because you can't have too much entertainment... 2001

'Family' Affairs
Reviewed: The Deep End * The Adventures of Felix * Come Undone * Nico & Dani *

Scattered thoughts on gay and lesbian themed films in 2001... I hope to shape these into actual reviews if I ever find the time.

The Deep End
I was initially mixed on this one. But I started swinging towards positive the day after I saw it. It's aging well. I didn't have a lot of problems with the plot. Some of you may have noticed in my reviews that I usually am fairly unconcerned with the storyline. I prefer to focus on how the story is told -rather than what the story is... so in that respect I didn't have real problems with the film. Although I understand where people are coming from when they complain about plot details -like "why did she bury the body in shallow water?" etc... I did feel that some of those incongruities really added to the feel of the film -as you're meant to question motivation constantly. I actually felt like the advertising had been misleading. It's more of an art film with thriller undertones than it is a thriller per se. It's all about emotional loyalties and shifts. My number one problem narrative wise was WHY do the filmmakers make it so clear how Darby dies? I felt the story would have had a lot more power had you been as unaware of what happened but leaning towards "I believe her son is innocent but I'm not sure." as Tilda herself is... I thought Tilda was very good as usual (also magnificent in ORLANDO and the little seen EDWARD II -if you haven't her performance in that film well -do so now!) but I wouldn't say "best of the year" as some have. Her character , although fascinating, had little arc to explore... she doesn't change that much in the film aside from the final breakdown. So I thought maybe her performance lacked a bit of range. But I don't want to sound like I'm complaining because I LOVE Tilda. I also thought the relationship with her son was really interesting... How every motivation for her was about his protection, from himself, his lover, the blackmailers, his own father and the military influence . Very interesting stuff. But I vote for the cinematography as 'best in show.'" Recommended.

The Adventures of Felix
From the moment it begins, with its jazzy music and Felix swaying around on his bike, it feels like a breezy ride...and that's just what it turns out to be. It's not deep or unforgettable, but its individual episodes are mostly quite enjoyable (Watch out for French cabaret legend Patachou in the film's best segment.) The film as a whole is seemingly effortless in its ability to charm. As a special bonus it also features the most relaxed/affectionate depiction of a long-term gay relationship that I can recall seeing onscreen. Recommended.

Boys to Men
A compilation of short films in the vein of the Boys Life series. And as with all shorts compilations it's fairly uneven in every sense. The first film "Crush" about a budding "fag hag" is the most entertaining -although the production values are very shoestring. "Lost" and "Mountain King" are the middle films. They're sexually graphic but missing dramatic heft. The last "Confession", a story about longtime lovers confronting their religious differences as one lays dying, is the best in show...partially due to its less familiar choice in subject matter. Not recommended.

Come Undone
This coming of age drama, set in a summering beach community in France is beautiful in a pass-me-the-Prozac kind of way. The film tells the tale of one young man's coming out process as he begins an energizing and eventually saddening love affair with another young man that he meets on the beach. The film is structured non-linearly...something that can be revelatory with the proper story and execution but here tends to muddle the otherwise beautifully simplistic story. Though the film is well acted and refreshingly devoid of judgments, it is sometimes opaque about its characters. Recommended with mild reservations.

Nico and Dani
Known as "Krampack" in Spain, it's well... it's about these two kids Nico and Dani. You figured that part out for yourselves didn't you? It's basically another gay coming of age at the beach film (hmmmm, a foreign film gay mini-trend?) ...this one tells the tale of best friends who discover that they want very different things from each other during the summer. In another words, one wants sex and the other wants friendship. Nothing special as a film, but again, like Come Undone, refreshingly devoid of judgment toward its young protagonists. Not recommended.

-Nathaniel

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