Tiger Orange

Some writing movie reviews are obvious wannabes that have a need to trash everything, even when it's good. I'm not Siskel or Ebert and I'm not Rex Reed but I know solid gay themed movies when I see them.

Perhaps we don't want to give Frankie Valenti, AKA Johnny Hazzard of gay porn fame, the credit he deserves because guess what. The guy can actually act. Ok, so he's no Sean Penn but he's very capable and turns in a fine convincing performance here. I've not seen any of his other mainstream work but I will seek to do that now.

When you compare this to other attempts at gay themed cinema, you begin to realize just how good it is. Good production values, lighting sound, acting ability, direction, camera direction, etc., it's all here.

It's difficult not to feel sorry for both brothers, each revealing to us the pathetic paths they've chosen. One a responsible albeit reclusive loner, the other a worldly whore with nothing to show for it but empty pockets and failure at every level - work, relationships, and a general inability to navigate life. Bringing the two together after the death of their father, himself angry and cruel, certainly makes for good conflict.

Anytime someone tells you there's a good gay themed movie out there and you happen to be in search of that, put this one on the list of must sees. You won't be disappointed unless you're a real critic with a bone to pick.

Here we see an interesting concept....a gay themed movie about two gay brothers, one a bad boy, who's lived in the LA gay scene, and the other, a discreet, conservative shop owner in a rural area. The bad boy actor did an amazing job. He was a bit over the top, but was convincing. When bad boy faces homelessness in LA, he goes back home to his brother. This is when we get to see some underlying resentments resolved and perhaps some anti-social behavior modification? Ending left me a little confused....but overall a good production with a good pace and script.

The movie is great. Strano and Valenti give life to two brothers who really seem to be real. Two different characters together in struggle to be themselves. In conflict with their inner being and apparently between them, they give life to the sense of brotherhood which should be between two brothers and also friends. One who tries to be as much free as he can, the other one close to the sense of family. Both will get to the same goal eventually being in a brotherhood of love and free. Director manages to express the loneliness of both different characters, the tireness of life till they find themselves in the end. I recomnend everyone to watch this movie because it has a powerful message for everyone.

Maybe the pacing is a little off, maybe a little script doctoring is in order, but for a low budget indie gay film, this is pretty good. Gay men will appreciate Frankie Valenti's butt (which many of us have seen in other filmic contexts), and may be surprised, as I was, at his solid acting chops. A few little things stood out: Tood (Frankie V.) wears cowboy boots with shorts, a bandanna on his head, while plinking at nothing in particular with his bb gun. Beats the hell out of the stereotypical costuming usually reserved for the-city-boy-come-home-to-the-small-town meme. That bit felt real to me. The flashback scenes of Todd and his brother Chet also have moments that work--good casting, here, too, as these young actors work well together. Marc Strano at the helm of a film he costars in has done good work with Tiger Orange. Far better than the usual gay indie work, well edited, well shot, well done. Those of us who grew up gay and closeted will see familiar situations, here.

Two gay brothers reconnect after the death of their dad. Mark Strano is Chet, who stayed in the family home, and even runs the family hardware store. (Strano was also in Out to Kill). Frankie Valenti is brother Todd, who has left LA to return home, after a bad breakup. (Valenti also has a thriving career in the "alternative film industry"... which explains why we keep seeing him get undressed and dance around naked. In the adult films, he's known as Johnny Hazzard). Chet and Todd are two completely different people. Chet is quiet, conservative, and keeps a low profile. Todd is the loud, rowdie one, and they butt heads right off. And Todd likes to start fights, so we can tell its going to be a huge problem. It's a great story. Good script. MOST of the actors do a great job, but there are a couple weak apples in the crowd. or am I mixing my metaphors? All kinds of cussing and adult gay guy talk in this one, so its definitely NOT for the kiddies.

Directed by Wade Gasque, who had only directed short films before this. I was looking for a production company name on IMDb, but i see at the end of the film, this was funded by kickstarter. That's the website where people donate to the fund to get it made, and they have their name listed at the end of the credits. Glad to see it succeed. Quite entertaining.