Donald Strachey: Ice Blues

This is unique take on mystery movies with a gay lead actor and his husband these are one of the best movies I've seen in a long time more gay movies should be like this.

This film is about Donald Strachey's investigations into the mysterious death of a benefactor who donates $3 million to a charity for children in need.

After watching all four Donald Strachey films, I can easily say this one is my favourite. The plot is varied and well written. It deals with tough topics such as murder of a spouse and child pornography, making the story very engaging. Despite the tough plot, the story still radiates warmth and love. Donald Strachey's love for Tim is as heartwarming as always; while how Donald keeps his promise to Leila shows that mankind is capable of good deeds. I am impressed, entertained and touched by "Ice Blues". I recommend it to everyone.

Chad Allen brings a little charm to this, certainly the best of the pretty mediocre four film adaptations of the "Donald Strachey" PI investigations. This one sees him investigate when boyfriend "Tim" (Sebastian Spence) finds himself embroiled in a mystery surrounding a large bequest for his "safe zone" which all goes a bit south when a murder occurs. The original story covers a surprisingly varied series of topics - in a largely superficial fashion - including loyalty, obsession and child welfare issues which this effort makes a decent fist of as it rumbles along, but there is precisely zero chemistry between the two stars and the ending is a bit lacklustre. It's just about worth a watch, but only just....

Ice Blues is the fourth and at this point last of the Donald Strachey mysteries that Chad Allen has brought to the big screen. As it is the weakest of the four I certainly hope that Allen gets to do some more and probably will if the price is right.

Chad's back again as the gay version of Philip Marlowe without Marlowe's luck in sexual pursuit. Again it's emphasized that Allen and Sebastian Spence are a committed couple, in fact it's Spence who becomes the client for Allen in Ice Blues.

This occurs when a man hands Spence 3 million in untraceable European bearer bonds and then gets promptly killed. The money is for one of Spence's causes, a shelter for homeless youth. The anonymous contributor is then promptly killed and it turns out he's the grandson of an Albany lawyer and power broker played by Myron Natwick. That leads Allen into a web of organized crime and child prostitution.

There's a lot more violence in Ice Blues than in previous Strachey films. I also think someone was having a bit of a joke at Mel Gibson's expense as Gibson is not known for his progressive views on gay people. A few things were plainly ripped off from Gibson's Lethal Weapon series.

I do hope that Ice Blues is not the last of the Strachey series though it's been three years since Chad Allen has done one of these films.

The Donald Strachey films get better and better. In ICE BLUES - the fourth in the series - the performers have really relaxed into their roles and the film noir storytelling is top-drawer. The tribute to the genre mixed with the modern twist (a detective who just happens to be gay and happily partnered) seems effortless here - whereas in other hands I couldn't imagine the premise working. The lighting makes the most daring and successful contribution with lots of shadows and film noir angles giving the film its classy but raw 1940's feel. Chad Allen is steadfast as usual as Strachey. If never surprising in his portrayal, he anchors the film smartly. As usual, there's some stellar support - this time in the person of Sherry Miller (who played the supportive Mom on TV's "Queer as Folk"). Her quiet intensity is always worth watching. Like most detective yarns, the film starts to twist a few times too many in the third reel, but keep with it and it resolves in a satisfying - and maybe even surprising - way.