Boy Crush (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)This new anthology of gay male short films, from Wolfe Video, is better than most. As usual, I'll review each short individually, and the overall number of stars is simply an average:
* "Summer" (UK 2006) explores the common theme of unrequited love between a gay teenager and his best friend, who is straight. Sweet, give it 4 stars out of 5.
* "Night Swimming" (USA 2005) has a similar plot to the short above, but carries the gay boy's crush on the straight best friend a bit further, on an unplanned night together after the latter's vehicle breaks down en route to a concert, stranding them in the woods. The togetherness encourages the gay boy (Otter) to test the waters and see if his friend/idol (Darby) feels the same way. Realistic and emotional, give it five stars out of five.
* "Running Without Sound" (USA 2004) spotlights Sean, a gay deaf teen boy whose passion is cross country running. Already somewhat shy due to his inability to hear or speak, Sean has to rely on visual signs from his friends, which become more complicated when he develops a crush on a teammate. Sweet and creative short film; wish it had more time to develop the story. Four stars out of five.
* Small town, shy German teen Tom is considering being "Out Now" (Germany (20 min.) to his classmates, who already torment him as a sissy and outsider. He discusses his feelings with a boy he meets on the internet, including the fact that he has a crush on another boy who works at a nearby snack shop. A night out at a disco frequented by his classmates results in a revelation and a new resolve for the young man. In German with subtitles (Which unfortunately aren't that easy to read, since they often flash on the screen too briefly or are shown as white on a light background, rendering them near invisible). Three stars out of five.
* "The Bridge" (Australia 2006) - A young gay male couple leave their Russian homeland to escape homophobia, and relocate to Sydney Australia, awaiting approval to immigrate there. Their thoughts and emotions before (and after) the immigration decision is made are the subject of this intense, emotional film. Four stars out of five.
* "Hitchcocked" (USA 2006) is a sexy but somewhat scary story about two guys who meet on the internet for sex, with a very clever twist ending. Tempted to give it an extra star just for the title, but we'll stick with four stars out of five.
* "Oedipus N+1" (France 2003), likely boasting a production budget higher than the other six films put together, tells a creative and intriguing sci-fi story set in the distant future, when "The Circle" - the elite rich and educated part of the population - have essentially taken over control of the world, and push for conformity with its ideals and values. Thomas, a gay man, awakens to find out that he had died and, paid for my his mother, he has been cloned to live again ... but Mom wants a bigger say in that life, this time around. Impressive and generally well-acted, though a bit confusing as a 26 minute short. In French with English subtitles. I give it five stars out of five.
There are no DVD special features, other than trailers for other Wolfe releases.

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Summer (10 min.) Great BritainDirected by Hong Khaou What are you going to wish for? This intricately crafted short delicately explores the ache of unrequited love as Leung (Peter Peralta) reveals his true feelings for his beefy straight pal Will (Jay Brown).Night Swimming (19 min.) USADirected by Daniel FalconeThis terrific bittersweet teen drama depicts that perennial gay dilemma: falling for straight boys. Young Otter idolizes his alpha-male buddy Darby who just might have similar feelings for him. This exquisitely crafted story unfolds on a road-trip to New York City.Running Without Sound (13 min.) USADirected by Judd KingA deaf teen with a crush on his pal grapples with confusing emotions and tensions with his fellow cross-country runner team-mates in this finely crafted gay jock story.Out Now (20 min.) GermanyDirected by Sven J. MattenSmall town shy teen Tom is tormented by his high school classmates while he pines over the blond boy at the candy kiosk. German, with English subtitlesThe Bridge (8 min.) AustraliaDirected by George BarbakadzeA forboding dramatic snapshot of a bi-national gay couple who just want to be together in Sydney.Hitchcocked (8 min.) USADirected by David M YoungThis smart, sexy, scary short gives new meaning to the term: shower scene. Oedipus N+1 (26 min.) FranceDirected by Eric RognardKnockout French phenom Jalil Lespert (Tell No One, De Sade) stars as Thomas, a gay man who dies and then awakens as a clone in a terrifying sci-fi future (shades of Gattaca) only to have his mother deny him access to his boyfriend as she attempts to cure his sexual preference. French, with English subtitles

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Straight Boys Gay Boys Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this DVD about a month ago when I came back from a stressful business trip and I must say it did manage to relax me, put a smile on my face and turn me on.
There are certain moments that were my very favorite (e.g. When the Plumber closes the shower glass door with a gesture "no you can't" is one for example, or when the young redhead manipulates his victim into posing in that humiliating way)
All and all I found the approach fresh and non typical in compare to other gay movies that are populating the market now a days.
The thinking of this concept come from an obviously different space, more like a straight movie does, and maybe that is what I liked.

