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List Price: $24.99 | | Label: Palm Pictures (Home Entertainment)
Salesrank: 35582
Released: June 6, 2006 |
| Our Price: $12.35 |
| Used Price: $7.58 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Based on the novel by the mysterious and controversial JT LeRoy Asia Argento's THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS is a penetrating look at the emotional and physical bonds between mother and son. Argento the daughter of Italian horror king Dario Argento (SUSPIRIA) directed and stars in the film playing Sarah a young woman addicted to sex drugs and danger. The movie opens as she reenters the life of her seven-year-old son Jeremiah (Jimmy Bennett) who has been dragged away from his serene and apparently wonderful foster home to be reunited with his crazy mother. She has no idea how to take care of what is clearly an extraordinary child abusing him psychologically as she allows a string of loser boyfriends (including Michael Pitt John Robinson and Jeremy Sisto) to beat him physically. Sarah disappears for long stretches of time eventually forcing Jeremiah to live with his Bible-thumping grandparents (Peter Fonda and Ornella Muti) who find yet more ways to scar the child. But again and again he winds up back with his deeply troubled mother who is spiraling downward--and bringing Jeremiah with her. Argento who also cowrote the screenplay (with Alessandro Magania) gives a raw powerful courageous performance as Sarah holding nothing back. And the actors who play Jeremiah as he grows up (first Bennett then twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse) are outstanding in very complex roles. The hard-driving soundtrack (which includes Marilyn Manson who plays one of Sarah's boyfriends) matches the fast-paced editing making Argento's labor of love a visual and aural treat even with its difficult imagery and content.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 660200313128 Manufacturer No: PALMDV3131
Description of The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things:
Asia Argento's adaptation of JT Leroy's short story collection, The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, still has the heartbreaking urgency of a tale about child abuse, regardless of Leroy's proven fraudulent identity. Weaving plots together from Leroy's two books, Sarah, and The Heart Is Deceitful, Argento relays the history of orphaned Jeremiah (Jimmy Bennett/Cole Sprouse), whose mother Sarah (Asia Argento) abandons him as a baby to work as a truck-stop lot lizard for her methamphetamine habit. Sarah tears Jeremiah away from a stable foster home to pathetically attempt mothering her seven-year old son. Jeremiah instantly grows up in strip clubs, drug dealers' homes, big rigs, and in the hot rod that he and his mother call home. His sadomasochistic sexual psychology also develops prematurely, informed by men who rape and beat him, and a mother whose work as a hooker requires Jeremiah's dressing up as a girl to pass as her younger sister. Enter a born again, psychotically zealous Grandfather (Peter Fonda) who takes temporary custody of Jeremiah, and the viewer begins to understand Sarah's severe rebelliousness, sensing that the punk, 23-year old prostitute may be a better parent for Jeremiah, simply because she loves him. Shot by Eric Alan Edwards (Kids, My Own Private Idaho), and with a soundtrack including Sonic Youth, Subhumans, Billy Corgan, and Hasil Adkins, the film has a raunchy, Southern appeal similar to that of Leroy's books. Cameos appearances by Winona Ryder and Marilyn Manson add rock star power. Argento keeps it sexy, as this is as much a story of the mother-child bond as it is about the malformation of a boy's sexual identity. True or not, The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things is a sincere yet stylized rendition of a terribly sad story. --Trinie Dalton
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things Reviews:
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things 
2008-05-05 - I Thought It Was Very Well Thought Of, And Very Well Made, Although Clips Where Cut, Which I Was Quite Frustrated.
The Kids Acting in the movie was Excelently well Performed And The Movie Touched Me, because I Went Though Almost The Same Ordeal.
My Wife and I Cried,
Great Actors, Horrible Film 
2008-01-17 - Well, if there is one positive thing to mention about this movie, it's that there are some great actors here and they do a good job with what they are provided. The problem is that the story is boring and it goes nowhere. I understand that some great movies can be about ugly topics, but to become great in this genre, they need to excel. This movie was just one scene after the next of bad things happening, with no real emotion about it all and no point or thought provoked by it. Very disappointing.
Devastatingly beautiful if somewhat distressing
2007-07-23 - This DVD is distressing in an educational sort of way.....it gives one pause to consider the lives that some vulnerable young people are forced to lead and how vulnerable their parents can also be in these circumstances...the life of the parent inevitably impacts on the life of the child and yet to see this young boy adapt to changing circumstances is not only a cause for concern, but hope, too!
Either you get it or you don't.
2007-06-23 - The people that are complaining about this movie wouldn't know a good movie if it him em in the face. These are probably the same people who get excited when Ben Affeleck's new movie comes out, or whatever blockbuster mega studio production movie they can attend. If your one of them, than you'll never appreaciate this movie. This is an indy flick, low budget, cult classic. The acting and directing is amazing, and the story is fabulous. Even the soundtrack (Subhumans, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Sex Pistols) is great. The actors, Peter Fonda, Asia Argento, Marilyn Manson, Jeremey Sisto, Michael Pitt, and Winona Ryder are all verry good in this movie. If you know good movies, than you'll love this film. If your amongst the silly ones who only watched this movie because Marilyn Manson is in it, than your wasting your time...go watch Ghost Rider instead.
THE CHILD DEVIANT!
2007-06-13 - This is an unforgettable low budget classic cult drama that is written by J.T. Leroy and directed (also starring) Asia Argento. The story is about a little boy who suffers some unspeakable abuse...the film shows you the world through his eyes. Many great actors are in the film such as Winona Rhyder, Jeremy Sisto, Michael Pitt, Peter Fonda, and an surprisingly good performance by Marilyn Manson. I strongly suggest this film. One of the most impressive indy films ever made in the history of history. Warning: Please be prepared to be shocked and offended by the substance matter.
