One of my favorite gay films ever. A charming tale about a young man (Martín, played by Mateo Chiarino) who is down on his luck, homeless and poor much of his life who returns to his birth town and randomly goes to work for a childhood friend (Eugenio, played by Manuel Vignau) as a handy man. The wealthy Eugenio, who is gay, takes a liking to the attractive Martin and eventually provides him with clothes and a place to stay. Eugenio subtly hits on Eugenio, who is seemingly blind to the advances. Both characters are deftly played, very nice directing and a storyline that at times is suspenseful. Won't give a spoiler but the ending is worthy sticking around for. Very enjoyable movie! Parental alert: frontal nudity by both actors, but not overboard with it.
Reviews
8 Reviews
Shank
(2009)
worth watching
12 January 2015
Fairly intense boy-meets-boy, falls in love story, but with a twist. Gang member Cal (Wayne Virgo), a closeted gay, comes to the defense of innocent gay teen Olivier after Cal's gang begins beating him. Cal is ostracized from his gang, which includes his best friend Jonno. The upper class Olivier invites Cal to stay with him as Cal avoids threats of violence from his former gang, who discover Cal's hidden gay past. Sparks fly and a relationship forms, but will Cal's terrible past come back to haunt him? Fairly watchable film shot in England. I give this film a 6 of 10, fair to good and worth watching. Manages to form realistic characters. A lot of frontal nudity and graphic simulated sex scenes throughout. Graphic rape and harsh language. Some reviewers criticize the acting of the actor playing Olivier, but I found it realistic and believable. A film that stands enough on its own to warrant a watch. "
To Play or to Die
(1990)
Intense, worth a watch
12 January 2015
A gay film from 1990 made in the Netherlands that was one of the first gay films I have seen. I don't see it on many watchlists or talked about much so I consider it obscure. Fairly short film but very intense and very well made. Illustrates the loneliness and victimization of gay teen, especially prior to the 2000s. Story involves Kees who attends an all-boys school where bullying is the norm. Kees has a secret crush on Charel, one of the bullies. The bullies torment Kees in the lockerroom at school one afternoon, forcibly stripping him of his underwear as they mock him. Kees later devises a plan of revenge (or is it?) in which he invites Charel over. A fairly intense ending to a glimpse into the life of an introverted gay teen male. Parental advisory: full frontal of Kees in the locker room scene where he is stripped by bullies. Geert Hunaerts does an outstanding job as the tormented youth Kees. Worth a watch.
Weekend
(II) (2011)
realistic gay storyline
11 January 2015
Boy meets boy: boys have 2-day fling that turns into something deeper than either character anticipated. Russell picks up Glen (both early 30 somethings) in a gay bar and takes him home. After a night of passionate sex, the two characters connect on many levels and have the beginnings of a deep relationship, but an unexpected obstacle — at least for Russell — arises. Will there be a happy ending for both characters? More loneliness for Russell? Weekend offers up a realistic gay love story with meaningful dialogue, realistic scenarios. Anyone who has spent much time in the gay life-style will likely find much to relate to in this simple yet powerful story that perfectly illustrates the trials and tribulations of many gay men. One of the best gay movies I have seen. Some nude scenes by both male leads and some fairly graphic simulated sex scenes, but nothing too overboard.
O Fantasma
(2000)
strange, sexual dealings
10 January 2015
Strange movie that deals with the sexual secrets/fetishes of a young man, most of which are deviant. The movie basically follows the day-to-day sexual encounters of a man who by day is a garbage collector but at night becomes a sexual deviant. Along the way, he receives a graphic blow job in a bathroom from another young man (I saw an interview with the movie's director who described the efforts to get the actor, who is straight in real life, hard for the oral sex scene), has sex with what appears to be a policeman, frolics nude in a pool after hours, has a strange sex scene that involves a faucet/hose in a shower and a leather-type sex scene. Though filled with sex, the actor manages to form a likable, in-depth character that is trapped by his sexual identity that in many ways can be easy to relate to for many. If you watch this, be prepared for graphic sex and a strange story.
In the Woods
(2010)
nice eye candy, beautiful scenery, tense
4 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I saw a preview of this gay/bisexual movie several months ago but couldn't remember the name of the film: Meso Sto Dasos. It is a story with minimal talking beautiful coastal and mountain scenery and plentiful explicit, un-simulated sex, including a rather erotic underwater oral sex scene between the two youthful and attractive male leads (a rather graphic masturbation seen with climax in the film, too, so this movie definitely for mature audiences). Movie involves sexual experimentation between the two male leads and the female lead. Movie I believe is of Polish origin — not a lot of gay type films to originate from this country. Movie seems to have a twist, an exploding car in the very beginning and I won't provide a spoiler. Characters spend a lot of time exploring each other's sexuality. Not much oral communication in the movie, much is implied. You could just watch this for the erotic scenes and come away somewhat satisfied if that is your bad, or watch the film as a voyeur of the three young people as they experiment. Not at all sexploitation, but an honest look at coming of age.
Eating Out: All You Can Eat
(2009)
As interesting as fine dining
4 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
First of the Eating Out movies series I have seen and so far the best of the lot. Simple but workable storyline about a guy named Casey who has a crush on a hot hunk (Zack) who has just broken up with his boyfriend and is looking everywhere but in the right place (which would be? the witty Casey). Casey has just moved to town and started work at Nail Me nail salon for his new best friend, Tiffani, who tries to help Casey hook up with the hunk, Zach. Along the way, Tiffani's ex-boyfriend Ryan, a straight male stripper, gets pulled into the mix of trying to hook up Casey and Zack (including a funny 3-way sex scene). In the end, all works out well. Funny and irreverent with great one-liners delivered by Tiffani (Rebekah Kochan) and a great performance by the stripper boyfriend played by Michael E.R. Walker. The story even comes off as a caring exploration of what is true love. (I actually liked this movie better and had more laughs than any of the Seth Rogen movies). For mature audiences as frontal nudity by the hot hunk Zack and the stripper Ryan. Fun for a bored evening.
Hunting Season
(2012– )
a nice surprise and a load of fun :)
3 January 2015
I discovered this series recently and watched season one (2012, eight episodes) in a couple of evenings. It is cleverly written, witty and a realistic look at modern gay life in NYC. Very good acting, even by secondary cast members (such as the main character's female African American secretary who confuses him by saying his boyfriend is on the phone, and his straight co-worker who he takes underwear shopping in one episode). The series is for mature audiences as there is some frontal nudity and depictions of sex, but lends to the realness of the show. Particularly fond of the acting of Marc Sinoway and lead Ben Baur, but all the cast does fantastic jobs. The episodes run around 10 minutes, which I wish they were a bit longer, maybe 15-20 minutes, but it does make for a fun, fast ride. All in all, you won't go wrong with this series if you are a fan of the gay genre.
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