Kinsey is an endlessly fascinating exploration into nearly every possible facet of sexual behavior you can imagine. But just as the famous doctor, the film deals with this risque subject matter in an intellectual manner. To my utmost surprise, much of the film shocked me with it's frankness, which is odd given the sort of culture we live in these days.

The stunning new film Kinsey is based in fact and takes it's name from the title character, one Alfred Kinsey, a somewhat nebbish intellectual who would go on to push the boundaries of scientific sexual studies, by means of written word, psychological profiles, and actual physical contact.

With the help of his loving wife Clara (wonderfully played by Laura Linney) and student-turned-colleague Clyde Martin (a terrific Peter Saarsgard), Dr. Kinsey would reach absolute highs and arduous lows in his quest for ultimate knowledge.

Kinsey is incredibly provocative and touches on nearly every aspect of sex. From homosexuality to masturbation, not one kink in the book is left unexplored - except for necrophilia and I thank the good Lord above that director/screenwriter Bill Condon (he made the outstanding Gods and Monsters) didn't go there. Still, there are plenty of other moments that made for uncomfortable viewing, but I was compelled every step of the way.

Kinsey is incredibly well written, and perhaps offers up the best screenplay of the year. I was flooded with various emotions throughout this film. Love, hate, hilarity, disgust and complete and utter shock, just to name a few. I didn't always agree with all of Kinsey's views as presented in this film, but I always admired his passion and drive to push the envelope in the name of science and discovery. And one of the more fascinating elements of the picture is that it doesn't necessarily explain why people act a certain way. We're all different, and Condon makes it clear that that is one of the more important points the film is trying to make.

Anchoring the movie are the two leads. Liam Neeson gives a tour de force performance as the passionate Kinsey. His appetite for science and his own yearning to find what he wants in life (including a struggle with his own sexual orientation) is perfectly conveyed by this outstanding actor. This is easily Neeson's best work since his absorbing turn in Steven Spielberg's masterful Schindler's List. Of course, it takes two to tango and co-star Laura Linney is more than up to the challenge as Clara, the love of Kinsey's life. She was his lover, muse, and best friend, and Linney is truly sensational in this part. She's an absolute ball of fire. By the time the film was over, I bought into every facet of their relationship (although I did question one aspect of it that I don't want to reveal in this review. Let's just say that it involves a little bit of straying). One of their best scenes features the two love birds laying in bed and laughing as they mock Kinsey's bitter and judgmental father (an outstanding John Lithgow). The sequence is laugh out loud hilarious, but then quickly turns into a moment of devastating heartbreak.

Kinsey is ultimately a film about sex, but it is a different kind of intimacy that allows the movie to soar. Take for instance a sequence in which Kinsey interviews his own stubborn father. Through a five minute dialogue, he learns something about his dad that virtually changes his entire opinion of him. It is scenes like this that keep the entire movie balanced.

Director Bill Condon (Condon, not condom) really pushes the envelope, but not once did I feel that this movie was out to shock the audience for the sake of shock. The frank, sexual nature on display in this film is quite often in your face, but it's always there as a means to move the story along. After all, that's what Kinsey is about.

This isn't to say the movie is flawless. I had issues with a few scenes. There is a sequence in which Kinsey and his own family have a very open discussion at the dinner table, and his two teenage daughters engage in a pretty racy dialogue. I really didn't care for the way the scene was played, but I presume it was left in to show that Kinsey has some of his own angry father's traits, as is completely evident by the way the sequence ends.

I also had issues with a scene involving a wildly insane William Sadler (Shawshank Redemption) as a sex hungry deviate with a disturbing history and a ten second release technique. Sadler is wickedly creepy, although his quick release demonstration was laughable and over the top. What follows, is perhaps the most unsettling discussion in the film, and I felt extremely uncomfortable watching it. But then, I suppose that was the point.

Kinsey is incredibly provocative and even by today's standards, it will, no doubt, offend some movie-goers with it's sheer audacity. It's definitely not a film for everyone. Personally, I found it smart, rich in character, and compelling from beginning to end. I'm certainly not the free spirit that Kinsey and those around him were, but I respect that he opened the door and made it okay to discuss sex instead of keeping it locked away like some ugly secret. This is one of the best films of the year.