Author: Jason Wright

Posted on

The Monkey’s Mask (2000)

2024 Entry #41 04-13-24 “The Monkey’s Mask” is an international co-production 2000 thriller film directed by Samantha Lang based on the 1994 verse novel of the same name by celebrated Australian lesbian poet Dorothy Porter. It stars Susie Porter and out lesbian actress Kelly McGillis. Porter plays a lesbian private detective who becomes entangled with a possible suspect (McGillis) in the disappearance of a young woman.

I’d seen this once before but I barely remembered anything about it, save that it featured Kelly McGillis, a lesbian storyline, and that the film was set in Australia. I also remembered that I didn’t like it as much as I’d hoped to. This second time I felt like I might have been too harsh in my earlier reactions as I enjoyed most of the movie. However, it stumbles horribly at the end, in which the “killers” are revealed but are then painted (via voiceover) as accidental killers, when the actual revelation is played as far more malicious and randomly, graphically, sexual. I think this might be the only movie I’ve ever seen in which the shaft of a lead actor’s cock (or maybe a stunt cock) is suddenly displayed, with none of the other bits, just as a crime is confessed. Even if the killers didn’t murder the victim on purpose, they hid the body and they played out some pretty twisted shenanigans after the fact – including threatening a detective. And that ending would be fine – if there was some resolution beyond it, but there’s nothing.

The film, which only just preceded the release of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, features two actors from those films: Marton Csokas, who played Lord Celeborn in all 3 films and John Noble, who portrays Denethor in the latter two films. Csokas also played Xena’s lover Borias in “Xena: Warrior Princess”.

Posted on

The Swimmer (2021)

2024 Entry #40 04-12-24 “The Swimmer” is a 2021 Israeli sports drama written and directed by Adam Kalderon, who is openly gay. Omer Perelman Striks stars as Erez, a gay competitive swimmer, torn between desire, success and self fulfillment in the shadow of the discrimination that he faces in the world of sports.

Interesting. Another film in which I’m not sure the ending lands exactly as I’d have chosen, yet far more successful than “Punch”. Also, this film features several creative flourishes which really made me pay attention. First there was a scene in which the lead masturbates under a blanket (as is often the case, understandably, on screen) but as the camera moves down the actor’s legs, the blanket moves with him and his erection is fully realized in the shadow cast on the wall. Perhaps it was fake, but it was still surprising to see. Soon after this there is a shot of the swimmers, their faces in the water, with the camera upside down – it looked incredible. These little moments were few and far between but entertaining as I began to watch for them. And then the ending went so far over the top that I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first. During the final race, the competition transforms into an imagined dance off in an empty pool, which reflects what is actually happening in the race. It nearly killed the movie for me, before I realized that I kind of liked it. I found some of the imagery confusing and I’m not sure I completely understand the mental transformation that takes place in the film’s final moments. This project feels like a few different things forced to exist in the same film and I guess I wish that they’d embraced these highly stylized elements more and allowed these different aspects to coalesce into something more cohesive. There are some brave choices on display here and they deserve to be seen, but their fleeting use makes the otherwise well made bit of the film seem bland by comparison.

Posted on

Punch (2022)

2024 Entry #39 04-12-24 “Punch” is a New Zealand gay sports drama film written and directed by Welby Ings (“Sparrow”, “Boy”). The story follows the central character Jim (Jordan Oosterhof), a highschool student and aspiring boxer whose former professional boxing father Stan (Tim Roth) is now an alcoholic whose health is fading. Jim befriends Whetu (Conan Hayes), an openly gay Maori boy who is an aspiring singer. The two face multiple hardships, some of them quite shocking, before a not completely satisfying ending.

