Hooked

Sadly gay storylines appear to be very limited. Here is yet another about gay prostitution. I don't believe this movie did anything to convince us that Max Emerson is a writer or a director. Yes, he is cute but you can only ride that so far. The movie itself was, like I said, a story that has been done several times. Can gay writers create a story that that deals with something other than being gay? A great story with a gay lead character would give us both a story and the chance to see a gay character living a day to day normal life. Unfortunately some of the biggest contributors to gay stereotyping are gays themselves.

Just saw Hooked on iTunes and will keep this brief. It looks good, nicely shot but that's easier to achieve these days. The subject matter is honourable, LGBTI youth homelessness is an important issue. The central relationship is sweet and unique. The film's biggest flaw is some awkward acting, occasionally from the main couple but particularly from Terrance Murphy who plays the conflicted Ken - so wooden! Katie McClellan who plays his wife probably gives the most naturalistic performance in the film. There's certainly far worse queer cinema out there but there is better too.

With all the content out there nowadays, it's hard for anything more than a few weeks old to get a 2nd viewing. Hooked absolutely deserves a rewatch! It's a much-needed conduit to some empathy, and not just for the LGBTQ+ community - everybody can find some trait in this group of characters to identify with.

A lot of movies in this genre collect plaudits by being ceaselessly bleak and grim - I'm thinking of Beach Rats as an example. Hooked sets itself apart by recognizing that human beings have an endless capacity to find laughter or moments of joy in the dark, to be jocular with fellow travelers in tough circumstances, to mock or exaggerate the labels people place on them... and just chew some scenery for the heck of it. It's confounding but real. When things are seemingly hopeless, you manage to move through the day anyway-sometimes even gleefully. If you worry there's little to lose, why not have some gallows humor about it?

New York operates the same way in the film- it has hard truths, danger and dark corners, but also a cast of characters that can populate any caper you come up with to distract.

That unlikely levity makes Hooked an enjoyable ride, and it ends up making the last 60 seconds really moving in a way I didn't see coming.

I saw one review quibbling with the audio track. I'd just say the obvious, that budgets for these films aren't growing on trees, and a million compromises are made to bring them to life. The writer-director Max Emerson didn't scrimp where it really counted: you'll be hard pressed to turn your attention from Conor Donnally as a disregulated-but-charismatic Jack. Sean Ormond, playing his love interest Tom, also succeeds in the quieter moments he's tasked with. Katie McLellan is at ease onscreen as a family matriarch who's exasperated at her situation but not without compassion, would love to see more of her. And somehow, through Jack's eyes, Emerson manages to make a regional flight to Miami look and feel like an exhilarating jaunt to a foreign country.

It's always cool to get to see a first-time director when they are at their rawest or most candid. Later stuff might be more honed but less alive, the edges dulled. What are you rewatching on a rainy Sunday? Jaws or...The Adventures of TinTin? That's what I thought!

Emerson has a POV that begs several more helpings and I hope they'll be coming!

If you're not convinced yet, there's an epic cameo from standup Tim Murray that's pitch perfect at just the right moment.

What a waste of an attractive lead. The big failure was in making the protagonist so unlikable that you don't root for him. You just want him to go away.

I could write an essay on how terrible this movie was; but what I really came to mention was the insulting reference of Borderline Personality Disorder, where he (the character - though really the script writer) explains that this is the reason he stole an item from a store (!) and is "fcked up." Uh... no.

When I was a young man just out of college I experimented with some gay escorting and I found it to be a fascinating life experience. Later I became a gay adult video producer/director, so I know that world from both sides of the table. For those reasons, I'm always drawn to movies that explore the male escort/client relationship and the hidden world in which they operate.

"Hooked" doesn't really offer any genuine insight nor unique perspective into that secretive world. Jack's interactions with his male clients are predictable and stereotypical, but at least somewhat realistic. However, the only scene with a female client - who forces him to wear diapers and talk like a baby - appears to be lifted straight from "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo". Ridiculous. I understand it was probably included as comic relief in an otherwise serious movie, but I believe it was a misstep that went too far.

I was very impressed with Conor Donnally as the lead character, Jack. Not credible as a 17/18 year old, but I'm willing to overlook that. Of course, he's exceptionally handsome and hunky, but more importantly he was clearly committed to each scene - even the superficial and weak ones. It's all about the spark in his eyes. He definitely has the "x factor" and I hope to see him in many more features to come. The other stand-out performance was by Jay Alan Christianson as Date-Rape Dan. (Apparently he's uncredited in the movie. I'd like to know why.) He was fantastic as a creepy, coked-up slimeball client. I don't think anyone could have delivered a stronger performance.

I try to support as many gay oriented films as I can, but I have to be honest. "Hooked" is just okay overall. Ultimately, it's superficial and it missed a golden opportunity to explore the serious dramatic potential of the gay escort/client dynamic. Speaking of missed opportunities -- Donnally is shown shirtless in many scenes, but only shirtless -- never more. Obviously, I didn't direct this movie! I'll remember "Hooked" for the beauty and spark of Donnally and the brilliantly menacing performance of Jay Alan Christianson.