backineltham
Joined Aug 2010
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Reviews3
backineltham's rating
Having trudged my way, miserably, through much box office fare of late this little gem took on the status of a diamond in the dung heap.
It's pretty much the definition of "short and sweet". Others have described the wacky story so I won't bother. In theory it shouldn't work but somehow it does. I think maybe it's the immaculate deadpan of the lead actor that carries it; or maybe the catchy songs; or the way its low budget is always taken seriously - silly costumes notwithstanding; or the two genuinely touching love stories. Or... well, I could go on.
Find this movie, however you can, and give it a chance. It's adorable. If only it had been given the release it deserved I guarantee it would have been the talk of the town. Sadly the movie business doesn't roll that way.
One thing I absolutely guarantee: we'll be hearing more of the people involved before very long. As "calling cards" go it doesn't get much better than this.
It's pretty much the definition of "short and sweet". Others have described the wacky story so I won't bother. In theory it shouldn't work but somehow it does. I think maybe it's the immaculate deadpan of the lead actor that carries it; or maybe the catchy songs; or the way its low budget is always taken seriously - silly costumes notwithstanding; or the two genuinely touching love stories. Or... well, I could go on.
Find this movie, however you can, and give it a chance. It's adorable. If only it had been given the release it deserved I guarantee it would have been the talk of the town. Sadly the movie business doesn't roll that way.
One thing I absolutely guarantee: we'll be hearing more of the people involved before very long. As "calling cards" go it doesn't get much better than this.
Believe me, I HATE "slice of life" movies. Also, as a gay man, I hate it when I'm expected to love a movie, simply because it happens to feature the gayz.
So. I hated this flick for the first twenty minutes. The dreary, quotidian setting; the non-dialogue; the horrible, soapy ordinariness of it all.
Then... It got me. I suddenly understood that there was a genuine intelligence at work, behind what had seemed merely dull. There was a proper story being built, in the most subtle and sure-footed way. There were two terrific performances. There was excellent (albeit ever-so- slightly hackneyed) cinematography. Crikey, I thought: this is actually good.
The parallels between this and "Brief Encounter" are inescapable. I'd bet a week's wages that the writer/director had that classic in mind from day one; but there's no shame in stealing, so long as it's done well - and this is done so very, very well.
I could waffle on for paragraphs about why this is such a good film, but I shan't. However, I want to say one last thing. In a great film, every scene should move the story forward - and that holds true for sex scenes. In fact, sex scenes should obey that law more than any other, because (let's face it) sex can be entertaining in itself.
The (few, delicate) sex scenes in this film always move the story along. The characters actually reveal themselves through sex. And that, to me, marks it out as great storytelling.
Hats off to all involved. I hope you go on to greatness. No, sorry, you've already done that. What I meant was: I hope you go on to mainstream success and lots and lots and lots of money!
So. I hated this flick for the first twenty minutes. The dreary, quotidian setting; the non-dialogue; the horrible, soapy ordinariness of it all.
Then... It got me. I suddenly understood that there was a genuine intelligence at work, behind what had seemed merely dull. There was a proper story being built, in the most subtle and sure-footed way. There were two terrific performances. There was excellent (albeit ever-so- slightly hackneyed) cinematography. Crikey, I thought: this is actually good.
The parallels between this and "Brief Encounter" are inescapable. I'd bet a week's wages that the writer/director had that classic in mind from day one; but there's no shame in stealing, so long as it's done well - and this is done so very, very well.
I could waffle on for paragraphs about why this is such a good film, but I shan't. However, I want to say one last thing. In a great film, every scene should move the story forward - and that holds true for sex scenes. In fact, sex scenes should obey that law more than any other, because (let's face it) sex can be entertaining in itself.
The (few, delicate) sex scenes in this film always move the story along. The characters actually reveal themselves through sex. And that, to me, marks it out as great storytelling.
Hats off to all involved. I hope you go on to greatness. No, sorry, you've already done that. What I meant was: I hope you go on to mainstream success and lots and lots and lots of money!
