Those People

As many fans of Queer cinema would know, the good ones are few and far between. Be it the reluctance of big studios to produce purely LGBTI content resulting in next-to-no- budget features in the Queer cinema genre or not, often the movies for us gay folk are pretty terrible - poor production standards, bad acting and cliché upon cliché upon cliché. Lately though, there has been some shining lights in this small genre. 'Henry Gamble's Birthday Party' is one and so is 'Those People'. Production standards here are very high, beautiful wide screen photography, particularly in low light night scenes; lush and appropriate music choices; and above average acting among a number of other merits. I stumbled across this gem on Apple TV and was immediately taken in by the seductive and moody trailer; and I wasn't disappointed - far from it. Some viewers might not like the lack of backstory here, as we are dropped into the lives of a clutch of arty and (mostly) wealthy young New Yorkers but slowly details are revealed, enough to really feel one among these characters at this pivotal time in their lives. There's plenty of tension and angst, and mercifully a lack of the usual queer cinema clichés. Questions (and loves) are left unanswered. I really don't won't to say too much about the story as it could spoil your immersion into the delicate world created here. Looking forward to seeing what this director and his leads show us next. Search this one out.

Have read other reviews that suggest this film is about unreturned romantic love between two long term gay friends. I disagree. It's about two long term gay friends who have become hopelessly devoted to one another. I am 58 and have a similar type friend for 30 years. There is no sex or romance, but we've been hopelessly devoted to one another for decades. The writer pokes fun at gay men who always think it's pointless to have other gay friends if you can't have casual sex with them. This was made clear in the bedroom scene where Sebastian's trick wants a three way. The attempted suicide scene clearly shows how devoted Charlie is to Sebastian regardless of their circumstances. Their embrace in this scene was the highlight of the entire movie and the whole story in a nutshell.

Charlie and Sebastian are old friends. Sebastian is emotionally damaged. Charlie seems to have a life and is committed to his friendship with Sebastian.

Sebastian has stalled emotionally while Charlie has continued to grow up. Charlie meets a new love interest and this causes a fracture in his friendship with Sebastian. Sebastian is very very needy of Charlie's friendship and Charlie does not want to hurt Sebastian by following through on his new found love relationship by having to totally leave Sebastian.

The fact that each character is gay is not made into a factor with this story. It's just fact. The story is all about friendship, commitment, and the love of two friends - not two lovers. One friend is weak and confused, the other is strong and wants to get on with life but his conscience and friendship with poor Sebastian is a stumbling point with Charlie.

The characters are wealthy and spoiled. Sebastian's needy personality will get on your nerves but the plot works and you begin to care about Charlie as he is a nice person who is dealing with issues that have a direct impact on his life and future.

Ahhhh the wonders of love, betrayal and everything in between. I believe this movie captures all that, maybe superficially at times, but it's there. Obviously the subject matter is similar to that of other movies as originality is hard to find. I mean lets face it, what hasn't been written and/or sung already?!

This movie touches on a subject that most of us experience and that's love. How love hurts, pining for someone that you've known for sometime but your love/admiration for that person isn't reciprocal, so you think. The characters in the movie to me were very believable. This movie was about those bonds that you form with your clique and how love adapts and how acceptance of its adaptation plays out. It didn't need to be this over the top gay extravaganza like other movies. The actors were very good and I'm glad that they didn't throw in all the unnecessary extras (i.e. the bigger than life drag queen, the club scene where most have their shirts off dancing to club music, etc). I believe the script was well written and stayed on focus. Definitely very touching, soft and dark at the same time. It's a movie that no matter what your sexual orientation is, you can relate to.

THOSE PEOPLE drops the viewer into the middle of a melodrama involving several friends trying to find their place in the modern New York landscape. The film follows Charlie (in a revelatory performance by Jonathan Gordon) who has been pining away after his best friend Sebastian (equally good Jason Ralph) for well over a decade. He's in love with Sebastian, yet has never pursued a relationship beyond the superficial.

Enter the pianist Tim (well played by Haaz Sleiman), who shows an interest in Charlie. To anyone who has been emotionally trapped by unrequited love, this scenario will seem familiar. Tim wants a relationship with Charlie, but Sebastian's presence in Charlie's life acts as a perpetual block to maturity. Sebastian is a narcissist, but he is dealing with abandonment issues and relies on Charlie to ground him.

Most of this is played out over three months, a plot device which gives some of the characters' decisions a forced and artificial weight. Had more time been given to flesh out these characters, this might have been a truly great film. These characters are all pretty well-off and seem detached from the struggles of life in a big city. Sebastian's father is dubbed "the most hated man in New York" due to his embezzling money from charities. Sebastian himself bears the brunt of the public's scorn, unable to show his face in public without being hounded by the press.

What separates THOSE PEOPLE from some of the more pedantic queer cinema of late is how these characters interact. They all care for each other, and the not-terribly-innovative admission of this story is we often stay in damaging relationships out of fear. Gordon's performance beautifully captures this hesitancy to mature and move on, even when he knows better. I've never seen Gordon before, but he gives an eye-opening performance here.

Ralph and Sleiman are also quite good. Ralph has the unenviable task of making Sebastian into someone the viewer believes Charlie would stay with. The chemistry between Ralph and Gordon is palpable, and it's a large reason the film works as well as it does. Sleiman, always a sight for sore eyes, gives Tim a maturity with a hint of past trauma that makes him quick to react.

While it isn't a great film, it is a very good one, with surehanded directing from first timer Joey Kuhn (he's a better director than writer, judging from this movie alone). The cinematography is lush and warm, drawing viewers into this inviting story with ease. Nothing here is particularly surprising, and the writing suffers from its predictable story arc, but minor complaints of an otherwise lovely little film.