"AUTO FOCUS"
(2002) (Greg Kinnear, Willem Dafoe) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Heavy	Heavy	Extreme	Moderate	Minor
Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Mild	None	Mild	Minor	Extreme
Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Extreme	Moderate	Heavy	Moderate	Heavy

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QUICK TAKE:

Drama: A famous TV actor's obsession with pornography and partying threatens to ruin him and his career.

PLOT:

It's 1964 and Bob Crane (GREG KINNEAR) is a radio host at KNX, and his agent, Lenny (RON LEIBMAN), has just gotten him the lead role in a network TV show. The WWII prison camp comedy - "Hogan's Heroes" - has both Crane and his wife, Anne (RITA WILSON), concerned about its subject matter and whether its then politically incorrect style might harm his career.

They eventually come around, however, and Bob begins working with the likes of Richard Dawson (MICHAEL RODGERS), Werner Klemperer (KURT FULLER), Robert Clary (CHRISTOPHER NEIMAN) and John Banner (LYLE KANOUSE). The show's an instant hit and Bob becomes a big star, yet Anne is more concerned about the porno magazines she's discovered in the garage. He states he's just a photography nut, but she realizes they can't be a good sign.

Things get worse after Bob meets John Carpenter (WILLEM DAFOE) backstage on the "Hogan" set. He's a video technician selling a new way to "film" things - home video - who not only sets up Bob with the best AV gear, but also takes him to a strip club where he gets the star to play drums with the house band. Bob and John eventually hook up with some strippers with whom they have sex.

As time passes and Anne leaves Bob, he and John continue with their increasingly kinky obsession of partying with various women and then taping and later watching their sexual encounters with them. At the same time, Bob starts seeing his new co-star, Patricia Crane (MARIA BELLO), and the two eventually marry.

The recording of the sexual activities continues long after "Hogan's Heroes" is cancelled and soon begins to affect every aspect of Bob's life. From that point on, he tries to figure out what to do as his porno obsession eventually threatens both his career and life.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?

Those who are fans of someone in the cast or the real-life Bob Crane story might be interested in it, but it doesn't seem likely that most other kids will be.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R

For strong sexuality, nudity, language, some drug use and violence.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

GREG KINNEAR plays the real actor Bob Crane who has various one-night stands with women (despite being married) and then becomes increasingly obsessed with pornography to the point of it ruining his professional and personal life. He also drinks and uses strong profanity.

WILLEM DAFOE plays a video salesman who hooks up with Crane as his partner in pornography who may have a bisexual slant. He has sex with many women, uses strong profanity and becomes obsessed with Crane and his friendship with him. He also drinks.

RITA WILSON plays Crane's first wife who becomes increasingly concerned with her husband's behavior and pastime.

MARIA BELLO plays Crane's TV show co-star who has an affair with him and eventually marries him. She uses strong profanity, smokes and grows tired of his absences, behavior and addiction.

RON LEIBMAN plays Crane's agent who grows concerned and tired of Crane's personal life affecting his professional career. He uses strong profanity.

MICHAEL RODGERS plays real-life actor Richard Dawson, Crane's "Hogan's Hero" co-star who smokes, drinks and comes off as a ladies man.

KURT FULLER plays the real-life actor Werner Klemperer, Crane's "Hogan's Hero" co-star.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

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Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

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OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 20 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also used. Sexually explicit dialogue is present, as is a large amount of sexual behavior. That includes various sexual encounters that show movement, nudity (bare breasts, butts and occasional female full frontal) and include related sounds, as well as other fooling around and implied or partially seen oral sex.

Two men become obsessed with videotaping nude women as well as their sexual encounters with them (that include scenes of three and four-way sex) and even masturbate together while watching them (a woman also masturbates in another scene). Some homosexual references are present. Partial and completely nude women are seen in various nonsexual situations, while scantily clad strippers are seen doing suggestive dancing.

Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while the obsession with pornography and cheating leads to some tense family material and eventual divorces. Various characters smoke and/or drink, while some drug use (cocaine) also occurs. Violence includes a bloody murder that might be disturbing to some viewers.

If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, some of that occurs late in the film.

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ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE

During the opening credits there's a cartoon drawing of a martini.

