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Special Features
- Commentary by director Asia Argento and producer Chris Hanley
- "JT Under Cover" featurette
- New York Film Premiere and Party featurette
- Easter Eggs
- Trailer
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
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
Product Description
Seven-year-old Jeremiah lived a calm, comfortable life in the care of a loving foster home until the day his young mother Sarah (Argento) came to take him against his will into her reckless life of turmoil and depravity, between desolate truck-stops, flea bag motels, strip joints, drug den and deadbeat surrogate dads until he finds himself in the custody of his ultra-religious grandparents. Having adapted to his new life as a Christian fundamentalist, Sarah returns to claim her son. Bound by a love only a mother and son could have for each other, Sarah pulls Jeremiah further and further into her dementia. When Sarah is finally and wholly consumed by drugs, prostitution and violence, Jeremiah is forced into a desperate struggle to survive the madness of his surroundings.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 56 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Which is worse: Drug-addicted mom? Pedophiliac father? Abusive religious grandparents? Orphaning? Self-reliance, age 10?
June 27, 2006
By Jessica Lux
Format:DVD
Note to consumers: The original release of this DVD contains an authoring error, resulting in an abrupt jump that bypasses the "explosion" scene (which can be seen in the previews). Palm Pictures has been very responsive to email requests for replacement versions of the DVD, and if you purchased a defective item, you should contact them via their web site.
J.T. Leroy's "true" life tale about a teenaged truck stop prostitute and her son was first told in a collection of short stories by the same name. The movie follows the early years of Jeremiah, a boy who experiences child rape, has gender confusion, lives as a scavenger, is brainwashed by evangelical Christians, and experiences a revolving door of his mother's boyfriends and tricks. The big screen version follows the written version closely; however, I highly recommend that viewers also pick up a copy of the book (and Leroy's earlier work Sarah) to answer any questions about the backstory, the red bird metaphor, the story of Sarah's own youth, the inner strength of Jeremiah, and more.
Director/Actor Asia Argento is brilliant, pure and simple. She portays child rape and the harrowing seduction of a grown man (Marilyn Manson) by a teenaged boy in drag with artistic genius. Viewers don't need to see the "monster" in full light, and their imagination of the rest of the scene is far more disturbing. As an actor, she portrays Sarah as a chameleon who shifts from a drop-dead looker to a trashy stripper to a drug-addicted junkie to a loving mother to a hateful creep in mere minutes (and then shifts back again). She is both drop-dead gorgeous and completely hideous. Three young actors portray Jeremiah as a stoic boy who grows up in this chaotic environment, and all of them are excellent.
Some reviewers find this movie depressing, and I couldn't disagree more. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This movie is what you make of it. Viewers can easily find a commentary of the child welfare system, insight into the results of a repressed childhood, social commentary on hypocrisy, and insight into the scarring effects of child abuse if they scratch beneath the surface. It's no pick-me-up, but this is in no way the most horrific film I've ever seen (try Baise Moi or Irreversible for that). It's also not an exploitation film by any means. It is brutally honest about events and situations which go on every day in America.
Is the story a hoax? Once again, the authenticity of the movie is open to interpretation. J.T. Leroy has been exposed as the pen name for a woman who was never a truck-stop prostitute, which recasts the short story collection as a work of fiction instead of non-fiction. Literary magazines and critics have engaged in a never-ending debate about the hoax (especially in the light of the James Frey controversy). The primary criticism is that the story loses its authenticity--how can the reader/viewer trust the insight to such sensitive topics if the author never experienced them? For a play-by-play of the backlash and controversy about Leroy's identity, refer to the Wikipedia article on the subject.
The Palm Pictures promotional web site has embraced the controversy in a fun way, which is how I encourage consumers to view it. Yes, the story is larger-than-life. On the other hand, it is far from the outrageous film every made. I truly believe that the statement made by the film is a strong one that is undiluted by the author's credibility with personal experience. (Hoaxes like Go Ask Alice, with its socio-political agenda, are far more dangerous than this story.)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Watch this movie with an open mind and look beneath the surface. Develop your own opinions about the news that the story is actually a work of fiction.
J.T. Leroy's "true" life tale about a teenaged truck stop prostitute and her son was first told in a collection of short stories by the same name. The movie follows the early years of Jeremiah, a boy who experiences child rape, has gender confusion, lives as a scavenger, is brainwashed by evangelical Christians, and experiences a revolving door of his mother's boyfriends and tricks. The big screen version follows the written version closely; however, I highly recommend that viewers also pick up a copy of the book (and Leroy's earlier work Sarah) to answer any questions about the backstory, the red bird metaphor, the story of Sarah's own youth, the inner strength of Jeremiah, and more.
Director/Actor Asia Argento is brilliant, pure and simple. She portays child rape and the harrowing seduction of a grown man (Marilyn Manson) by a teenaged boy in drag with artistic genius. Viewers don't need to see the "monster" in full light, and their imagination of the rest of the scene is far more disturbing. As an actor, she portrays Sarah as a chameleon who shifts from a drop-dead looker to a trashy stripper to a drug-addicted junkie to a loving mother to a hateful creep in mere minutes (and then shifts back again). She is both drop-dead gorgeous and completely hideous. Three young actors portray Jeremiah as a stoic boy who grows up in this chaotic environment, and all of them are excellent.