I enjoyed most of this film. Though it was clearly a drama, I was a bit surprised by some of the serious events which were depicted, but it managed to keep a mostly positive outlook… which, I’m sorry to say, seems to have hurt the ending of the film, which seems rushed and nonsensical. I suppose this ending could have worked if the film took the time to set it up but there are a dozen details that are just wrong. For example, it appears that Jim is editing a video for Whetu during this finale (which he suggested earlier in the film was something he’d love to do for Whetu), but it’s made up of footage in which Whetu was alone – and SPOILER – just before the character was viciously gang raped. So tacking that on to a “happy ending” felt completely tone deaf. Perhaps they meant to imply that they recreated that time together for some kind of healing through Whetu’s art, but that doesn’t seem to make sense either, as Whetu leaves town to become a singer without saying goodbye to Jim – and openly kisses another guy during the concert at the end, which is played over Jim editing the video. It sucks, because as dark as the subject matter gets at times, this movie gets more right than it does wrong…so seeing it fall apart at the end like this is a bit frustrating. Any example I could have listed here would have been an unfortunate misstep if it were the only one, but combined they topple the film which had been running aggressively forward to the promised finish line just a half hour before.

Posted on

Chaperone (2022)

2024 Entry #38 04-12-24 “Chaperone” is 16 minute 2022 short film which was written and directed by Sam Max which stars Russell Kahn & openly gay actor Zachary Quinto (“Six Feet Under”, “Star Trek”, “American Horror Story: Murder House”, “American Horror Story: Asylum”, “Star Trek Into Darkness”, “I Am Michael”, “Star Trek Beyond”, “Hannibal”, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, “Big Mouth”, “The Boys in the Band”, “American Horror Story: NYC”, “Down Low”). The story concerns Zachary Quinto’s mysterious chaperone who picks up his client (Kahn), accepts his money and after checking to see if the client has followed his instructions, takes him to an out of the way house where the client does drugs, has sex with the chaperone (via a toy) and when ready, is taken into the countryside where he takes a pill which seemingly fulfills its intended purpose and kills him. The chaperone covers everything up. The audience is not privy to why the young man wanted to die or why he went to such great lengths to do so. And the thoughts and feelings of the chaperone are suggested but remain a mystery.

Interesting, dark and well made. This is the kind of short that usually has a slew of comments from gay men who are pissed that it was included in a collection of gay shorts (“Boys On Film 23”) – the same ones that tend to rant about any inclusion of HIV related stories. Yet the tale being told is definitely queer. I like variety so I was pleased. And though I doubt I’ll ever watch this again, it was entertaining & creepy – and I like both.

Posted on

Eden (2020)

2024 Entry #37 04-12-24 “Eden” is a 17 minute nearly silent 2020 short film which was written and directed by Sven Spur (“Tom and Niel”, “Hot Water”, “Follow Me”, “Burn”). The film follows a central character played by Mustaf Ahmeti, who is credited as “Wolf” in the film, though this name is never said. He spends time hooking up with several men in several different places.

I thought this was a bit disappointing. I had seen the poster before seeing the film and though it was obviously sexy, I had thought it rather evocative of several possible avenues for exploration, but it ended up being mainly just some sex scenes strewn together – which may have well been the point, but it is a point that may have been achieved various other ways which I would have found far more interesting. As it stands, I like the poster far more than I like the film, which isn’t good.

This short is available in the 2023 gay short film collection “Boys on Film 23: Dangerous to Know”.

Posted on

Budapest, Closed City (2021)

2024 Entry #36 04-12-24 “Budapest, Closed City” is a 13 minute 2021 Hungarian short film which was written and directed by Máté Konkol. The story concerns Péter (Péter Dániel Katona) as he takes his British friend Adam (Adam Wadsworth) on a personal but political tour around Budapest. After getting drunk in an underground club, Adam kisses Peter but things don’t go as expected.

This was fine. It’s not great. It’s not horrible. Some of the activity was reminiscent of the short “No Strings” which I watched just days ago…and this film suffered by that comparison, because this one feels far more staged and much less natural – though I’m sure they were both staged. Lol There was nothing for me to get lost in here. Perhaps if it had been a longer film.

This short is available in the 2023 gay short film collection “Boys on Film 23: Dangerous to Know”.

Posted on

“My Uncle’s Friend” / “O Amigo Do Meu Tio” (2021)

2024 Entry #35 04-12-24 “My Uncle’s Friend” (aka “O Amigo Do Meu Tio”) a heartbreaking and deeply personal 9 minute short 2021 documentary which was written and directed by Renato Turnes and stars Vicente Concilo as himself as he narrates imagery from old videos his father recorded between 1987 & 1993.