Various people have drinks at a party, including Richard Dawson who has wine.

People have drinks in a strip club, including Dawson who has a beer and a shot of liquor in front of him.

People drink in a strip club, including Carpenter.

Carpenter has Bob make drinks for them and two strippers, and Bob wants more vodka.

Various people have drinks.

People have drinks, including Patti and Bob.

We see some people snorting cocaine at a party.

Crane, as Hogan, pours himself some liquor in the show.

People have drinks in a club.

A man has a drink.

People have drinks at a dinner club.

A person pours liquor into some orange juice.

Various people drink in a bar.

John comes out with drinks for him and Bob.

Some people have drinks, including John.

John has more to drink.

BLOOD/GORE

A man raises a tripod and strikes another person with it (we don't see the impact) and we see blood splatter onto the wall. He then hits that person again (the impact is not seen) and we briefly see the victim's very bloody face. We then see blood all over the wall, bed and victim's head.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE

Bob cheats on his wife and then becomes obsessed with pornography.

A joke is made about a Greek quarterback who hated leaving his buddies behind (gay double entendre).

Anne discovers that Bob has various "girlie" magazines hidden in the garage (we don't see them) and he lies about them, stating that he's a photography nut.

Bob and John secretly videotape their sexual encounters with women.

John insists to Bob that he's not a "fag."

Bob shows John an edited spoof he's made about John that's heavy on the homosexual innuendo (including material with a banana, etc.) and John is not happy.

Bob is rude and disrespectful to people on a TV show and makes sexist remarks to a woman.

John becomes increasingly obsessed with Bob and eventually becomes violent with him.

FRIGHTENING SCENES

A man sneaks into another person's room at night, picks up a heavy tripod, opens a bedroom door and then approaches the sleeping person. He then raises the tripod and we see blood splatter onto the wall. He then hits that person again (the impact is not seen) and we briefly see the victim's very bloody face. We then see blood all over the wall, bed and victim's head. We then see the crime scene the next day as police look over it (we see more blood).

GUNS/WEAPONS

Handgun: Worn by a police officer.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR

Phrases: "F*ck you very much," "You're a f*cking pervert," "F*cked up," "Don't f*cking blow it," "What the f*ck's wrong with you?" "Just don't f*cking bother," "Don't be suck a pr*ck," "A day without sex is a day wasted," "Horny," "Bloody" (adjective), "You can't pull that crap on me," "Chicks" and "Broads" (women), "What the hell/are you doing/is that?" "Fag" (homosexual), "Freakin,'" "Hell, yeah," "Bust my balls," "Bitch" and "Loser."

It's possible the film could entice some kids to videotape sexual encounters and/or become more interested in pornography.

A woman pulls up her top to reveal her bare breasts for Bob as he takes photos of her.

JUMP SCENES

None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)

A mild amount of ominous music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)

During the opening credits, a song has some lyrics about some "hanky panky."

PROFANITY

At least 20 "f" words (5 used sexually as is the term "nail"), 3 "s" words, 3 slang terms using male genitals ("d*ck" and "pr*ck"), 8 slang terms for breasts ("boobs," "bazooms," "balloons," "bags," "bazongas," "jugs," "knockers" and "t*ts"), 7 asses (1 used with "hole"), 4 hells, 2 damns, 1 crap, 3 uses of "My God," 2 each of "G-damn" and "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "God" and "Jesus" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY

During the opening credits, there are some images of women in scanty attire and/or bikini tops that show cleavage.

Anne shows cleavage in her nightgown.

A joke is made about a Greek quarterback who hated leaving his buddies behind (gay double entendre).

Dawson alludes to a woman wanting to see his "show."

Anne discovers that Bob has various "girlie" magazines hidden in the garage (we don't see them).

Carpenter invites Bob to a strip club where we see a stripper doing her thing in a small, thong-like bikini with some suggestive dancing. We later see another woman who's wearing only pasties across her nipples. She then puts on a robe, comes over to Carpenter and flashes him (we don't see anything). Another dancer then comes onto the stage and shows cleavage while doing her thing.

The camera focuses on a woman's butt in a dress as she walks away from Crane (symbolizing his view).