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Watch Out Review

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(More customer reviews)There's been a lot of buzz about this actor Matt Riddlehoover (one very easy on the eye man) and this director Steve Balderson. I had to check it out for myself. The disc contains some 4+ hours of material. The film - with and without commentary - plus over an hour of bonus video blogs. I've seen a lot of movies, but nothing quite like this. I'm still trying to absorb what I saw and heard. This is a keeper to watch again and again and well worth the price of admission. Act 1 is way-over-the-top-bizzaro-titillating comedy. I kept thinking - where is all this leading? Act 2 take an unexpectedly darker turn until the end. There's ample nudity - OK, more than ample. Someone ask Matt Riddlehoover if he did his own "stunts" and he said "why, yes I did." I'd say this film is a must see to believe, but that's just my opinion. I'll be waiting for Part 2!
Sidenote: click on Steve Balderson's name.

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Matt Riddlehoover gives an extraordinary, bravura performance as Jonathan Barrows, * a man who falls in love with himself, literally. Barrows is attracted to his own body, carries out an erotic relationship with a blow-up doll that resembles him, and takes pleasure in rejecting the advances of his many admirers. He descends into a world of carnivorous priests and Prozac-popping Polish prostitutes and eventually assassinates the world's most popular pop-diva. You strange creatures, Barrows declares, you are nothing more to Me than a meal at the fast-food restaurant of life. But who will end up being devoured? Based on the best-selling novel by Dr. Joseph Suglia, WATCH OUT is extraordinary, a film which settles down into your consciousness and is still there days later. Most directors would not have the balls to show this... The combination of Steve s direction and Riddlehoover s performance... It s masterful film-making. It leaves you in awe. * *(MJ Simpson, UK)

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Were the World Mine (Standard Cover) (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)The premise of Were the World Mine is romantic comedy trope: character A yearns for the love and affection of unattainable character B, then though a series of hi-jinks, true love wins in the end. That is about where the comparison ends as everything else is turned on its ear in Tom Gustafson's big screen adaptation of his own short film Fairies.
The film's tagline, `If you could make someone love you, would you?' Is honestly, unexpectedly answered, "Yeah. Obviously."
The first twist to the romantic comedy trope is that the lead couple is two young men. In the film our put-upon hero Timothy (Tanner Cohen), is cast as Puck in his senior production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. During rehearsal, he happens on the recipe to recreate the flower, here called a pansy in a nice play on words, which Puck uses on Shakespeare's lovers. Timothy/Puck uses the pansy first on his unrequited crush Jonathon (Nathaniel David Becker), then on his classmates, and then the town, allowing everyone to see the world through his eyes. By the end of the film, as in Shakespeare's play, all is peace.
Of course, Timothy is hardly the usual trodden-down gay lead. This is not some Cinderella story with the homely, or even 'Hollywood Ugly' lead forlornly in love with someone quite beyond him; Timothy is a pretty boy himself. The object of his affection, Jonathon is not the typical, unattainable ideal man either. We are shown in subtle ways that he is just as interested in Timothy, as Timothy is in him. Oh, were things only a bit different, eh? Enter the pansy.
This is not an adaptation of Midsummer Night's Dream, but it does have plot points tacked on from that play. Helen Fielding did the same thing tacking on Jane Austen's plot from Pride and Prejudice to the novel Bridget Jones's Diary. Timothy at various points may is Puck, Oberon, Bottom and Helena. Perhaps that is the perfect descriptive combination for a young gay man, part fairy, imp, fool, and unrequited lover.
The musical fantasy sequences are not really fantasy, they are a part of the plot; magic spells that movie the story along.
The music and lyrics are inspired. Shakespeare interpolated and set to music, may hardly be revolutionary, but it is still quite fun and infectious. I find myself listening to the soundtrack repeatedly. Tanner Cohen is wonderful and has a slight sibilant 'S' that is quite endearing.
Tom Gustafson is definitely a director and writer to watch, he spins a fun, engaging yarn with genuine moments of poignancy. Some of the imagery in the film is iconic and arresting. It is hardy without flaws, but the the music and the performances buoy you along over those flaws. Cohen and Becker are especially good. I would not change a frame.