I wasn’t expecting this to be quite so affecting, so unabashedly honest and thoughtful. This is a really excellent piece about a child who was gay and what he felt and thought with much of it documented on camera. This is powerful stuff.

This short is available in the 2023 gay short film collection “Boys on Film 23: Dangerous to Know”.

Posted on

The Slaughter Rule (2002)

2024 Entry #34 04-11-24 “The Slaughter Rule” is a 2002 American coming of age sports film written and directed by brothers Alex Smith and Andrew J. Smith. The Montanna set story mainly explores the relationship between straight small-town high school football player Roy Chutney (Ryan Gosling), and his troubled coach (David Morse), a seemingly queer character with layers of complexity, who has been both inspired and nearly destroyed by the harsh reality depicted within the confines of the film.

Another one I’ve owned for over 20 years, but which I’d never seen until today. This is not an easy film to watch at times. And it could be argued that it’s not a queer film at all, but I think that’s too simple a conclusion. It can be frustrating how much is or is not said in this film, and while it was praised for several aspects, the script was often criticized. It’s a bleak existence, this one, and if this were all the representation we had in the world, this would be more of a problem than it is. Still, this isn’t the happy-go-lucky flick most of you seem to be looking for and it’s definitely not romantic.

Posted on

No Strings (2015)

2024 Entry #33 04-11-24 “No Strings” is a 22 minute 2015 dramatic short film which was written and directed by Eoin Maher (“Thirst”). It’s available in the 2021 collection “The Male Gaze: Hide and Seek”.

The story follows a “no strings” hookup in London between Sean (Aaron Cini), an outgoing Irish man who is stranded with hookup Bryn (Richard Hay), an emotionally reclusive Welshman. I enjoyed most of this. There were a couple of moments that didn’t quite land but overall there were some nice surprises in here that were appreciated. It felt like time well spent, even if it wouldn’t make my top short list.

Posted on

Elena Undone (2010)

2024 Entry #32 04-09-24 “Elena Undone” is a 2010 romantic lesbian drama film which was written and directed by openly lesbian creative Nicole Conn (“Claire of the Moon”, “Little Man” & “More Beautiful for Having Been Broken”), loosely based on her romance with filmmaker Marina Rice Bader. The title character, Elena Winters (Necar Zadegan), is married to a cis male pastor named Barry (Gary Weeks), and they have a son named Nash (Connor Kramme). Elena crosses paths with Peyton Lombard (Traci Dinwiddie) and the two connect so intensely that it breaks Elena out of the malaise of her existence and embarks on a happier, more honest life.

I liked a big chunk of this movie; the part that plays at being a serious drama with the best of intentions but feels more like something you’d find buried in the back of the video store. But I disliked a lot of it as well, which mostly had to do with the chosen structure. The narrator, Tyler (played by the openly gay Sam Harris), has this new-agey, “two flames” or “twin flames” mentality that permeates the film and makes it all seem sillier at times than it needs to be. He has a series of interviews between happy couples throughout the film, including one between a pair who both have Dissociative Identity Disorder, and only one personality of either likes the other person’s specific personality. It was bizarre and could have worked for comedy if the rest of the movie had been funnier…and maybe it was meant to be? But I wasn’t laughing. And the sex scenes, which were kind of the point, were also repetitive and uninspired, which is a shame. Another repetitive element was the unending music, none of which I enjoyed overly much. Also… there’s a very odd pregnancy storyline at the end of the movie which seemed to contradict nearly everything that came before it and which felt like an attempt at a creative shortcut rather than anything making any kind of actual sense. So there’s that.

The leads are attractive but the acting is pretty wooden across the board, yet sometimes you want a cheesy, poorly acted lesbian romance movie – or at least I do. Indeed, the director’s first film, “Claire of the Moon” is just such a move (it’s actually kind of awful) but I adore it! I have music from it on my Amazon Playlist. Basically, if you saw this movie and you loved it or you were inspired by it (like the baby gay who recommended it to me), I’m not knocking it. We all have our little favorites. But I’ll likely stick to my own cheesy Nicole Conn lesbian romance movie in future! Lol

error: Content is protected !!