Pit Stop

Odd review history here. First there are nothing but wonderful reviews followed by nothing but terrible reviews. Don't know what that means, but it seems peculiar. This is an intelligent, very slow moving film concentrating on the lives of two gay men, though one is obviously bi-sexual, that you know are going to come together for a love story, but it takes one hour for these two to meet in a one hour and twenty minute film. However, what saves it is that their individual stories are interesting and bit unusually similar. Both are nice guys still connected with their ex's. One with his ex-wife who still care and need each other as they were best friends prior to trying marriage and remain that way, along with together raising a young daughter. And the other with his ex-boyfriend who wants to get out of a small town in Texas, which I would think understandable, but the other doesn't. For a film with so many nice people, not many seem very happy with their lives. The acting is good by the four principles (I particularly liked Bill Heck & Bailey Bass) and it's a decent film, but you have to like film as even at this short a length there are many scenes in which nothing of significance occurs.

Pit Stop is a wonderful new film from director Yen Tan. It is the story of two mid-thirtyish gay men, Gabe and Ernesto, living separate but not totally dissimilar low key working class lives in the same Texan small town. Separately each man is yearning for love and emotional fulfillment while respectively struggling with his daily life and relationships. The focus is on Gabe and Ernesto but everyone in the film is a real person with a story to tell. All are portrayed in a thoughtful and empathetic way with no one casually discarded for the sake of storytelling expediency. This is a true character study of people finding their way in life and love and one cares about what will happen to them.

Gabe is divorced but trying to sustain his family for the sake of his young daughter. He has recently been rejected by a male lover who is married and now moved away. Ernesto is trying to end a two year relationship that has fallen apart and has no future. At the same time he is dutifully visiting a previous lover who lies comatose in a convalescent home following a car accident. Both men want more but their personal situations and the small town environment constrain them from being who they are and achieving the love and intimacy they long for and deserve. Both men still want to be wanted.

The film is beautifully made and the ensemble cast, led by Bill Heck as Gabe and Marcus DeAnda as Ernesto, is top notch. Pit Stop is a moving film that deserves a wide audience. Fans of Tan's earlier film, Ciao, will particularly like Pit Stop.

Small quiet film about a few gay men in a small town in Texas. Each of their stories, some totally unrelated, until Gabe and Ernesto meet. Excellent quiet plain talk movie. Real people problems and lives all at the same time, but overwhelming, a few stories that end in one.

If you want 'young' gays from big cities, big gay communities, stereotypes, lots or any sex scenes = ACTION, clichés, hot handsome 'model's, then this is not a film for you.

If you want real people out there in the small towns that live real lives in a different place, real REAL conversations, situations, relationships, etc., Not a soundtrack from beginning to end of House Beat "Gay" music, then you could consider trying this movie.

The director, Yen Tan, should be a giveaway to a style of film. NOT Hollywood, Not gay films for the young and horny, but a film about real people, other people, etc.

For this type or style of movie, this one is great!

Pit Stop is a gay love story situated in a little town in the state of Texas, USA. Yes, also in little places gay people do live. Not everybody moves to the Big Apple after their coming out. Some like the quietness of small town life or stay there for other reasons. I know many gays fear the loneliness of the countryside, but actually, destiny decides if you find love, no matter where you are. I liked this 'little' independent movie a lot. The men are beautiful and sensitive and they make sense. It's a dramatic movie, but not too. These men have pets, like a cat or dog, it all looked very real and sincere. Even the cat was so relaxed, like it actually lived there. I think this is a very adequate portrait of gay countrymen.

Am 56 and was searching for gay themed movies on Youtube when I came across this move. I have long dreamed of the type of gay movie I would like to see made..and this fit the bill in every way. You have two brilliant actors playing masculine gay men in small town America. You see an expertly crafted display of a universal theme - the need to be loved and with the one you love. The movie was low budget, but the script and performances were real and made up for any "cheapness" in the look of the movie. Although I didn't need to see the intense sex scene near the end, it was well made, convincing and served a purpose - to show how the sex between these men was more than just raw sex and a one night stand. I, too, was left wanting to see more of the budding relationship form between these two gay men...but was satisfied that the ending implied there were better times to come for these two men.