The Unbelievable Truth (1990)

Quirky. Off-beat. Perhaps even odd to some. But always entertaining. Such are the films of Hal Hartley. This is yet another gem that features smart, funny dialogue, as well as an interesting plot -- though not quite as interesting as the dialogue. Robert Burke, an ostracized car mechanic, and Adrienne Shelly, a troubled teen obsessed with nuclear proliferation, are the romantic focus of this story; but, well, their romance isn't quite as interesting as the dialogue. Good dialogue, surprisingly, is grossly lacking in many films these days, which is why Hartley's films are such a treat. Actually, I'd really like to see him write a "Batman" movie, which probably would read something like:

BATMAN: Damn, where the hell did I put that bat suit?
ROBIN: Do you think Cat Woman digs me?
BATMAN: I swear I left it in the closet in the Bat Cave.
ROBIN: Don't swear; you're a role model. Maybe I should write her poetry.
BATMAN: Role models are human; and, therefore, flawed.
ROBIN: That's no excuse. Children look up to you.
BATMAN: What makes you think Cat Woman digs you?
ROBIN: That's what Alfred said.
BATMAN: How would Alfred know?
ROBIN: When was the last time Alfred was wrong?
BATMAN: Good point.
ROBIN: Thanks.
BATMAN: Think he knows where my bat suit is?
ROBIN: Probably. Why don't you ask him?
BATMAN: I would, but he's with Cat Woman right now.
ROBIN: Do you think she digs me?
BATMAN: I don't know. Why don't you write her some poetry?
ROBIN: I'm not a poet. I'm just some lame sidekick who wears funny, ugly clothes and a stupid mask that barely conceals my vacuous identity.
BATMAN: Don't take it so hard.
ROBIN: Why not?
BATMAN: I don't know. It just seemed like the right thing to say.
ROBIN: Why say anything?.
BATMAN: I have to. I'm a role model.

Well, okay, I obviously took some liberties here, but that's a good sampling of the kind of quirky and off-beat dialogue you can expect. Hal Hartley. "The Unbelievable Truth." Rent it tonight!

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