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Armed with a magical love potion and empowered by dazzling musical fantasies, struggling teen Timothy (dreamy Tanner Cohen, As the World Turns) turns his narrow-minded town gay and captures Jonathon (buff Nathaniel David Becker), the rugby jock of his dreams.Also starring Wendy Robie (Twin Peaks), Broadway star Judy McLane (Mamma Mia), Zelda Willaims (House of D and daughter of Robin Williams), and Jill Larson (Opal on All My Children), Were the World Mine uses vibrant imagery, a first-rate cast, and innovative music to push modern gay cinema and musical film beyond expectation.Director/writer/producer Tom Gustafson brings us his feature directorial debut in Were The World Mine. This critically acclaimed, multi-award winning film about the truth of love was inspired by his award-winning musical short Fairies, which has screened in over 75 International film festivals. " It made my heart soar." - indieWIRE

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WWE: John Morrison- Rock Star Review

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(More customer reviews)The Shaman Of Sexy, The Monday/Friday Night Delight, Johhny Nitro...you can call him by almost any other name but he's mostly known by the name of John Morrison. Overtime he's become one of the WWE's most popular characters either through his entertaining personality or his inring matches so here is a brief showcasing of matches throughout his career in "John Morrison: Rock Star".
ECW Championship Match vs. C.M. Punk - After these two had various matches on TV & the previous 3 PPV's (Night Of Champions, Great American Bash, SummerSlam), this was C.M. Punk's last chance to face Morrison for the ECW Championship. Both men traded offensive moves of grounding their opposition along with stiff kicks while breaking out other manuevers like Punk doing a springboard crossbody from the apron to the floor while Morrison was able to reverse a top rope attempt by Punk into a powerslam at one point & used "Starship Pain" for the first time in his career. This was a very competitive match & the best encounter from their series of matches throughout the summer.
"ECW On Sci-Fi" Sep. '07
w/The Miz vs. D-Generation X - Unfortunally they didn't show the comedic pre-match promo from DX on Miz & Morrison but this was a match that went back & forth between both teams that showed Miz & Morrison constantly attempting to get one over on DX by constantly mocking DX by doing their trademark crotch chops along with stealing their signature moves like Miz's attempt at a pedigree while Morrison executed his own version of Shawn's "Sweet Chin Music" but DX prevailed in the end. It was a good match but their match the next week against Mysterio & Shawn (on the "Allied Powers" DVD) was better in quality.
"RAW" Nov. '08
vs. Evan Bourne - This happened the day after the 2009 draft when Miz was drafted to RAW & turned on Morrison in the process but before the "supplemental draft" later that week when Morrison was drafted to SmackDown so this turned out to be his last match as a member of the ECW roster. This was a very athletic contest between both men as they didn't hold anything back by exchanging chops & kicks several times leading to such moves & moments like Morrison executing a running knee strike into Bourne's face while he lying on the apron causing him to fall to the floor & gave a loud kick to boot afterwards, Bourne reversing a modifed "torture rack" backbreaker into a head sissors, Morrison dropkicking Bourne's knees while he was running the ropes, Bourne delivering a crossbody block that went both men over the top rope, and Morrison pulling out a rare submission hold as he worked over the arm with an armlock into a modified chickenwing crossface. This is one of those matches (just like a few others on this disc) that constantly got overlooked in the long run because this didn't have a big storyline/feud going into it or took place on a bigger stage like a PPV but it was definately one of the best matches on free television that year.
"ECW On Sci-Fi" Apr. '09
vs. Chris Jericho - Before I get started, it should be noted that this is the first match from the new version of "WWE Superstars" to make it onto DVD. This match went back & forth between both men as Morrison was able to match Jericho as far as athletic moves but Jericho had more heelish tactics & heavily kept showcasing his arrogance early on. Whenever Morrison gained momentum, Jericho was able to counter but that didn't hold back Morrison as it took Jericho cheating to gain the victory but definately an impressive showing that left you wanting to see more of these two against each other.
"Superstars" June '09
vs. Edge - They had a small conversation before the match before it started with Morrison grounding Edge early & working over his arm. Edge was able to recover beating Morrison with various kicks & punches along with choking him on the ropes. The focus then shifted to Morrison's ribs after Edge hung him on the top ropes then later applying the sharpshooter but Morrison was able to recover & even pulled off a head sissors driving Edge into the ringside steps. The rest of the match went back & forth between both men resulting in Todd Grisham stating afterwards that it was a "breathtaking performance from both athletes" and he wasn't lying.
"SmackDown" June '09
vs. C.M. Punk - Punk was the World Champion at the time but this was a non-title match. This wasn't the quality that we saw in the earlier ECW Championship match but still a good encounter between both men that saw early chain wrestling between both men along with a series of each men countering each other's moves based off their past of knowing each other so well. The finish was a complete shock to everyone but overall was a nice encounter.
"SmackDown" June '09
vs. World Champion Jeff Hardy - Just like the previous Punk match, these two also had a history dating back to the "Johnny Nitro" days feuding over the Intercontinental Title & wrestling against each other in their tag teams of The Hardys & MNM. Both men's styles are almost mirror images of each other with the arial & grounded attack which resulted in Morrison kicking out of the swanton bomb while Hardy was able to counter "starship pain" at various points in the match. This was another highly competitive match.
"SmackDown" July 31, 2009
vs. Intercontinenal Champion Rey Mysterio - The match started off quick paced & kept that way throughout the bout leading a match full of non-stop action such as Mysterio rotating about Morrison's body twice to get a head sissors, Morrison doing a backwards flip kick to Mysterio's face & later doing a dropkick onto Mysterio in mid-air while delivering the most impactful "Starship Pain" I've seen. Add in both men giving each other loud kick & so many close near falls that the crowd couldn't help but chant "THIS IS AWESOME!" in a performance that had Jim Ross say, "No one can say that John Morrison didn't earn the Intercontinenal Championship." Just like the Evan Bourne match earlier, this was one of the best matches on free television throughout the year.
"SmackDown" Sep. '09
Along with the matches are various segments starring Morrison himself such as highlights of his online show "The Dirt Sheet" with The Miz, answering fan questions, showcasing his training style called "parkour", discussing his signature moves, showing his love for surfboarding, and a DVD extra showing the birth of the John Morrison character. In the end, normally I would point out how WWE completely ignored the career of Johnny Nitro & M-N-M amongst other things but this DVD was setup to be just a one disc release that viewers can watch in one session instead of the usual 2-3 disc sets that take more than one viewing or a bunch of time to get through the presentation & matches completely. Taking that into concideration, I'm really happy with this release as the matches themselves where action packed for the most part while the other segments had it's entertaining moments ("The Dirt Sheet" had me really laughing, he gave some funny answers to the fan questions, and I find the parkour training interesting) so this is a release that I would recommend.

