Fans of the TV show "The Office" are familiar with actor John Krasinski. But with a new independent film called "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men," he branches out with writing and directing as well as acting.

Based on a bunch of short stories by the late David Foster Wallace, this is a mostly a study of male attitudes towards women. As the title implies, these inner thoughts are not pretty.

As part of her graduate studies, a young woman named Sara conducts interviews with numerous men, who confess what's really on their mind when it comes to male-female relationships. It's mostly about their sexual thoughts.

A who's-who of actors briefly sit down with her and rant on topics like why they cheat, what turns them on and how they'll go to almost any length, no matter how despicable, to gain a conquest.

Some of these segments work better than others. A few are quite entertaining and funny, while others are disturbing though probably brutally honest.

Some pieces are cliched and fall completely flat, but none of the sequences last too long, which makes sitting through the clunkers more palatable.

One story in particular is one of the most riveting 10 minutes I've seen on film all year. It involves a man who recounts his fathers occupation, that of a men's bathroom attendant. The son is ashamed, while the father is filled with pride that he's been able to put food on the table for his family. It's so well-acted and brilliantly written. Unfortunately, its subject matter has nothing to do with this movie and it's jarringly out of place here.

Viewed as a whole, the film doesn't really gel. It's a series of actor showcase monologues that seem better suited for the stage, which is where Karasinski first found this material.

Still, the film has some captivating moments and Karasinski shows promise as a director and for his selection of grown-up material.

"Brief Interviews With Hideous Men," which opens in theaters this week, is not worth full price at the box office. But it's available right now on demand, and at that price it might be worth a look.

Neil Rosen's Big Apple Rating: 2.5 Apples