Sublet

The story is subtle and touching. It tells a good story of both the simplicity and complexity of human relations. We can never be defined by one ROLE or one NAME. And love and passion also could have different forms.

Gotta love it when you take a chance on an unknown "quirky little independent film" and it turns out to be a well-written, well-acted piece of work. The story plays out well mainly because the writing is good and the interaction between the two main characters is enjoyable to watch unfold. You think you know where things are going to go...which they don't necessarily do in the way you might expect. It's also fun to watch because of the interesting little details that you might miss if you're not paying attention to (e.g., breakfast habits that someone was apparently lying about!) It's cool to hear the older travel writer's story unfold, and it's certainly enjoyable to watch the younger character simply because he's adorable. Fortunately, he can act, too, and has his own worthwhile story. Finally, the character of the mother adds an entertaining element towards the end. The ending may or may not be what you're expecting going in....I'll just leave it at that. In sum, I was glad that this was yet another "overlooked" little film that turned out to be more worth my time than most Hollywood schlock getting cranked out these days. Give it a look!

Another superior gay-themed movie from Eytan Fox, the Israeli director of Cupcakes and Yossi and Jagger, among others. It's a simple, but well-observed story about a moment between two gay men from different cultures and different generations. Best of all, it's a showcase for the talents of John Benjamin Hickey, excellent in so many US TV series, from The Big C to Manhattan. It's nice to see him as the leading man. And he's well-matched by Niv Nissem, a young actor with the looks and charisma to make his character, who pretty much embodies the arrogance of youth, attractive. Sublet is also a pretty good snapshot of Tel Aviv, and of Israeli youth. I particularly liked Daria, the would- be dancer who decides she's going to rebel by being completely selfish. Worth the effort if you're in the mood for an intelligent, gentle, quietly moving movie.

There may not be much happening in the story, but it draws you in very much. There is subtlety in emotions, making it a film to feel.

I was immediately drawn to this movie for two main reasons. 1. It has John Benjamin Hickey, who I recently became familiar with from Mapplethorpe (knowing an actor in a low budget gay movie means a lot), and 2. It focuses on an older guy (I'm exclusively interested in intergenerational relationships, and I'm a little burnt out on gay films with high schoolers).

Is it good? For the most part, yes. JBH is a good casting choice, I correctly predicted a lot about his character just by observing him. The rest of the cast is good too, and the direction is solid. I'm used to watching tons of micro budget gay films, so simply having decent acting and a director who knows how to work a camera places this towards the top.

The story might not be for everyone. It is deliberately paced, and there's not much drama. You spend most of the film getting to know the two leads, what makes them different, and what makes them connect. The tone is mostly light and fun except for one scene in particular, so it makes for a decent film to put on if you don't want to get too depressed. There's not really any homophobic bullying or violence, which that alone makes it stand out from most of the gay cinema I've experienced.

Overall, I liked pretty much everything about it, especially the characters. I don't know if it makes my top 10 gay films, but it's certainly close. If it interests you, I'd highly recommend it.