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He’s the Shaman of Sexy, the Friday Night Delight. John Morrison is one of WWE’s best and brightest rising stars, having held numerous tag team championships, first as part of MNM and then with The Miz. He’s also had great solo success, earning the ECW and Intercontinental championships. The DVD is packed with a revealing 1-hour documentary, as well as bonus matches, interviews, Dirt Sheet segments, and more. Stars: John Morrison, The Miz, Melina, Joey Mercury, Dolph Ziggler, CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, Triple H, Shawn Michaels

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Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)I just finished watching the movie and it was FABULOUS. I would recommend getting the video at soon as it releases. I will be doing just that. Jumping the Broom was a great love story. It had all elements of a great movie. It was heart-warming, and funny, sad and a feel good movie. I have but two negative comments, the first being it was way to short and I would have loved more. Story lines could have developed into more but as it was it was GREAT. My next negative is where was WILSON CRUZ. Not having this final and important member to the movie was extremely DISAPPOINTING and would not have destroyed the story line. I will purchase this movie and I am going again to see it.

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NOAH'S ARC:JUMPING THE BROOM - DVD Movie

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Get Real (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Get Real" combines a terrific script with superb acting. Steven Carter is one of the best gay teen characters ever written, portrayed touchingly and realistically by Ben Silverstone. He is simultaneously geeky and sexy, awkward and self-assured, yet underneath his fears and self-doubts there is always a ray of self-acceptance and sense of humor about his predicaments that comes shining through.
You will marvel at Steven's courage, empathize with his pain, and just simply fall in love with this complex and totally adorable young man. His love interest, another complex character, is also brilliantly played. Steven's next-door neighbor and (female) best friend is the only character who comes across as somewhat stereotypical (an overweight fag-hag type), yet her performance avoids the pitfalls that the stereotypical characterization could've created.
The quirky humor the director interjects throughout the film will catch you off guard at times - during the scene inside the park men's room, when the soundtrack started playing The Troggs' "Love is All Around", I had to supress an urge to laugh uproariously and at the top of my lungs (I first saw the film in a theater).
"Get Real" is a "must see" for anyone who knows what it feels like to be young, gay & in the closet, and also for straight folk who wish to understand the difficulties GLBT people have to face, even in our contemporary, allegedly "enlightened" world.

