drtodds

"Best Day Ever" (2014) Starting the new year out on a sappy note, because.....well sometimes life NEEDS to be sappier! :D Based on the true story of filmmaker Jeff London and how after being single for 48 years, his life changed when he met the love of his life and found his true purpose. This film explores the issues of aging in the gay community, especially in the light of being single/not having found love -- as well as the challenges of entering into a relationship with a "significant" age gap. David is turning 50 (without much sincere support from his friends) and questioning his life's path...wondering why things didn't turn out the way he had planned. Into his life walks Shane, the 35-year old cousin of his best friend...visiting from Indiana. The two awkwardly hit it off and end up falling in love. Mel England does a great job of portraying all of the mixed emotions David is feeling. And Tom Saporito adorably brings Shane's shy/introverted/video gaming geekness to life! The biggest flaw of this work is that is has a bit of an identity crisis. It is too long to be a true Short Film.....yet it doesn't delve into the back stories of the characters deep enough to be a full fledged feature film (Running time is 1 hour and 17 minutes). I would have preferred the film to have veered in one direction or the other, but still have to say it was an enjoyable watch.

"Grind" (2014) A short, musical film based on the Gay Hook-up App "Grindr". This short is very well done from an execution standpoint: good music and singers; good filming; good editing; good pacing; lots of pretty faces and bodies to look at; and really good acting (Anthony Rapp channels his inner "Sweeney Todd" deviously!). While light-hearted in many aspects, it touches on serious issues such as: gay-bashing; the lack of ability to personally connect in our digital age; the superficial and de-humanizing nature of on-line apps and hook-ups -- and the risks we all take when we use them. "You don't REALLY know who you are talking to" is a repeated refrain in this story.