The Trip

I have no doubt that this film would not have been shown at my local cinema which is why I have only just seen it. This is a shame because I thought that this was a very good film.

It is both a very touching film and also a very funny film with some very sensitive acting from Larry Sullivan and Steve Braun who receive some very good support, most notably from Sirena Irwin and Jill St John, but also from Alexis Arquette, Ray Baker and Dennis Bailey.

It was also both interesting and a very elucidating idea to show the various stages of the life of their relationship against a backdrop of the (gay) politics of the time.

I think that it was a shame that I missed it but a much bigger shame that my local cinema would not have run this type of film as it was of a much higher caliber than some of the pulp that they do show (and I don't refer here to the type or genre of the film but to the acting and production values).

"The Trip" is one of the best romances I've ever seen. After a seemingly endless barrage of horrible gay films, I was actually taken aback by how good this film turned out to be. The story features well written, witty, and humorous dialog that moves the plot line believably through the years that the story encompasses. The performances are uniformly good, but Larry Sullivan is a real stand out as Alan Oakley. His performance lends credibility to the character he is portraying as he grows through landmarks of history (gay historical landmarks in particular). After purchasing this film on DVD, I did an Internet search and was disappointed that this gifted actor has not done more films. Wake up Hollywood! Sullivan is pleasing to look at, talented, and has a certain magnetism that draws the viewer into the story. The enormity of his appeal is hard to describe, but I have no doubt that the right vehicle would make him into a major star. Other stand outs in the film are Steve Braun (who reminds me a lot of a young Brad Pitt) who does an excellent job as Alan's gay activist lover, and Sirena Irwin as Beverly (a woman just slightly ahead of her time). Veteran actors Ray Baker and Jill St. John give substantial supporting performances, and Julie Brown gives a memorable quirky cameo performance as an 80's Madonna attired receptionist. Alexis Arquette plays "Michael" a slightly stereotypical funny slut (a year working as a bartender in a gay bar taught me that there are many people who are this "over the top" in real life). Overall, I recommend this film not as an excellent "gay" film, but as an excellent film in general.

I'm well into my mid-30s, and grew up during the age of Reagan and AIDS, which I mention in critiquing this wonderful film, as the lone value of growing up during the 80s was that EVERYTHING became political, and such a setting does teach the value of context.

And in this light, this is a baby-boomer film, the product of a generation older than myself. It's also a moving human drama - a great piece of American indie film that deserves something greater than 'niche' marketing - expressing the history of a movement and the people behind it (in some ways at least) as a living thing, not something read from a history book. Setting up the story as a romantic comedy of sorts, THE TRIP includes classic themes (road movies, which themselves are often modern recastings of ever-valid mythology) as it sweeps from the pre-Watergate 70s to the late 1980s. Incorporating news footage and topical references (seen previously in films as trite as FORREST GUMP, or as brilliant as WEST BEIRUT) marks the passage of time, and offers the maturation of gay politics and philosophy as an ever-present backdrop, and the very short - and touching - final scene, in both symbolic and literal fashion, makes clear the aim of a film like this: to entertain, but also communicate the lessons and truths of a culture across generations. THE TRIP does this beautifully, never falling into didacticism, and it's faith in honest humanity never wavers.

Some remarkable performances - Julie "I Like 'Em Big & Dumb" Brown makes a hysterical appearance, and Alexis Arquette's supporting role is entertaining as well. As a director, Swain is solid in his control of the material, and has a knack (reminiscent of John Sayles) for giving ordinary human settings meaning and not overlooking small details. Like Sayles, he's very un-flashy, preferring a sweet intelligence that lingers long afterwards.

A captivating small film dealing with the relationship of two gay men over many years and the surrounding upheaval of the gay movement. Many wonderful supporting performances contribute to the overall goodwill of the film. Sirena Irwin is a sketch as Beverly the trend jumping Greek chorus and Jill St. John an absolute scene stealer as Alan's boozy wise mom but the entire cast even in the smallest roles are splendid. The musical score is also loaded with excellent choices which really set the right tone for each scene. It all boils down however to the chemistry and performances of the two lead actors which are strong and makes you really like and root for the characters throughout their journey.

It is unfortunate that the mass media operate as though those of us who enjoy this film do not exist. So, we instead get, excuse my French, a bunch of crap. If John Kerry can indeed change America for the better then getting this and similar films screened on a mass scale would be worth adding to the list of changes needed. "The Trip" begins and ends innocently touching your mind. It does this first by getting you to care about the characters, to like them or to loathe them, and then by the inclusion of David Mixner (ingenious) and Jill St. John (watch the extra features on the dvd for some of her FUNNIEST work!). Their appearance adds flavor and spice to a fresh young cast including the very talented Steve Braun and Larry Sullivan. I was engrossed in every moment. I believe it helped that many involved were, in some cases, re-living some of their own life moments (read: writer/director/exec. producer Miles Swain). Well made, touching, engrossing. What more could a director- ask for? It almost gives you the same feeling as "Big Eden" but without the scripted ending. Kudos, and thank you Miles.