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Noah's Arc - The Complete Second Season (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)A television series about a previously ignored group of people certainly deserves attention, and I applaud the creators of Noah's Arc for daring to present the first series about the lives of African-American Gay men. Even better, after watching both seasons on DVD, I found that Noah's Arc mostly lived up to its well-deserved accolades. The characters are quirky, the plot lines fast and furious, the laughs frequent and genuine and the drama quite effective.
I admit I was initially disappointed by the quality of the acting, until I realized that it took a few episodes for the cast to fully hit their stride, and I believe that the series perfectly fit its tag line, "A comedy about drama". After I relaxed into it, I came to care about the characters and their situations quite a bit. By the time I finished the DVD of Season One, I was so addicted to Noah and his friends that I had to purchase Season Two, even though it seemed the creators sometimes tried to squeeze just a little too much plot into a 22-minute format. But considering the constraints they had to work with, in the end I marveled at how skillfully the writers weaved in a myriad of subjects and plotlines, subtly handling many important issues without ever being heavy handed.
The lead character Noah is a case in point. I quickly caught on that his character is deliberately rather feminine, and I realized that the writers wanted viewers to get comfortable with the idea that this slight, delicate and very femme gay man managed in eight short episodes to attract the romantic attention of a half-dozen masculine, sexy co-stars and guest stars. The story of Noah's romance with his on-again off-again boyfriend Wade (played by the adorably dimpled hunk, Jensen Atwood) is the primary focus of the plot, although each episode also found time to explore the daily lives, loves and dramas of his three best friends, Alex, Ricky and Chance (for those who don't get it, Alex Ricky Chance = Noah's ARC, according to a comment by the series creator).
But at first I wasn't sure if Noah's wardrobe and femme manner were meant to be the biggest "in-joke" of the series. In an early episode, while his character is crying poverty and falls behind on his rent, he is dressed (as always) in an ever-changing ensemble of ultra-chic couture, much of which makes him look even more effeminate. Eventually, the effeminacy issue was tackled head-on quite satisfactorily, and one character's speech about "effemina-phobia" and his subtle but powerful comments on the anti-eroticism / ostracism of femme men in the gay male subculture was extremely thought provoking. This is the show's biggest strength; it manages to delve very subtly into issues that many members of the gay male community (and indeed, many gay films and novels) completely ignore, without spoiling the humor or getting too preachy. Before long, I realized that the creators were definitely making a statement with the fact that some of Noah's outfits bordered on cross-dressing, even while I could never be sure if his clothes were meant to be taken seriously or not. Noah's boyfriends were all extreme hunks (one thing this show does not lack for is eye candy) but all the while the disparity between Noah's feminine nature and the masculinity of his various suitors made me feel uncomfortable and definitely conscious of the looks-ism and anti-femme bigotry that permeate the gay male world today. Bravo!
In fact, the most satisfying aspect of the series was that it tackled a surprising number of real-life issues with humor and charm, and I was amazed that through the relatively short run of this show, Noah's Arc discussed a variety of important topics, like HIV testing and awareness, the "down-low" subculture, sero-discordant couples, gay dating, gay marriage, sexual compulsion, monogamy, gay bashing, and the previously mentioned delicate issue of "effemina-phobia" (and whichever writer on this show coined that word deserves a medal), all with a refreshing mix of light-hearted laugh-out-loud humor and (at times) dead serious drama. As often as I found myself laughing hysterically, I also found myself extremely touched by the dramatic situations and challenged by the serious, provocative subject matter.
There was one major disappointment - although I was aware even before I acquired the Season Two DVD set that the show had not been renewed for a third season, I was not prepared for the abrupt, unresolved cliffhanger ending of the final episode, which left the fate of one of the main characters completely up in the air. This was quite annoying, since there was no opportunity to resolve this plot point. For this reason alone, I must subtract one star from what would otherwise be a five star review.

Despite this shortcoming, Noah's Arc gets five stars for effort, ten stars for its genuinely funny moments, and a big thank you for discussing so many important topics without being preachy or trite. May it be a harbinger of things to come.

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Navigating life and love in L.A. isn't easy, and no one knows that better than Noah and his friends - Alex, Ricky & Chance. LOGO's ground-breaking, one-of-a-kind series Noah's Arc follows all four as they chart an uncertain course through the City of Angels, where laughter and drama are never in short supply.

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Trick (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)What do you get when you mix an aspiring musician working as an office temp with a hot go-go boy? The answer is "Trick" a charming movie that proves that looks aren't everything. Christian Campbell (brother of Neve) stars as Gabriel, a composer of showtunes who meets the man of his fantasies dancing atop a counter at a gay club in New York. J.P. Pitoc, who plays Mark, is the go-go boy with a body to die for who finds himself and Gabriel trying to locate a place where they can fool around. Due to several mishaps, both men get to know each other's interests and friends, and eventually they discover each other's inner beauty. Pitoc is probably the best looking actor I have seen on film in recent years and his torso inspired me to work out even more. He provided enough eye candy for everyone. Campbell is great as Gabriel, however the two scene stealers in this are Clinton Leupp who plays the bitchy drag queen that confronts Gabriel about Mark's past and Tori Spelling, who plays Gabriel's best friend. Personally, seeing that her father had no role in producing this film gave Ms. Spelling more credibility that she was casted in this film for her talent and not because of neptotism (e.g. "House of Yes"). An excellent soundtrack of dance music will keep you in the mood, and the interesting characters in this film will give those who have never stepped into a gay/lesbian club circuit an idea of what goes on after the sun sets. Except for a kiss between the two main characters and a brief encounter beneath a piano, there are hartdly any references to gay sex. I encourage anyone to watch this film in what I consider a gay version of the "Pick Up Artist".

