After Louie

I'm always on the look out for films that deal with the subject of AIDS - not only as a teacher of film, but someone who remembers how the island city of Key West was devastated - almost 20% of the population died of AIDS, and what Bailey House meant to New York in the 80s and 90s, and how the Republican Party who ruled the White House and the congress did nothing until the late great Elizabeth Taylor kicked Ronnie in the butt....but let's get back to the film - it's an important film - well acted - good solid cast - truthful in its portrayal of male gay life, a good script, and an interesting slow build up - this is not an action film folks so for those of you who are addicted to comic books on screen - wake up - film making is also an art - and this film is just that - it's art. Congratulations to everyone associated with the film. And sorry that so many of the main stream media types of reviewers were so ignorant and stunted. This film should be on the INTERNATIONAL AIDS DAY list of films to be screened all around the globe.

Sam (Alan Cumming) is a self-centred artist working on a video tribute to a friend long-dead of AIDS. Sam's homosexuality is very political: a veteran of the gay rights protests and anti-bigotry campaigns of decades ago, he embraces the self-imposed outsider, 'rage against the machine' status it affords him, as witnessed by his tirade against a gay couple who marry. But it's not all politics: one night he takes home a young man (Zachary Booth) he meets in a bar. Their relationship is the hook on which the film hangs a wider examination of Sam's life.

So far, so talky American gay movie. What saves the film is the acting. I agree with Samuel L Jackson - why hire a Briton to play an American - were all the American actors busy? But there is no doubt Cumming is good in this, eschewing the queenliness he sometimes uses and instead delivering a character who is a strong, opinionated, not-particularly-likable ordinary guy. As for Booth, while he has the looks of a vapid Valley boy, he turns in a natural, realistic performance as the younger man intrigued by the older man, but not blinkered to the latter's faults. Amongst the supporting roles, Everett Quinton has fun as the ageing, gently flamboyant queen who is the oldest of the circle of friends.

So full marks for the acting, but considerably fewer for originality.

Do good people do bad things or bad people do good things? Who knows? We do expect our heroes to be perfect. The main character is not a perfect man, but he was an activist. If you take this movie as a documentary or full examination of activism, you will be disappointed. If you look at it as a man's middle-aged struggle, you might get it. The story starts out slow; it takes a while to get to know the characters. Nobody in the movie is great or perfect; neither is the movie. However, it's enjoyable if you sit back, watch, and listen. It's inter-generational.

If you hate gay movies or are a prude, don't watch it. If you're looking for an action movie, this isn't it. Although, I believe the movie is worth watching even if it isn't the greatest movie.

It's a slow movie but a real movie... You can actually think this could be your story... or life or... :)

It's realistic, and its like you are looking into somebody his life trough a window...

This is a pretty great A-list movie that in my opinion is super underrated. Seems like it didn't get any publicity AT ALL. I wonder why... Well, it's a simple story, a character study, but it I loved it. It has beautiful cinematography, very believable acting and it made me feel for the main character. And Zachary Booth is such a sweetheart... Nostalgic and very human and relatable, not just if you're a gay man. It makes you think about the meaning of life and death, relationships with your friends, growing older etc. Highly recommened if love a good moody film.