Walk all over me (5 Stars)

When I say that Leelee Sobieski is my favourite actress most people shrug and say "Who?" They don't know her because she's never received the fame she deserves. She's played the leading role in many small films, such as "88 Minutes" and "My first Mister", and she's played small roles in big films, such as "Eyes wide shut" and "Public Enemies", but she's never played the lead role in a big film. It's difficult to say what the problem is. My guess is that it has more to do with her looks than her acting abilities. She's not a typical petite Hollywood star. She's 5'10", she has wide hips, and she walks like a man. That doesn't mean she's not attractive. She has a delightfully feminine face and large breasts, but in Hollywood voluptuous women aren't in.

On the other hand, if people have noticed her at all it's in this film, "Walk all over me". It's an independent Canadian film that was a moderate box office success when it was released in 2007, and it's still popular in DVD rental stores. Maybe it attracts potential customers for the wrong reasons; it looks like a sex film, but it isn't. It's not a typical film for Leelee, since it's the only comedy she's ever made.

Leelee Sobieski plays Alberta, a teenage girl who runs away from home after she's scared by thugs that she sees beating up her boyfriend. She goes to live in Vancouver with Celene, the woman who used to be her babysitter. She's surprised to find out that Celene is now a professional dominatrix who earns $300 an hour. Alberta gets a job in a supermarket, but she thinks that she can make more money if she impersonates Celene. She borrows one of Celene's outfits and meets a new customer, Paul. She expects it to be easy, but she soon discovers that being dominant is hard work. A further complication is that Paul is on the run from his former boss, a gangster who accuses him of stealing from his club. The boss turns up during Paul's first session with Aberta, and the fun begins.

It never ceases to amaze me how good Leelee's acting is. She plays a woman who is unsuccessfully posing as a dominatrix. It takes a lot of skill for an actor to play the part of a bad actor. You have to watch the film to see what I mean. I recommend it strongly to everyone. Just don't expect any sex, you'll be disappointed.