Venus as a Boy

Wonderful and engaging cast. The story was very contemporary, and tackled highly personal and important topics of depictions of black men, in a manner that goes beyond how majority society pigeon holes them.

33 year old attractive black man wants to be an artist but winds up being a serial girl toy for successful women. After some soul searching, he finally starts producing art and begins getting noticed for his work instead of his looks.

The acting, direction, and scenery are all well above average. The story was just okay.

Characters ring false. My body was literally cringing listening to the dialogue. Beware of someone who both writes and directs and stars in their own movie. This proves why you shouldn't do this.

First, the obvious - Ty Hodges is beatific and talented. Visually, this little film is stunning, with plenty of Burning Man/Instagram vibes to make it solidly a reflection of these Millenial/GenZ - social-media-obsessed times.

But what's special here is that this film manages to tell a story which POC - especially Black Men - aren't given the opportunity to tell. About an artist struggling with the concept of identity in a time where identity seems more like a commodity. About how Black art that isn't about "The Struggle" doesn't sell. I'm grateful we live in a time that stories like this one get to be told. Here's hoping for more like it.

If the intent was to display how 'different' and 'out of touch' the art culture is with everyday people, then mission accomplished, I guess. Otherwise, that was just some bizarro story about the starving artists and the rich elite they have to satisfy to succeed.

I get the message that Hunter wanted to be true to himself and his art and he was going to stand on principle, and I thought that was about the only good part of the story. However, that was a long journey for a pretty common movie theme. I can't imagine a large segment of society relating to this movie. I'm sure the 'critics' will love the diversity and portrayal of culture, but that is their world. For most of us, it was just a P. T. Barnum spectacle that wore off after the first 20 minutes, IMO.

One last point, what the heck is with all the smoking? I thought we were past glamourizing cigarette smoking in the movies?