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What do drag queens aspiring sex therapists and tori spelling have in common? theyre part of a madcap night out in manhattan for two frustrated guys that are desperate to find a place any place. Special features: widescreen version original theatrical trailer and cast and crew filmographies.Studio: New Line Home VideoRelease Date: 05/30/2000Starring: Christian Campbell Clinton LeuppRun time: 90 minutesRating: RDirector: Jim Fall

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Beautiful Thing (1996) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are many 'coming out' and gay-themed movies these days, but none is more heart-breaking -- or heart-warming -- than this one. Glen Berry and Scott Neal are perfect as Jamie and Ste, two troubled working-class London boys coming to terms with their sexuality, each other, and the homophobic world around them. Ste lives with an abusive father and older brother who have made him feel ugly. Jamie and his mum take him in, and the boys bunk together. They discover love to the accompaniment of "You are sixteen, going on seventeen, unprepared for a world of men". The music (a lot of Mama Cass, but also some lovely, bittersweet original stuff for string quartet) is deftly woven into the fabric of the film's story, and is an integral part of its structure. After a fight, Jamie and Ste kiss to Mama Cass singing "You gotta make your own kind of music". The ending is as uplifting and sweet as any on film. The surprising thing is that this wonderful movie was made for British television. I wish more films could be as fresh, touching, and honest as this bright, shining little gem.

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A pair of teenage boys growing up in a working-classneighborhood become aware of their homosexuality. While both werevaguely aware they might be gay, neither had ever acted on theirimpulses. Once they decide that they're attracted to each other, neitheris sure just what to do. Winner of 4 International Film Festival Awards.

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Make the Yuletide Gay (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)The college dorm's resident "out and proud" gay couple, Olaf ("Gunn") and Nathan, are going home to spend Christmas with their respective families, and those families couldn't be more different. Whereas "trust fund baby" Nathan's parents are rather cold, status-seeking yuppies, Olaf's parents are a couple of former hippies who start decorating their home for the holidays months before. When Nathan's parents stand him up to go on a holiday cruise, he decides to surprise Olaf by joining him at his parents, only to find out that his parents have no clue that he is gay. Nathan immediately tries to "butch it up" a bit, but is disappointed and hurt that Olaf is unable - more like unwilling - to introduce him as his boyfriend.
A sweet and engaging, though somewhat corny, story about honesty, self-acceptance and - ultimately - the meaning of love. Newcomer Keith Jordan does a first-rate job as the emotionally conflicted Olaf, and is surrounded by an excellent cast of veteran character actors, including Derek Long ("3-Day Weekend" and several other gay films) as Olaf's stoner dad, actress/voiceover artist Kelly Keaton as his jolly mother, Hallee Hirsh (who played Dr. Greene's daughter on "ER") as Olaf's supposed girlfriend Abby, Alison Arngrin (best know as Nellie Olsen on "Little House on the Prairie") as Abby's mom, Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher on "Star Trek: TNG") as Nathan's mom, and Adamo Ruggiero (Marco for five seasons on "Degrassi: The Next Generation") as Nathan. The direction and technical aspects seem flawless, and there are even a half dozen or so original songs on the soundtrack. DVD isn't rated, but would likely be PG; definitely a film you could (and should) share with your parents and younger siblings. Popular at several gay film festivals, and in a limited theatrical run, this just might become a timeless gay holiday classic. Watch out for the mistletoe over the doorway, and I give "Yuletide" a full five stars out of five.

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A whimsical gay romance with a heart of gold, Make the Yuletide Gay follows a young gay couple Nathan and Gunn as they face their first Christmas apart. Sweet-natured Gunn (Keith Jordan) has to go right back in the closet to survive the holidays with his wacky Wisconsin parents, and cutie-pie Nathan (Adamo Ruggerio, Degrassi: The Next Generation ) is preparing to spend another Christmas with his cold-hearted parents. When Nathan surprises everyone by turning up on Gunn s doorstep, the couple is hilariously forced to juggle a hetero charade with their gay reality. With its bright, witty dialogue and handsome cast, Yuletide is one holiday treat you ll want to savor many times over.

