Actor shoots for stars through the sewer

Miguel Arteta's new movie Star Maps is not for the fainthearted. A bizarre cross between Pretty Woman and Kids, Star Maps tells the story of Carlos Amado (Douglas Spain), a young Mexican boy struggling to make it as an actor in Los Angeles. Unfortunately his road to stardom is neither easy nor pleasant. Carlos falls prey to the influence of his father Pepe, who runs a male prostitution ring in Los Angeles under the auspices of his business, Star Maps.

The business, which ostensibly sells maps labeled with the houses of celebrities to curious tourists, actually provides both men and women with young male prostitutes.

Against the wishes of his sister Marie, Carlos begins to work for his father, hoping that Pepe will aid him in his theatrical pursuits. When Carlos meets Jennifer (Kandeyce Jorden), a soap opera actress whose passion for playing benefactress is almost as strong as her sexual desire, it seems he may have found the road to success. But in Star Maps, as in the reality it vividly portrays, things are not always what they seem.

Theresa, Carlos's mother, is mentally unstable, resulting from a nervous breakdown which left her fixated on three things: her son Carlos, the moon, and Cantiflas, a Mexican television actor who she imagines can talk to her through his picture frame on her wall. She tells Carlos, "You were always like the moon, sad but beautiful," an apt depiction of her melancholy son.

Marie, Carlos's sister, takes care of their mother Theresa and looks after Juan, her younger brother. Although Marie, like Carlos, has dreams of bettering her situation, her aspirations lie in Fred, a young man who works at the local pharmacy. Fred offers her an escape from her father's house, and refuge from its insanity.

The relationship between Carlos and Marie is one of the most compelling aspects of the film, as brother and sister struggle between familial commitments, and the hopes and dreams that keep them striving for more. Despite the odds, the two siblings support and encourage one another and their respective plans.

Star Maps begins with a shot of a map sold by Pepe's business, the celebrities' houses marked by bright yellow stars. This map reappears throughout the film, emphasizing the movie's focus on the journey both Carlos and Marie undertake to find their futures. Although at times the editing is a bit choppy, and the score borders on melodramatic, some segments of the film are startlingly original, at times prompting both laughter and tears. Intelligently used lighting plays an effective role in some of the film's most important scenes.

For a relatively small film (no big names here), Star Maps has uniformly talented actors and a script which pulls the viewer into the lives of its characters. Douglas Spain's luminous eyes alone communicate volumes about the hopelessness of Carlos's situation. Letti, Pepe's girlfriend, manages both to disgust and to touch the viewer.

Despite its grim subject matter, Star Maps is actually quite a funny movie. Juan lies around the house in black tights and a super-hero's mask, Carlos rehearses lines with droll hilarity, and most scenes between Letti and Carlos evoke laughter.

A word of caution: this movie is not a fairy tale, nor is it a fluffy date movie. The film includes scenes in which Carlos services various clients, both male and female. While the sex scenes in the film are tastefully and artistically done, some may find them excessive or even offensive. However, to defend the film, many of the scenes provide a needed return to the reality of Carlos's situation, especially when they contrast with his lofty fantasies of fame and fortune.

Despite the rough edges, this film is worth a trip to the movie theater. Though not destined to be a universal favorite, Star Maps provides moments of quiet dignity, amusing plot twists, and words of wisdom. In one of her more lucid moments, Theresa tells her children that there are three things each person needs in life: "something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to." Not bad from a woman who hears the voice of a Mexican television actor from her bedroom wall.

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