The Sessions [Blu-ray]

I'd been interested in this movie since seeing a preview in the theater many years ago, and so I pushed through and watched the whole thing, even though it became clear early on it was not going to live up to my hopes. Even Helen Hunt, who takes on a Boston accent for the role, but only seems to remember it for words that have an "a" in them, can't save it. This movie did not survive the trip to 2021 very well. It's entirely a white male fantasy. Everything is in service to this guy's erection. His priest is fascinated by his exploits, every female character is drawn to him despite his treating them like objects -- he hires a young woman assistant in the most predatory manner that passes entirely without reflection by the character or the movie itself... Wouldn't watch again and am left with a vague dislike of the real person the main character is based on, which I don't think was the point.

Like many, I may have initially been interested in this movie for it's subject matter and perhaps an expectation of something light, humorous and a a strong cast. Well you get all those things, but mostly you get an incredibly moving and emotional experience. The cast as expected were wonderful. John Hawkes was so good as Mark O'Brien that is was probably 30 minutes into the movie that I recognized him as one of the cast of Identity - he was incredibly convincing as man smitten by polio. Helen Hunt too was a perfect choice. The real-life woman she plays (she is shown in some of the extras) was an extraordinary woman too and Helen played the role boldly.There is nudity - Helen Hunt's character (and by extension, sex surrogates in general) are not coy. It is a comfort in fact to see a real woman - beautiful but real and age appropriate - in a movie, where there is usually so muc pressure to only show the sleekest of bodies. There is humor too - but it is the kind of humor we experience in real life - the movie is not played in any way for laughs. Nor does it overly sentimentalize Mark, his condition and his hopes. Life can be cruel but we can be lucky to encounter people who will be kind and who will love us (in whatever way they can).This is a wonderful movie - but be prepared to be emotionally affected. I watched it alone and still couldn't avoid choking up as I watched. Why it didn't feature more in the Academy Awards is a mystery - though Helen Hunt did get nominated for Best Supporting Actress. John Hawkes deserved an Oscar nomination too in my opinion.

A fascinating and inspiring story based on a real person who lived in an iron lung and wanted to be able to have a sexual, romantic relationship. What would he have to learn? Who could teach him? Who would want him? And most importantly, what could go wrong?! If you are Catholic (like he was), you will also get a skirm-worthy kick out of the fact he consults with a equally inexperienced priest about his hopes!Issues he faces: where he can learn about sex? Where he can borrow a bedroom (he lives in an iron lung...no bed)? How long can he be outside his lung? How to breath on your own while enjoying sex? How to be a thoughtful lover...and other interesting challenges.It blows my mind every time I watch it.

I purchased this blu-ray mainly because it had a digital copy in included with the Blu-ray disc. I tried redeeming the digital copy on the Fox redeem website and received an error message that the code was in valid. Then I tried other streaming sites; Vudu, iTunes, etc..and the code was not accepted. They I read below the code that it expired in 2015. This item should have not been advertised as including a digital copy or that the code had expired. I called Amazon about it and offered to take 50% off my purchase price so I took it. It is to much of a hassle sending it back to Amazon, plus it they had sent me a replacement, the replacement would most likely be expired also.

Really good movie. Yes, Helen Hunt does a lot of nude scenes, but, if you can get over your sophomoric urges, John Hawkes does a wonderful job portraying a severely handicapped man who has adapted to his condition and demonstrates a whimsical, humorous outlook on life (no curmudgeonly, angry, dismissive stereotype here), and we see how his caregivers deal with his moods and physical needs on a daily basis. And the physical needs issue gets explored further as we discover that he is a man of faith and spends time at his local church (he's Catholic, but it is a secondary attribute in this story). We get introduced to the cool, hip Priest (William H. Macy) and through his interactions with the priest, we discover that the issue of sex is becoming a central issue for Hawkes' character. After some introductory scenes with his psychologist, he gets introduced to Helen Hunt's character who is a sex surrogate. The remainder of the movie deals with the sometimes awkward, sometimes humorous and always touching relationship that develops between John Hawkes and Helen Hunt. It is a well written, poignant and intelligent story of a lonely man's quest for normalcy and the people in his life who help him to lead a dignified, full, albeit brief, life.

Can a man struck down by polio since he was 7 ever find companionship, sex, and love? He is not paralyzed. His muscles don't work to well. His sense of humor and irony do work quite well.He finds an open-minded Roman Catholic priest who listens and offers gentle, realistic, undogmatic guidance.He finds a sex surrogate (Helen Hunt) who helps him relax and reconnect with himself, most importantly his pre-polio self.He charms people rather than demands their sympathy.

Wonderful performances by all the actors in this true life story about a severely disabled man who seeks the assistance of a professional therapist to help with the loss of his virginity and to experience some intimacy with the opposite sex. Very moving and thought provoking.

A very moving film about a profoundly disabled man who wants to lose his virginity. You'd think it would be depressing, but it was funny and touching and heart-warming instead. Great acting and great script. I saw it on tv but have bought it for my parents for Christmas because it's so good!

Great film as great human script / good character development and great performances! What more could one desire...?

A very entertaining movie. No not because Helen Hunt gets her kit off but the story is sweet and touching. We forget that there is a person behind the facade that needs to be held and loved, though the disability create such an overhead that most people cannot cope. Btw... He had more girls than I did... So good on him

Great film about an unusual subject - it doesn't get enough airtime, but I imagine that the majority of the audience would be empathic with subject anyway, so could be preaching to the converted. Nonetheless, beautifully done and if it gets people discussing such an important issue as well as being entertained - win, win