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You Are Not Alone (1978) Review

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(More customer reviews)DU ER IKKE ALENE (You Are Not Alone) is a 1978 Danish landmark film written by Lasse Nielsen and Bent Petersen and directed by Nielsen and Ernst Johansen. When the period during which this film was made, a time when gay theme movies were all but verboten, this little film is a brave, delicate, tender, unpretentious tale of the bonding, both emotional and physical, that occurs between two young boys in a boarding school in Denmark. The story develops slowly and insidiously, a fact that makes some viewers find it boring or slow. But for this viewer the pacing of the story is intricately involved in this tale of the fragile first attractions that occur in young boys: everything is new, and nothing is rushed - it just happens and evolves.
Kim (Peter Bjerg) is a young prepuberal youth living with his parents: his father (Ove Sprogøe) is headmaster of a boys' school and his mother (Elin Reimer) is in line with the father's hardline standards. Though not a student in the school, Kim does associate with the young high school age boys and finds one lad in particular, Bo (Anders Agensø), a role model who shows concern for Kim and with whom Kim bonds, emotionally and eventually physically. The manner in which this occurs is never acted out but merely suggested in the most discreet and beautiful way. But we watch as this bond develops more strongly, with each of the boys nascent to the situation in which they find themselves.
The classmates are a varied group - normal kids in a normal school situation - until one of the boys Ole (Ole Meyer), who is somewhat of a trouble-maker, posts magazine pictures of nude women in his dorm room. Reprimanded by the headmaster he is put on probation and when he ultimately posts the contraband pictures in the dorm restroom, he is threatened with expulsion. His classmates band together to protect him and Ole is maintained in the school.
Other sidebar stories that pepper the screen are swimming hole escapades where the injury of one of the boys calls forth the empathy of the entire class; there is a vignette where an older woman tries to teach one of the boys the beauties of physical love; there is a shower scene that finds Bo and Kim gently observing each other; and there is a class project for graduation that is supposed to be an enactment of the 10 Commandments, one episode of which is assigned to a student filmmaker.
It is this finished class project film, shown before the faculty and the parents, that is based on the commandment 'Love thy neighbor' and it is a beautifully wrought scene of Bo and Kim embracing and kissing in one of the more honest and sensitive moments on film. The 'non-story' film ends without an audience response: it simply fades away to a tune that speaks of 'You are not alone - there is someone like you ahead.' No, this is not a film about nudity or raw sex. Instead this film is a brave exploration of the normal period in growth when boys search for role models and find their first sensations of love emerging. It is delicate, beautifully filmed and acted, and is one of the early forays into same sex love that works on every level. Grady Harp, December 06

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Unflinchingly honest and boundlessly lyrical, the exploration of sexual awakening in You Are Not Alone was a turning point in world cinema. At a Danish boy’s boarding school in the late 1970s, Bo and Kim are naive young classmates, whose friendship blossoms into a childlike love affair. When their friend is expelled for a prank involving lewd posters, the student body bands together to strike against the school and its authoritarian headmaster. Lasse Nielsen and Ernst Johansen’s classic film is a groundbreaking meditation on innocence, rebellion and love.

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You'll Get Over It Review

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(More customer reviews)"You'll Get Over It" is a fine French made-for-TV movie showing how coming out affects an individual and those closest to him. Vincent Molina (played by Julien Baumgartner) is the 17-year old anchor of the school swimming relay team, is about to graduate, and is a closeted gay. He has a long-time, virgin girlfriend, Noemie (played by Julia Maraval), and a non-virgin 'buddy', Bruno (played by Nils Ohlund). This works out until Vincent hooks up with a new student, Benjamin (played by Jeremie Elkaim of "Come Undone"). People know Benjamin is gay and make the link to Vincent, who has had a compartmented life. The movie shows how Vincent and those closest to him deal with their emotions as the situation plays out.
Vincent's initial withdrawal and distrustfulness are very realistically shown. The uncertainty and bargaining of his friends and family come through well. The acting is good thoughout.
There is considerable skin shown, from all of Vincent to Noemie to the swimmers and locker-room denizens.
While the movie centers on Vincent and his long-time network, I would have liked a stronger sense of how Bruno fit into Vincent's worldview and on why Benjamin and Vincent make a good fit. Jeremie Elkaim does not get much time on screen, despite his top billing and a good performance. The bonus features are just a picture gallery and some trailers.
I have noticed that recent French movies on a gay theme have been substantially better than their American counterparts. "You'll Get over It", "Close to Leo", "The Man I Love", "Confusion of Genders", "My Life on Ice", "Come Undone", and other movies all seem to have more depth of characterization and more willingness to reveal emotions, sexuality, and the human body than, say, "A Home at the End of the World".
You'll enjoy watching "You'll Get Over It".

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Vincent (newcomer Julien Baumgartner) is an average high school boy, a good student, and a star swimmer.With his best friend Ste'phane and his beautiful girlfriend Noemie (Julia Maraval), high school life couldn't be better for Vincent... until he meets Benjamin (COME UNDONE Jeremie Elkaim). Vincent keeps crossing paths with the new student, until the two finally have a private moment. The next day, Vincent's idyllic life begins to crumble when the school is vandalized with graffiti labeling him a fag.As the people in his life respond to the news, Vincent faces the inherent challenge of adapting to life as a gay young man. YOU'LL GET OVER IT takes a direct and compassionate look at Vincent's struggle.

