gavin6942 Spalding Gray discusses his participation in the film "The Killing Fields" (1984) and the background story about the troubles of Cambodia.On the surface, this is really simple: a man sits at a table with a couple of maps and rambles about his time filming a movie. No further props, no other actors, nothing. But it is also a bit of amazing because Gray not only memorizes the entire ramble, but keeps the audience captivated the whole time -- his stories are actually more interesting than the film he is talking about.Gray did many monologues, but this is arguably his best. I actually watched it as something of a tribute to director Jonathan Demme, though the question ought to be asked what role a director plays in a film such as this... there is very little executive decision-making, one would think.

Roedy Green This a truly unique film. It is just a man at a desk, with maps behind him, talking. Nothing else happens. Yet it is so spellbinding you don't even dare blink.When I was a kid my parents would read to us. They would make up different voices for each of the characters. My uncle Tom had a special story-telling voice. He would tell tales about his life and the people he met, relishing the details, letting you experience almost for yourself what happened. Spalding Gray is like that, only a pro.It is about war, drugs, sexual decadence in Thailand, making movies, relationships, mania... He has so much to tell you. It just comes tumbling out in a rush.I avoided the movie all these years because I thought it would be just another shoot-em-up.He opens up his head and lets you in to look around, like a friend who lets you drop in without calling first. He has no embarrassment about his imperfections. He was such an open, lovable, exuberant guy. He committed suicide in 2004 after complications from a car accident made life unbearable.

djansen24 Jonathan Demme's directing is something to applaud. It is not easy to make a movie exciting when you just have one man sitting behind the desk talking for an hour and a half. Credit must be given to his and Spaulding Gray's planning of camera angles, editing, lights, simple but effective visuals, and of course Laurie Anderson's great soundtrack. But that's where the fun ends. Spaulding Gray manages to do a convincing job sounding like he's a brilliant observer of life and free nature, but he comes across as sad and arrogant in a weird way. Here's a man who seems to be playing around with moral relativism as he talks about his experiences with prostitutes in Thailand and about understanding why Pol Pot was so ruthless. But while he quietly decried the Killing Fields film director's view that there are moral absolutes in life, I felt uncomfortable. Gray seems to be one of those guys who seems to like pulling down everything in life (if it gets him some attention and makes people think what a smart and amusing guy he is). Oh sure, he definitely has a way with prose and meter as he pours out his speeches in aloof fashion. He is a talented man. But if one were to really agree with his nihilistic outlook on life, I could see not much of a reason for living. And it is even sadder given his suicide that happened years later.He is wrong. There is purpose to life and there is GOOD as well as evil. So, while the film is a technical masterwork and Gray was no doubt extremely talented, I am am giving it a 5 for his nihilistic message trying to pass as "deep".

mattbyrne69 Spalding's 'Swimming to Cambodia' defies the preconceptions often brought to a movie: we get to see one man at a desk, with a lamp and a glass of water, and a map of Cambodia with a pointer to help. And then Gray's amazing ability to hook the listener into his amazing free improvised anecdotes makes it worth a thousand blockbusters. Demme's film prior to this was 'Something Wild'... this is wilder and wittier. Do yourself a favour and watch. Spalding's tragic suicide last year brings a poignant edge to many of his existential observations, but this is uplifting, entertaining, funny and harrowing all in one. And it's a monologue. Sam Shephard once said it was impossible to compare anyone to Spalding, so unique was he. Here's the proof.