and touching co-starring role. Paul Rudd, Liza Minnelli
and the city of Cleveland, Ohio, also stand out. 88 mins. (Unrated)
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From the San Francisco Chronicle (SfGate.com)
By Ruthe SteinThe star's amusingly inventive performance
keeps your attention through predictable early scenes when "Ohio" repeats
familiar material on women's sexuality. It's like a continuation
of "The Vagina Monologues" to see Liza Minnelli, as a New
Age orgasm coach, instruct her eager students, including Priscilla,
to draw their most private part and then inspect it in a hand mirror.
(Note to Liza fans who hoped this movie would be her big comeback:
She's only in this one scene, although she gives it her all, prancing
around the classroom as if about to burst into song and dance.)Satire
is awfully hard to pull off, but screenwriter Adam Wierzbianski exhibits
a flair for it. Stuff that should be too cutesy, like an ad for the
Manly Arms loaded with double entendres, somehow makes you smile,
as does a totally off-the-wall scene meant to illustrate Priscilla's
addiction to anything that vibrates. Sparing the details of what
happens each time someone dials her cell, let's just say it gives
new meaning to the _expression cheap thrills.Danny DeVito floats
in and out, giving an endearing performance as Wayne, the pool guy,
a small-time entrepreneur who offers Priscilla a cut rate on his
product. He's angling to use her neighborhood in a commercial, and
hers is the only house without a pool. Glancing shyly at each other,
Parker and DeVito touchingly show how these two become friends and
then, improbably, something more.
Unlike "Chicago," which was shot in Toronto, "Ohio" shows
off an authentic part of the state. Director Billy Kent does an admirable
job of giving Cleveland a metropolitan importance by focusing on its
office towers and on Jacobs Field, the heart of downtown. Besides the "oh" in "Ohio," the
movie itself displays a lot of heart.
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REX REED -- The NY Observer (7/12/06):
Liza Minnelli, of all people, livens things up in one all-too-brief
cameo, playing a bleach-blond sex therapist who teaches masturbation
classes like a ticking metronome in pink spangles, barking: “Liberate
your labia!” and “Value your vulva!”
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From Canada.com / Christy Lemire, Canadian Press (7/12/06):
Then there's the scene in which Liza Minnelli, swathed in a frothy
pink muumuu, teaches masturbation classes in her living room, offering
hand mirrors to timid women and urging them to explore and even name
their genitalia. It's a moment that would be shudder-inducing if it
weren't so surreally amusing.
These are all funny ideas, and there are many more where they came
from in the film debut from director Billy Kent, with a script from
first-time screenwriter Adam Wierzbianski.
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The NY TIMES
Review of Liza's THE OH IN OHIO movie
By NATHAN LEE
Published: July 14, 2006
“The Oh in Ohio” is that rare American sex comedy that
doesn’t involve teenagers making love to pastry. Directed by
Billy Kent from a screenplay by Adam Wierzbianski, this nicely naughty
indie is full of unexpected pleasures, not least the casting of Liza
Minnelli as a masturbation guru who encourages frigid women to “liberate
your labia!”
A feel-good movie about feeling good, “The Oh in Ohio” thrums
with happy vibes and amiable performances. A delectable if limited
actress, Ms. Posey locates a few real feelings within her usual goofball
shtick. Ditto, in a less realized role, the hammy Mr. Rudd.
THE OH IN OHIO
Opens today in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Cleveland.
Directed by Billy Kent; written by Adam Wierzbianski, based on a story
by Sarah Bird and Mr. Kent; director of photography, Ramsey Nickell;
edited by Paul Bertino and Michael R. Miller; music by Bruno Coon,
Todd Homme and Michael Muhlfriedel; production designer, Martina Buckley;
produced by Miranda Bailey, Francey Grace and Amy Salko Robertson;
released by Cyan Pictures. Running time: 91 minutes. This film is not
rated.
WITH: Parker Posey (Priscilla Chase), Paul Rudd (Jack Chase), Mischa
Barton (Kristen Taylor), Miranda Bailey (Sherri), Liza Minnelli (Alyssa
Donahue), Danny DeVito (Wayne), Robert John Burke (Binky Bartlett)
and Keith David (Coach).
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Interview with Billy Kent, director of THE OH
IN OHIO:
Q: Liza Minnelli has a riotously funny scene in the film. Can you
describe what it's like working with a living legend like Liza?
BK: Liza, Liza, Liza! Contrary to popular belief Liza is a totally
sane and amazing person. Although she pretends to be shy about her
role, she read the script and was very excited to do the role. Probably
more than any other actor she improvised from the scriptshe was wild
and dedicated. She
worked so hard. When I met her she told me, "My father was a director" (yes,
I knew that) "I'll do anything you want me to do." Well those
are words every director wants to hear. During rehearsal we talked
about the kind of woman who would do the job she hasselling masturbation.
She added depth to the character by making someone who truly believed.
Ultimately, it was a lot of fun to shoot her and I have a lot of respect
for her talent. She was very kind to a first-time director.
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Excerpts from recent reviews for The Oh In Ohio:
VARIETY :
April 3-9
REVIEW
The Oh in Ohio
A Cold Iron Pictures presentation in association with The AV Club of
an Ambush Entertainment production. Produced by Amy Salko Robertson,
Francey Grace, Miranda Bailey. Executive producers, Debra Grieco,
Matthew Leutwyler, Jun Tan. Co-producer, Julie Sandor. Directed by
Billy Kent. Screenplay, Adam Wierzbianski.
Priscilla - Parker Posey
Jack - Paul Rudd
Wayne - Danny DeVito
Kristen – Mischa Barton
Sherri - Miranda Bailey
Alyssa Donahue - Liza Minnelli
Coach - Keith David
Robert John Burke - Binky Bartlett
By JOE LEYDON
.... Priscilla seeks help from a flamboyant sex guru (Liza Minnelli)
who advises a do-it-yourself approach. .... Minnelli and Robert John
Burke (as Kristen's father) score laughs while demonstrating how to
score maximum impact in single-scene cameos. Camera (color), Ramsey
Nickell; editors, Michael R. Miller, Paul Bertino; music, Bruno Coon;
production designer, Martina Buckley; costume designer, Bruce Finlayson;
sound (Dolby Digital), Patrick M. Griffith; assistant director, Jude
Gorjanc; casting, Monica Mikkelsen.
Reviewed at SXSW Film Festival (Spotlight Premiere), Austin, Texas,
March 13, 2006. Running time: 91 MIN
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From AIN'T IT COOL NEWS:
This was without question the best film I've seen so far at SXSW. Cleveland,
Ohio, never looked so beautiful as it does in this movie and the featured
actors (Parker Posey, Paul Rudd, Danny DeVito,Heather Graham, Liza
Minnelli, and Mischa Barton) are really doing some of their best work.
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From POP MATTERS:
The Oh in Ohio is one of those movies filled with cameo roles designed
for maximum laughter. Liza Minelli shows up as a loud and crazy inspirational
vagina speaker, who makes her assembled class turn their labias into
painted metaphors and squat over a hand mirror.
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