A priest, who's heard of Crane's pastime of playing drums in strip clubs, says that it's not easy to resist temptation.

Back at a strip club, we see strippers dancing together with their tops down (from a distance we see their bare breasts). We see more of this (closer up) and see them spread their legs while wearing just tiny bottoms.

Carpenter invites Bob and two strippers back to his place where he asks Bob which one he wants (sexually).

We see Carpenter and a stripper having sex with him on top, his hand on her bare breast and related movement (seen from the side and slightly above them). The woman with Bob has her shirt open quite far down the front that shows a great deal of the inside of her breasts. He says that he's married and she says that she is as well as she comes on to him and kisses him. We then see a torso and up shot of them and she apparently puts her hand down inside his pants and playfully asks, "What's this? A prop I suppose." She then says, "Colonel Hogan, I want you to nail me to the f*cking wall." She kisses him again and he asks if they can leave the lights on (it's implied that they have sex).

Carpenter asks Crane if a certain woman tightens up his pants.

Two more women come over to Carpenter's place and the men disagree over who will "get" the blonde. We then see that they have Polaroids of the women (still clothed) but we then see the women dancing around in their bra and panties (while Bob takes photos of them and he and Carpenter are shirtless). One woman then takes off her top and dances around bare-breasted. We later see that the men were secretly videotaping all of that (and they watch it).

A comment is made, "She's giving you head" as Bob and John watch one of their tapes. We then see a shot of what they're watching on TV, but that act has been digitized out (but you can't tell what's happening).

It's implied that Bob and Patti go off to fool around rather than have dinner.

We see a quick montage of sexual encounters involving Bob, including one showing a woman standing with movement, a 3-way encounter (a bare-breasted woman behind him while he's on top of another woman), another with sexual sounds and movement (all while we hear an interview with him talking about him not making waves and thus having a successful marriage).

Anne tells Bob that it's been a while since they did anything (sexual) and wonders if work has sapped all of his energy.

Bob and John watch more of their porno tapes and Bob says that he has a "hard-on the size of Florida." During it, we saw a woman's bare butt and breasts and after it's rewound, we see a hand on Bob's bare butt (as many bare butts are lined up). Bob then realizes that it was John's hand and becomes upset, but John says it's no big deal since it was an orgy. Bob gets madder and says, "You've got your fingers up my f*cking assh*le." They part ways, but sometime later reunite and John insists that he's not a "fag."

We see topless and then completely nude women at a party (with full frontal nudity) getting ready to jump into a pool. As John and Bob look around, Bob comments, "Look at the jugs on her."

We see a glass top coffee table that has a shapely female figure in leather as its base.

A woman pulls up her top to reveal her bare breasts for Bob as he takes photos of her.

We hear voice over narration from Bob and he states that he's a normal, red-blooded American man who likes to look at naked women. He then states that he loves any kind of breast and during this we see many quick views of both bare breasts and women wearing tight-fitting tops. He then uses various slang terms for breasts and then makes various comments about nipples and what they're like.

We see a shot of Bob behind a woman having sex (we see her bare breasts and movement) with John videotaping them.

It's implied that Bob and Patti have had sex as we see them getting dressed and the bed in the room with them isn't made. She then tells him that she knows about the other women and that she's okay with that. She adds that she loves him and "I love f*cking you." She then pulls him down on top of her on the bed and they kiss (both are clothed).

John makes some comment about getting a woman's clothes off.

Crane hallucinates on the TV set where comments are made about having sex, filming sex and watching sex. Patti then shows up in her character, pulls down her top and says, "F*ck me right here." We then see Klink and Shultz fooling around with her, with Klink groping her bare breast, and John then comes in to videotape that. Anne then shows up and says, "Go ahead, f*ck her, Bob."

We see a cover of a magazine that shows a woman giving a man oral sex (nothing explicit as it's taken from behind the man).

Bob states that Patti is pregnant (after marrying her) and a man says he thought Bob had a vasectomy. Bob then says that it leaks.

As a stripper opens her coat during a performance, we see her full frontal nudity. John is there and shows his animated watch (of rear entry intercourse) to a woman and tells her that it's "f*ck time" (she gets up and leaves).