Some reviewers find this movie depressing, and I couldn't disagree more. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This movie is what you make of it. Viewers can easily find a commentary of the child welfare system, insight into the results of a repressed childhood, social commentary on hypocrisy, and insight into the scarring effects of child abuse if they scratch beneath the surface. It's no pick-me-up, but this is in no way the most horrific film I've ever seen (try Baise Moi or Irreversible for that). It's also not an exploitation film by any means. It is brutally honest about events and situations which go on every day in America.
Is the story a hoax? Once again, the authenticity of the movie is open to interpretation. J.T. Leroy has been exposed as the pen name for a woman who was never a truck-stop prostitute, which recasts the short story collection as a work of fiction instead of non-fiction. Literary magazines and critics have engaged in a never-ending debate about the hoax (especially in the light of the James Frey controversy). The primary criticism is that the story loses its authenticity--how can the reader/viewer trust the insight to such sensitive topics if the author never experienced them? For a play-by-play of the backlash and controversy about Leroy's identity, refer to the Wikipedia article on the subject.
The Palm Pictures promotional web site has embraced the controversy in a fun way, which is how I encourage consumers to view it. Yes, the story is larger-than-life. On the other hand, it is far from the outrageous film every made. I truly believe that the statement made by the film is a strong one that is undiluted by the author's credibility with personal experience. (Hoaxes like Go Ask Alice, with its socio-political agenda, are far more dangerous than this story.)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Watch this movie with an open mind and look beneath the surface. Develop your own opinions about the news that the story is actually a work of fiction.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By PugLife
Format:DVD
This was never dull. I was riveted (and maybe a little disgusted) throughout the entire movie. I actually thought Asia's directing of this movie was excellent. Far better than Scarlet Diva. I appreciated that the disturbing scenes were mostly left up to your imagination and there was very little violence or "gore". The subject matter was not pleasant, but neither is life sometimes. I got the feeling that if Angelina Jolie had starred in it (and don't get me wrong, I love her) the whole world would have been crowing about how courageous she was for telling such a story. The end was a little confusing, but I found it to be very "real"-as in there aren't always happy endings in real life or neat conclusions. Except for Asia's accent which at times is southern, then italian and other times "american" which I guess was explained with the throw-away line about the mother being from Italy. Other wise, very well done.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (Asia Argento, 2004)
I've watched a lot of horror movies over the years. Most have all the horror of a dull toothache. Some are disturbing in various degrees. A select few have actually managed to scare me. As with all things, though, the truly scary films-- Johnny Got His Gun, for example-- are not traditional horror films. I say this by explanation of the statement that the opening scene of The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, in all its banality, before we have any idea who these people are or any idea of their relationship beyond what we can infer from their sexes and ages, is arguably the most terrifying scene I have ever watched. In comparison, a couple of hours previously I'd watched Jenifer, a short film by Asia Argento's father Dario. In my Jenifer review, I was planning on calling it one of the most disturbing experiences I'd ever had with a movie. Then I watched the first five minutes of this flick, and that went out the window.
Argento (Asia, this time) shoots the scene with the documentarian feel of a Lindsay Anderson or an Errol Morris-- there's no camera trickery, no out-of-the-ordinary dialogue, no weird set design, there are just two people, whom we assume (rightly, we find out) are mother and son. The fear-- the pure, visceral ugliness that telegraphs in no uncertain terms that neither of these two characters will survive this movie in any real sense (and as I write this, to head off spoiler comments, I will say that I have not finished the movie; I was so affected by the first scene, and some of those that followed, I had to stop watching halfway through, and will finish it tonight)-- comes solely from the mundanity of the set, which could be any messy little house in any part of the country, and the raw power displayed by Asia Argento and Jimmy Bennett playing two people who loathe each other to depths that most of us can't begin to comprehend, and yet realize that they're supposed to love one another. And the movie gets worse from there.
Argento plays Sarah, mother to Jeremiah, played by Bennett as a boy and Dylan and Cole (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody-- and how traumatic is THAT?) Sprouse as an adolescent. Sarah is emotionally bereft, an alcoholic and drug addict who lives only to find the next boyfriend and the next score, who views Jeremiah as a weight around her neck but feels compelled to act as his mother because she knows it's what's expected of her. Even when Sarah's parents intervene after Jeremiah ends up in the hospital and keep him at their compound (a vastly disturbing experience in itself) for three years, Sarah comes back for him. Not that being in any one situation is worse than any other for Jeremiah; with the exception of one early scene when he runs away and is temporarily sheltered at a police station, there's no safe place; adults, on the whole, exist in this world for the sole purpose of abusing, exploiting, and destroying children. The movie is relentless in its nihilism; I can't remember seeing a movie this overwhelmingly dark since the first time I saw Guinea Pig 2: The Flower of Flesh and Blood.
