Cubby

Mark Blane never lets up on the crazy energy and heartfelt emotions of a man overwhelmed by his imperfections. Super weird visuals and absurd characters deftly intersect with real-world mental illness, situations, and stakes. Go in with an open mind and it will charm you.

You know when you have that feeling someone is meant for stardom? Someone whose talent is so immense on screen you know you'll be seeing them again and again? I felt that way seeing Amy Adams in Junebug, I felt that about Laura Dern in Smooth Talk. I feel the same way about Mark Blane's performance in Cubby, which I saw at the Frameline Festival. I can't stop thinking about Blane's portrayal of an awkward and innocent, Klonopin popping, horny manchild who daydreams about spending time with a studly leatherman. When I discovered Blane wrote and co-directed Cubby, I became certain he is a talent to be reckoned with. This is a beautiful and special first film. Somehow I'm reminded of Harold and Maude's tenderness and wisdom, but sexier, queer, and on acid. Cubby's direction, like Blane's performance, is nuanced and thoughtful. There's an unusual and distinctive magical realism quality to Cubby, complete with animation. Many times the audience doesn't know what is real, psychosis, party drug induced hallucinations or leatherman fantasy. Blane and co-director Ben Mankoff deftly handle the ambiguity. Cubby lets us know at the beginning this is a "story based on a lie." However I'm certain we'll be seeing more from Blane and Mankoff. Don't miss this film!

After college, artistic Mark escapes from his Indiana hometown to a fake job in New York City, where he rents a room in the apartment of his college roommate. Taking a job as an after-school babysitter to a 6-year old, the 2 bond together very well. Meanwhile, he meets Leather Man, who may be a figment of his imagination, from a porn magazine he found at home years ago. In certain BDSM scenes, Leather Man tells him to seek his safe space, which to Mark is his childhood "cubby".

But Mark is not all together, especially financially, and prefers street drugs to his prescription pills. So reality intrudes, and he has to eventually adapt.

Mark was played by the writer / director, and I found the character absorbingly irritating. I was charmed by the line drawing illustrations that permeated the film - something Mark could likely have done. The net result is, to me, a mixed review.

One of those movies you see it once and that's enough, No deserve any recognition at all. Ridiculous plot.

Once this movie gets to it and it does have a bit of a slow start but once you get to the plot, it really begins to all unfold in a timely manner and all the pieces begin to come together there's some great shots some really good cinematic storyline, and the film in its entirety really gets the message across. So those that have the type of interest in the subject you should definitely take a look at it and see how it affects you. I mean I would definitely recommend this film to you definitely keep an open mind and when it comes to independent filmmaking, you have to keep in mind that the directors or Director has a vision and you have to try to get in their shoes to have the full understanding. This is one of those movies!