A stripper turns out to be a dominatrix on the side and starts to go into her verbal role playing with Bob. He then later comments about imaging "getting off" while going straight down a roller coaster (he tells John abut this).

We see that Bob and Patti are doing a dinner theater play called "Beginner's Luck" that he notes as being a sophisticated sex comedy.

We see still photos of many bare-breasted women.

We see John videotaping a woman performing oral sex on Bob (we see the side of his bare butt and her head at his crotch, but don't completely see the act).

We see the guys videotaping more bare-breasted women as the guys are in their underwear.

Bob tells John to look at his "d*ck," but John doesn't want to, saying he's seen it before. Bob insists and then opens up his pants and pulls down his boxers (John sees his penis, but we don't) and John then notes that it's bigger due to a surgical enhancement. The guys then state, "A day without sex is a day wasted."

After Lenny warns Bob not to show everyone his nude photo collection, Bob replies that he may be "horny," but that he's not stupid. Lenny then tells him that sex is not the answer. Bob then jokingly replies that sex is the question and that "yes" is the answer.

Bob and John go to a party where there are various bare-breasted women as well as one woman who's masturbating in public (we see her hand moving quickly at her crotch - but don't see explicit details).

Bob says, "I don't drink. I don't smoke. Two out of three ain't bad" (meaning the 3rd is sex).

We see more video footage of sexual tapings and see Bob's bare butt and some female full frontal nudity.

We see a woman's bare breasts on TV and hear sexual sounds from her as Bob is between her legs. Bob and John watch this and Bob says that it's making him hot and so he puts his hand down inside his shorts (while saying, "Look at the bush on her"). We then see that John is also masturbating at the same time as Bob (in the same room, but we don't see any details other than related arm movement). We then see TV footage of Bob between a woman's legs on a bed (with movement).

We see TV footage of a guy opening his pants and there's then some blurred out footage of a sexual encounter.

There's some talk of someone sleeping with someone else and their boyfriend not coming after them.

Bob shows John an edited spoof he's made about John that's heavy on the homosexual innuendo (including material with a banana, etc.). John is not happy and some sexually explicit dialogue follows.

Bob is rude and disrespectful to people on a TV show and makes sexist remarks to a woman. He comments on trying to get into Helga's pants on "Hogan's Heroes" and says that he did, and then notices a buxom woman and says that the host has a "boob" smuggler and that if the woman wants to remove the wrinkles from her face, she should take off her bra. After people complain, Bob says, "The fuzzy thing she's sitting on could make her some money."

Bob tells Lenny that sex is natural and good for you.

Bob spots a girl in the car with his oldest son and comments that she's "built."

One of the guys comments, "Look at the caboose on her" and the above line is repeated, "A day without sex is a day wasted."

John comments about scoring "broads" (women) for Bob.

John grabs his own crotch while talking to Bob on the phone.

SMOKING

Dawson and Patti each smoke several times, while Bob and Klemperer each hold cigars while appearing in their TV show. Many miscellaneous people smoke (mostly cigarettes but some cigars) in various scenes throughout the film.

During the opening credits, there's an image of a guy smoking, while the sponsor of Crane's radio show is Lucky Strikes (back in 1964).

TENSE FAMILY SCENES

Anne discovers that Bob has various "girlie" magazines hidden in the garage (we don't see them) and he lies about them, stating that he's a photography nut. She, however, says that he never looks at her and wonders if he's seeing someone else (he says he isn't).

She later confronts him about this again and we hear that they were divorced.

Patti mentions having a broken marriage.

Some time after Patti and Bob are married, she complains that he's never around and that when he is, he's downstairs with his videos. They eventually get divorced.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT

The historical accuracy of the real story and/or artistic license as presented here.

Pornography.

Addiction.

VIOLENCE

Patti throws some food at Bob while mad at him.

A man raises a tripod and strikes another person with it (we don't see the impact) and we see blood splatter onto the wall. He then hits that person again (the impact is not seen) and we briefly see the victim's very bloody face. We then see blood all over the wall, bed and victim's head.

Reviewed August 12, 2002 / Posted November 1, 2002

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