This is not a movie you will enjoy. At all. In fact, you'll probably come to hate it on levels you weren't even aware you had. But there is no surer indication that a movie is doing its job, and doing it exceptionally well, when you hate the movie because the movie wants you to hate it. This is a scary, scary movie. ****
I've watched a lot of horror movies over the years. Most have all the horror of a dull toothache. Some are disturbing in various degrees. A select few have actually managed to scare me. As with all things, though, the truly scary films-- Johnny Got His Gun, for example-- are not traditional horror films. I say this by explanation of the statement that the opening scene of The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, in all its banality, before we have any idea who these people are or any idea of their relationship beyond what we can infer from their sexes and ages, is arguably the most terrifying scene I have ever watched. In comparison, a couple of hours previously I'd watched Jenifer, a short film by Asia Argento's father Dario. In my Jenifer review, I was planning on calling it one of the most disturbing experiences I'd ever had with a movie. Then I watched the first five minutes of this flick, and that went out the window.
Argento (Asia, this time) shoots the scene with the documentarian feel of a Lindsay Anderson or an Errol Morris-- there's no camera trickery, no out-of-the-ordinary dialogue, no weird set design, there are just two people, whom we assume (rightly, we find out) are mother and son. The fear-- the pure, visceral ugliness that telegraphs in no uncertain terms that neither of these two characters will survive this movie in any real sense (and as I write this, to head off spoiler comments, I will say that I have not finished the movie; I was so affected by the first scene, and some of those that followed, I had to stop watching halfway through, and will finish it tonight)-- comes solely from the mundanity of the set, which could be any messy little house in any part of the country, and the raw power displayed by Asia Argento and Jimmy Bennett playing two people who loathe each other to depths that most of us can't begin to comprehend, and yet realize that they're supposed to love one another. And the movie gets worse from there.
Argento plays Sarah, mother to Jeremiah, played by Bennett as a boy and Dylan and Cole (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody-- and how traumatic is THAT?) Sprouse as an adolescent. Sarah is emotionally bereft, an alcoholic and drug addict who lives only to find the next boyfriend and the next score, who views Jeremiah as a weight around her neck but feels compelled to act as his mother because she knows it's what's expected of her. Even when Sarah's parents intervene after Jeremiah ends up in the hospital and keep him at their compound (a vastly disturbing experience in itself) for three years, Sarah comes back for him. Not that being in any one situation is worse than any other for Jeremiah; with the exception of one early scene when he runs away and is temporarily sheltered at a police station, there's no safe place; adults, on the whole, exist in this world for the sole purpose of abusing, exploiting, and destroying children. The movie is relentless in its nihilism; I can't remember seeing a movie this overwhelmingly dark since the first time I saw Guinea Pig 2: The Flower of Flesh and Blood.
This is not a movie you will enjoy. At all. In fact, you'll probably come to hate it on levels you weren't even aware you had. But there is no surer indication that a movie is doing its job, and doing it exceptionally well, when you hate the movie because the movie wants you to hate it. This is a scary, scary movie. ****
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible
Movie had no point at all except that the kid lived a terrible live. Super dumb waste of time and money
Published 2 months ago by Courtney Bogantz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it!
I love Asia in this role as well as Michael Pitt and Marilyn Manson. Disc was used but played like new and was delivered on time!! Thank you!!
Published 2 months ago by Beth
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to watch film
I generally love Asia Argento's films but this was hard to watch and just an all around bad film . It wasn't her acting that was bad it was the story line and cruelty that didn't... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Cynthia White
5.0 out of 5 stars
Asia Argento is PHENOMENAL!
Loved the book. Loved the movie. Love the whole controversy around the J.T. Leroy/Terminator/Laura Albert story. Very, very interesting. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Albert Thayer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Difficult to watch
I know that this movie was based on a very successful book and true story, and the performances were very good, but watching the abuse this poor boy went through was just too much... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Traci Snow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie!
As weird, and strange as this movie is, I love it! The shipping was super fast! Good quality! No scratches or anything! The movie didn't skip, and it was more than worth my money! Read more
Published 7 months ago by Britney
1.0 out of 5 stars
a disturbing, terrible, depressing movie
I don't know how this movie got funding to be made, it's so dark, pessimistic, and completely depressing - I can't imagine anyone watching it and actually ENJOYING the viewing... Read more
Published 11 months ago by DJ MichaelAngelo
1.0 out of 5 stars
False view on true Christianity
What a childhood for the poor boy, this world is covered in darkness. Anyway, the people portrayed as "Fundamentalist Christians" in the film are NOT Christians at all. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Redeemed by Love
5.0 out of 5 stars
The movie you're gonna love and hate.
I really loved this movie but it is very, very disturbing. This is a movie that will make you cry or at least make you feel sick inside. Read more
Published 17 months ago by JOHN S.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not Worth it
The movie itself is awesomely disturbing, I couldn't wait to watch it again. My review is based on the amazon offering of the film. You can rent it for $2. Read more
Published on April 5, 2011 by selbelle
