Like You Mean It

This is a good film. On the surface it is about a gay couple struggling to stay together, but it is actually about one-half of this couple.

Mark, played by LIKE YOU MEAN IT'S writer/director, Philipp Karner, doesn't merely have difficulty committing, he has increasing difficulty communicating with anyone. His character is interesting, especially in that, as a professional actor, auditioning generally for voice-over assignments, he must use a wide variety of voices. That English is not his native language, and though he has mastered an infinite variety of American accents, he is finding himself unable to continue.

Jonah, his boyfriend, played by Denver Milord, is a struggling musician. What is very subtle about this movie is that it shows us typical tensions a gay couple experiences but demonstrates a unique element: Post-traumatic stress disorder. Jonah, an intelligent man, is helpless to reach Mark, whose relationship to his estranged father is the backdrop to this couple's crisis.

It is well-acted and photographed, and unlike a lot of movies which have entertainers as main characters, it shows what they do. We see that Mark isn't just an actor down on his luck. We see him auditioning and we realize he's good. When Jonah sings to Mark one night, at Mark's request, we are shown that he is good and that he is doing the sort of music heard today. This adds to the realism.

LIKE IT IS is as thoughtful as any story by John Updike or Joyce Carol Oates. The short story may be the form which has most influenced this film. In my view, that is a plus.

A delicate theme just well explored. Sensitive subjects , from the stress about future to the complicated lines of relationship are wise used , exposed, explored in beautiful manner.

The shadow of madness as presence and the great cinematography are two good points of this film who not desires to impress but proposing a fair, honest tone about ordinary pressures and the answers to them.

The acting can be defined as key of this special drama for the slow story, for the reflection moments, for the way to reflect crisis , for the simplicity and gentle pieces defining the characters. A story who has so many chances to be perceived as a personal one.

I really can't think of other gay-themed movies that come close to the class, plot and execution of this film. As it was written and directed by the main character (Mark/Markus) my immediate reaction was that it would be a self-indulgent vehicle for this actor to highlight/showcase his skills (usually meaning lack thereof). But no...this was really incredible on all levels. The writing and acting was completely believable (I'm even wondering if some of the characters ad libbed because they "owned" their roles so well). The subject matter is a failing relationship; common enough to most people. Yet the twist is not that this is a gay relationship so much as it was really doomed from the beginning due to the mental/psychological baggage of one of the characters. The pace, editing and cinematography spoke VOLUMES for the characters as opposed to dialogue in places...I totally GOT it. I would highly recommend this Indie film for anyone who enjoys psychological drama.

Saw this film in LA and was surprised by it's simplicity and power. This is not a "gay movie". Yes, the focus of the story is on a gay man but we start to realize it's about his difficulty loving himself and hence others. We understand why and how life is increasingly challenging for him as he attempts (as a European in America) to manage his past and get healthier. Mainstream audiences may be reluctant to pay to see a film about a gay man but star/writer/director Philipp Karner handles the sex scenes and sexuality in a restrained manner which affords all of us an understanding of the gay culture without offending. As a straight man, I really enjoyed the movie. I highly recommend LIKE YOU MEAN IT...for its wonderful, economical writing, direction and performances as well as its ability to enlighten and entertain!

I've been giving this film a bit of thought since I saw it last week. Like You Mean It is a subtle, interesting film and I definitely recommend that you see it. Philipp Karner, writes, directs and plays the lead role in a slice-of-life about a gay couple whose relationship is put under the microscope as frustrated actor Mark starts to withdraw from intimacy, leaving his long-suffering boyfriend confused and hurt. The script is naturalistic with some sparkling, well-observed dialogue and strong performances from the actors, particularly in the cameo parts. The film is lovingly crafted and the use of audio to create ambiance and a sense of space is outstanding. The narrative pace is nicely judged and is punctuated by scenes of Mark driving around his home town, alternately attempting to save and sabotage his relationship, all the while ignoring calls from his sister back in Austria. The niggling flaw with the film is what gets left unsaid. There are hints of past medical issues, there are hints that Mark's relationship with his family is problematic but none of this is called out explicitly. When the resolution comes we're left unsatisfied and wondering why. Like Mark, the director is holding out on his audience, and while on the whole the unfolding tale is subtly and elegantly told it just falls short of creating sufficient motive to explain his character's actions. That said the film is an absorbing 90 minute window onto the world of a struggling couple, raises some interesting questions about how we undermine ourselves and is elegantly sketched. I'll definitely be looking out for more from Philipp Karner.