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Shelter (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm previewing "Shelter" for the Brisbane Queer Film Festival where it screens on Saturday 24th May 2008. "Shelter" shines as a film with huge heart, and one that's been made with equal care by the actors and all of the film-makers.
It's not at all like the angst-ridden abomination of a gay surf flick "Tan Lines". In "Shelter" surfing is simply a fact of life element - it's not used or abused as a device.
"Shelter" is a beautifully edited, spectacular looking and luscious sounding film which is definitely character driven. Each of the main characters is carefully developed so that we quite soon decide that we really do care about Zach, his young nephew Cody and Zach's love interest, Shaun. We want things to work out for them.
We understand that Zach is in a bind - he's allowed himself to be the physical and emotional anchor for a progressively more dysfunctional family, but we know that he deserves much better life options. The writer and director of Shelter has done a fantastic job - not a look or word is wasted, and yet the whole pace of the film is very relaxed.
"Shelter" deserves every accolade that any individual or Festival might care to bestow.
Straight audiences must find "Shelter" to be equally rewarding. The film's theme is, after all, about love, honour and commitment. What could be more wholesome than that?

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Forced to give up his dreams of art school, Zach spends his days working a dead end job and helping his needy sister care for her son. In his free time he surfs, draws and hangs out with his best friend, Gabe, who lives on the wealthy side of town. When Gabe's older brother, Shaun, returns home, he is drawn to Zach's selflessness and talent. Zach falls in love with Shaun while struggling to reconcile his own desires with the needs of his family.

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Outrage (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Apparently the previous reviewer didn't actually SEE the film which I do believe is a prerequisite to a good review. This film is an eye-opener, an in depth examination of the extent that closeted gay politicians (and there are many) will go to protect themselves. This protection takes the form of the most vehement method of defense, reaction-formation. The primary point of the film is to question the practice of outing closeted gay politicians who promote and protect their own careers at the expense of the rights of others. Larry Craig is seen as a rather pathetic figure who's accusations of gay encounters go as far back as the 1980's, long before his last bathroom fiasco. Also interviewed are politicians who have come out of the closet (or been forced out) explaining the freedom attained through honesty. Most interesting is information surrounding the current governor of Florida. The film is riveting from beginning to end. Illustrations of a Freudian slip by a Fox news reporter provide a moment of laughter, while the censoring of an Anderson Cooper (of all people) Bill Maher interview which omits Maher's naming of a gay politician gives question to the beltways conspiracy to protect right-wing gay politicians and their staff. You will be amazed and surprised at the disclosures this film has to offer! A must see. Watch for the Republican conservative who takes his gay "right hand man" all over the world for extended travel but makes sure their arrival is always one day apart.

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Boldly revealing the hidden lives of some of the United States most powerful policymakers, Outrage takes a comprehensive look at the harm they've inflicted on millions of Americans, and examines the media s complicity in keeping their secrets. Outrage probes deeply into the psychology of this double lifestyle, the ethics of outing closeted politicians, the doublestandards that the media upholds in its coverage of the sex lives of gay public figures, and much more.

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Eating Out: All You Can Eat (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)I enjoyed the first two Eating Out movies. They were fun and light and frothy. Silly enjoyment. This movie is the same, only more so. I thought the storyline here was a little weaker, and there were plenty of other faults. However, I have to say I enjoyed it, especially the zingy one-liners throughout the film.
Definitely not a great film, probably only worth two stars, but I enjoyed it for its fun silliness, so I give it four stars.

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Get ready to clean up the whole plate!This entirely new story in the Eating Out collection offers plenty of the over the top sex-romp rowdiness that made the first two films into cult favorites, along with a delightful dose of pure romance. Rebekah Kochan returns as Tiffani, the infamous, lovable, hysterical and funny slut who attempts to help her geeky but very cute friend Casey (Daniel Skelton) find true love - or at least a sexy hunk. Taken under Tiffani s wing, Casey pretends to be Ryan, Tiffani's hot, straight, stripper ex-boyfriend, in order to seduce the smoldering Zack (Chris Salvatore) online, which works, until the real Ryan shows up!Only through some fancy footwork, advice from his Aunt Helen (John Waters Cult Icon Mink Stole) and mentor Harry (Emmy Award winning Leslie Jordan, Sordid Lives, Will & Grace), and a daring provocative sexual escapade can Casey figure out how to set things right and perhaps even find the love he s been seeking.Eating Out 3 introduces six hot, openly gay actors in lead roles including Daniel Skelton, Chris Salvatore, Michael Walker, John C. Stallings (The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency), Maximiliano Torandell, and Rick D'Agostino.

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