Strapped

I just saw this film today at Reeling 29, the Chicago LGBT Film Festival. It's my favorite so far and I've seen MANY good, even great, films already. This one was just... great. Ben Bonenfant is an excellent lead in this film, too. I've never seen the short he was in before this, but going to try to find it somehow.

His acting was so good, I felt like I was watching a documentary. He/we learn something with every encounter in this film. I don't want to give anything away. I'm buying it as soon as it's out - actually I'm going to see if/when it's available.

Seriously, watch this movie and you'll feel like you accompanied Alice down the rabbit hole - except Alice is a hustler and the rabbit hole is, well... use your imagination.

I love 'gay themed' indie films. But so frequently the story line is a drag, the characters often fuel those stereotypes about folks who lead alternate lifestyles.

In addition, I often find the acting to be blasé.

Such was not the case with Strapped. This is by far, one of the most beautifully written and acted films I think I have seen in awhile.

Newcomer Ben Bonenfant does an amazing job as he plays a young hustler 'finding himself' in a crazy mixed up world called 'life.' He is sexy and tender in this film and truly breathes life to the various facades he puts on as he 'hustles' his way lost through an apartment building.

The parallel of him being lost in this building and being lost in life really weaves an amazing balance as the story unfolds.

I truly was mesmerized by this film and felt it really was very well written, directed, and acted.

In fact I would add, I truly fell in love with all of the characters who each played their roles perfectly and well acted.

An excellent sexy but tender film.

There is no warning on how good this little film turns out to be. With a simple theme of a young handsome hustler getting "lost" in an apartment building, it goes on to portray different lives all familiar to an experienced gay man, and yet not dull and never predictable. A night in this young hustler's experience can analyze gays' psyche anywhere. Raw, sexy, emotional, without being too indulgent. At the end, one gets to ask oneself if he is getting lost, wanting to be lost, or simply arriving at home. Ben Bonenfant, as the hustler, is well-acted and well-directed. The boy is so believable as someone to be paid for sex. His facial expressions tell some complexity of being gay quite right. It is so nice to watch a film we can totally relate to. Thanks.

Saw this last night from Netflix. I'll be honest, I rented it because of male nudity (I'm not proud.) I am happy to say, that although the nudity was at a minimum really (especially for a film about a gay hustler) the film itself was just delightful. It was definitely a journey in self discovery and I enjoyed it from start to finish.

One little think kind of hit me the wrong way... Everyone in the film kept talking about the lead as being "So beautiful." I'll agree that he is handsome, but the longer haired gentleman in the final scene with him would qualify as "beautiful" for me. I know, I know...beauty is subjective, but that is the only not "glowing" thought I had after the film was over.

I would highly recommend this to, well, anyone.

What is it about prostitutes? Their beauty, of course. Another part of it is their easy sexuality and availability. They have no hangups. (Well, not many anyway.) Everyone wants to do it with them, so why not charge for it? Another part of it is this ridiculous fantasy about "converting" them from sex machines into cuddling lovers.

I'm sure someone has written about this as a cinematic theme. It's not a gay/straight thing. It's a prostitute thing. Gays are as fascinated by prostitutes as anyone else. And of course a hustler movie is always going to have some decent eye candy and eroticism.

Well, this is a particularly good example of the genre. We follow a young gay hustler (well played by Ben Bonenfant) as he meets, and has sex with, a number of people who live in a single apartment building.

Our nameless hustler is disingenuous and guileless (for a hustler) but engaging and quite adorable. He is not an injured soul to be used and discarded. Fortunately he seems to lack the background traumas that drive most hustlers. He is a blank slate as he f*cks his way through the apartment building, learning and growing as he goes along. Each client is a revelation. Yes, he's doing it for the money--but there's something else going on there. He's devastatingly good at his work. Our innocent beauty may be a little lost, but he bestows each client with the sacrament needed.

The director slowly reveals some of the face behind the mask, as the hustler-hero explores the various interesting aspects of this gay world. Is he trapped in the apartment building? Is it actually his home? Or is it a temporary way-stop on the journey to a conventional life? You see, he's gay, but not gay gay.

In one memorable scene, when asked how old he is, he compares himself to fresh-cut flowers; that's how he feels of course. In the bloom of his youth. However, his older, wise and worldly client points to a painting depicting a beautiful St Sebastian and points out that the hustler is more like that, young in body but an age old theme, the beautiful but wounded saint.

A captivating and surprisingly intelligent and moving movie. Let's hope Joseph Gordon makes more like this.

So why does this film get only 6.5 on IMDb?? It's inexplicable. Don't let that dissuade you from seeing it.