Strapped

For a gay themed movie, this is extremely polished and well-done; perfect acting, great editing, compelling sound-track and most of all an excellent script with on-point dialogue. Given my review is "late in the game" I won't bother with a synopsis. I will say that for a plot of the day in the life of a male prostitute, this absolutely gave the viewer something extraordinary and atypical of the genre (because yes...it's been done before, as admitted in the film itself with the references to "My Own Private Idaho"). There are many layers to this film and in fact to the lead character, as we find out through his acting AND the dialogue that he indeed takes on the personas of the people he is about to have sex with (and he could only accomplish this if he were a very polished actor...which he definitely appears to be). This film delves into the human psyche and asks the question if we are ALL pretending/trying to be someone we are not/putting on a show for others. A very well done and IMHO underrated film.

This film is about a hustler who gets into one encounter after another in an apartment building, somewhere in America.

The writer of "Strapped" put a lot of effort into making a plot that has a message. It is about a man who looks for sexual adventures continuously. He never looks back on his past encounters. Fortune has it that he has five encounters with different individuals who are wildly different from one another. These clients, and the different ways the hustler interacts with them add depth to the plot. The final encounter is the emotionally satisfying, as the hustler finally finds that special magic that transforms him. "Strapped" is a little boring at first, but steadily improves throughout the film.

There is no warning on how good this little film turns out to be. With a simple theme of a young handsome hustler getting "lost" in an apartment building, it goes on to portray different lives all familiar to an experienced gay man, and yet not dull and never predictable. A night in this young hustler's experience can analyze gays' psyche anywhere. Raw, sexy, emotional, without being too indulgent. At the end, one gets to ask oneself if he is getting lost, wanting to be lost, or simply arriving at home. Ben Bonenfant, as the hustler, is well-acted and well-directed. The boy is so believable as someone to be paid for sex. His facial expressions tell some complexity of being gay quite right. It is so nice to watch a film we can totally relate to. Thanks.

I love 'gay themed' indie films. But so frequently the story line is a drag, the characters often fuel those stereotypes about folks who lead alternate lifestyles.

In addition, I often find the acting to be blasé.

Such was not the case with Strapped. This is by far, one of the most beautifully written and acted films I think I have seen in awhile.

Newcomer Ben Bonenfant does an amazing job as he plays a young hustler 'finding himself' in a crazy mixed up world called 'life.' He is sexy and tender in this film and truly breathes life to the various facades he puts on as he 'hustles' his way lost through an apartment building.

The parallel of him being lost in this building and being lost in life really weaves an amazing balance as the story unfolds.

I truly was mesmerized by this film and felt it really was very well written, directed, and acted.

In fact I would add, I truly fell in love with all of the characters who each played their roles perfectly and well acted.

An excellent sexy but tender film.

We sometimes feel like we are lost, alone, and confused. Why not? Life is a labyrinth of trials, much like the building that the protagonist gets lost (literally and figuratively) in. Mistaking one path for another is easy, terrifying, and painful. Each path has friends and enemies, angels and demons. But if we're lucky enough, brave enough, we just might let someone in. Getting lost finding the way seems less scary.

Strapped is one of the most excellent films I have watched in quite a while. The writing is excellent, the direction is excellent, the acting is excellent. I have so much more to say about the intelligence, the symbolism, the honesty, the multi-layered profundity, the heart, and the life-affirming testament that is this film; however, why spoil all the fun for you?