简介：Fraughtwithoverobvioussymbolism,Hartley'searlyfeatureisnonethelessajoytowatch.Halhereshowsushisuncannyabilitytocasthischaractersperfectlycameearlyinhiscareer.　　AdrienneShelleyisanearperfectfoiltoherself,equalpartsannoyingteenburgeoninginhersexuality;obsessedwithdoomandinspiredbyidealismgon...　　Fraughtwithoverobvioussymbolism,Hartley'searlyfeatureisnonethelessajoytowatch.Halhereshowsushisuncannyabilitytocasthischaractersperfectlycameearlyinhiscareer.　　AdrienneShelleyisanearperfectfoiltoherself,equalpartsannoyingteenburgeoninginhersexuality;obsessedwithdoomandinspiredbyidealismgonewrongsheisdeceptively–andsimultaneously–complexandsimple.HerAudreyinspiressomanylevelsofsymbolismitisalmostembarrassinglyrichwork;Manhattanmove;Europetrip;herstealing,thensleepingwiththemechanicswrench,etc.)　　AsJosh,RobertBurkegivesanabsolutelymasterfulperformance.Areformedprisoner/penitenthereturnstohishometowntofacedownpastdemons,accepthislotandbeginanewlife.Dressedinblack,andrepeatedlymistakenforapriest,hecorrectseveryone,yetthesymbolismisrich:heabstainsfromalcohol,hepracticescelibacy,andseeminglyhastakenonvowsofpoverty,andhumilityaswell.Thehumilityseemshardesttoswallowseeming,attimes,almostfalse,apretense.Yet,aswelearnmoreofJoshweseegenuinenessinhismodesty,thathishumilityisindeedearnestandbelievable.Whatseemsironicisthecharacterisfairlyforthrightinhissimplicity,yetsorichlydrawnitbecomestheviewerwhowantstomakehimoutasmorethanwhatheactuallyis.Afascinatinglywrittencharacter,perfectlyplayed.　　ThescenebetweenJoshandJaneishilarious...real.ButHartleycan'tleaveitassuchandhistrick,havingtheactorsrepeatthedialogueover-and-overbecomesfrustratingly"arty"andannoying...untilagainitbecomeshilarious.Whataterrificsenseofbizarrerealitythislendsthefilm.　　Hartley'sweavesallofasmallneighborhood'sidiosyncrasiesintoatapestryofseemingstereotypesbutwhichdelvesfarbeneaththesurface,thecatalystbeingthateveryonebelievestheyknowwhatthe"unbelievabletruth"ofthetitleis,yetnotwopeoplecanagreeonwhatexactlythattruthis.Awonderfullittlemoviewithsomebigideas.…