One of director Paul Thomas? most effective sexual soapers, this stands out among his many chronicles of love in upscale Los Angeles. There are two parallel stories. Seven people change partners in a romantic roundelay with heartbreak – and worse – in store for all.

Suzy and Peter (Austin Kincaid, Tommy Gunn) are an upwardly mobile couple – he's a music producer – installed in a Marina Del Rey condo. Their musician friend David (Kurt Lockwood) is set to marry Carissa (Hailey Paige) but has to move out of her house when her roommate (Tyla Wynn) returns.

Suzy sends David to stay with a friend, Olivia (Liza Harper), who turns out to be a voracious maneater and wastes no time seducing him. David finds uncomplicated pleasures with the hotter older woman until his mentally unstable girlfriend becomes suicidal.

Meanwhile, back at the condo, a just-married couple, Victoria and John (Monique Alexander, Manuel Ferrara) move in next door to Suzy and Peter. We soon learn that Victoria and Peter, unbeknownst to their mates, are former lovers. Their relationship was a troubled one, but the passion is still there, and in no time at all it re-ignites.

Suzy, like the wife in Brokeback Mountain, discovers the awful truth while looking out her kitchen window. Peter promises her he'll break off the affair, but, unfortunately for all concerned, he has to see Victoria one more time.

The interlocking of the stories is expertly handled. The characters are well-etched and believable, and the acting is strong pretty much across the board.

The veteran Harper takes top honors with her great screen presence and intensity. It's a mainstream-worthy performance, and she still does butt-hungry anal. Vivid Girl Alexander is alluring and convincing, as is Kincaid. Paige gets an A for effort in a difficult role. The three men are excellent.

There are quite a few sex scenes, some only partial, stopping short of completion as they often do in real life. The menu includes a rape scene, dramatically motivated and well staged.

If this all sounds like a "real movie," that's exactly how it plays out, and it's constantly absorbing.

Pre-noms: Best Film. Best Director, Film. Best Actress, Film: Monique Alexander, Austin Kincaid. Best Supporting Actress, Film: Liza Harper. Best Actor, Film: Tommy Gunn. Best Supporting Actor, Film: Manuel Ferrara, Kurt Lockwood. Best Screenplay: Raven Touchstone, Dean Nash. Best Couples Sex Scene, Film: Monique Alexander-Tommy Gunn. Liza Harper-Kurt Lockwood. Austin Kincaid-Manuel Ferrara.

Retailing: Recommend strongly to customers looking for a Hollywood-style movie with real sex.