Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- intimate
- provocative
- melancholic
- adult date night
- late night viewing
What critics said
Critics found the film strongest in its nuanced treatment of both sides of a transactional relationship and its lead performances, but viewed its psychology and narrative drive as underdeveloped.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Richard offers Florence $10,000 for three nights together under clearly stated sexual conditions, forcing desire and commerce into the same relationship.
Florence establishes the terms of the arrangement and is presented as making a deliberate personal choice rather than fitting a doomed or exploited stereotype.
Richard is a computer entrepreneur whose depression and withdrawal coincide with the collapse of his investor-driven ambitions.
The nightly limits of the Vegas arrangement become increasingly complicated as Richard and Florence develop mutual interest.
Films like The Center of the World, and why
9½ Weeks
erotic drama centered on transactional intimacy, psychological games, and an emotionally unstable couple
Last Tango in Paris
provocative erotic relationship drama exploring desire, alienation, and power imbalance
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
adult relationship drama examining sex, money, and emotional dependence through frank intimacy
Movie Details
- Director
- Wayne Wang
- Release Date
- 2001-04-19
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 5.2 / 10 (90)
Cast
- Molly Parker
- Peter Sarsgaard
- Carla Gugino
- Shane Edelman
- Karry Brown
- Alisha Klass
- Mel Gorham
- Lisa Newlan
- Jason McCabe
- Travis Miljan
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Center of the World about?
- A depressed dot-com entrepreneur hires a lap dancer for three nights in Las Vegas, only to find their carefully bounded arrangement unsettled by genuine attraction.
- What is The Center of the World like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Center of the World as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Center of the World violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Center of the World.
- What did critics think of The Center of the World?
- Critics found the film strongest in its nuanced treatment of both sides of a transactional relationship and its lead performances, but viewed its psychology and narrative drive as underdeveloped.
- Which films are like The Center of the World?
- Films with a similar feel include 9½ Weeks, Last Tango in Paris, and The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
- How long is The Center of the World?
- The Center of the World runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Center of the World?
- In United States, The Center of the World is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
