This anthology of short films dealing with gay themes is the sequel to the highly successful previous installment and once again serves as a valuable vehicle for films that would otherwise receive little or no theatrical exposure outside of the festival circuit.
Containing one Oscar winner ("Trevor") and featuring such well-known performers as Vincent D'Onofrio and Mary Beth Hurt, this collection should do well in art house venues and enjoy a long life on video.
"Trevor", the best of the four, is a funny, whimsical look at a 13-year-old boy's growing realization that he's gay -- his obsession with Diana Ross being one major clue. The film starts out as a sort of adolescent "Harold and Maude", with Trevor staging a series of mock suicide attempts in an effort to get some attention from his blase parents. Eventually, he becomes more concerned with his growing attraction to a male friend. He tries to counter his feelings by kissing a girl, bringing no joy. Depressed because of the taunts of his friends and classmates, he tries to commit suicide for real with an overdose of aspirin. However, he gets a new will to live from the encouragement of a gay male candy-striper. Told in the first person, the film is a delicious blend of comedy and angst.
The atmospheric "Alkali, Iowa" benefits from the unusualness of its setting, a farm in America's heartland, where Jack (J.D. Cerna), a young farmer with doubts about his sexual identity, comes to learn the truth about his missing father. The film uses tantalizing hints and skillful technical touches to make its points.
The flashier "Nunzio's Second Cousin" is a strong, sometimes hilariously funny vignette about a brusque gay cop (D'Onofrio) who brings home a would-be "fag basher" to meet his dotty mother (Eileen Brennan). D'Onofrio is convincing in this surprising tale.
The weakest entry is "Must Be the Music", a slight tale about romantic rivalries among boys disco-hopping in L.A. that plays like a gay afterschool special.
BOYS LIFE 2
Strand Releasing
"Must Be the Music"
Director-screenplay Nickolas Perry
Producer Rafi Stephan
Director of photography Steve Adcock
Editor Craig A. Colton
Cast:
Eric Michael Saucedo
Kevin Justin Ulrich
Dave Travis Sher
"Nunzio's Second Cousin"
Director-screenplay Tom DeCerchio
Executive producer Camille Taylor
Director of photography Steve Poster
Editor Mike Murphy
Music Robert Folk
Cast:
Sgt. Tony Randozza Vincent D'Onofrio
Jimmy Miles Perlich
Mrs. Randozza Eileen Brennan
"Alkali, Iowa"
Director-screenplay Mark Christopher
Director of photography Jamie Silverstein Editor Gloria Whittemore
Music Julian Harris
Cast:
June Mary Beth Hurt
Jack J.D. Cerna
Blondie Kent Broadhurst
"Trevor"
Director Peggy Rajski
Screenplay James Lescene
Producers Peggy Rajski, Randy Stone
Director of photography Marc Reshovsky
Editor John Tintori
Music Danny Troob
Cast:
Trevor Brett Barsky
Father Joe Stephen Tobolowsky
Trevor's mom Judy Kain
Trevor's dad John Lizzi
Color/stereo
Running time -- 74 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Containing one Oscar winner ("Trevor") and featuring such well-known performers as Vincent D'Onofrio and Mary Beth Hurt, this collection should do well in art house venues and enjoy a long life on video.
"Trevor", the best of the four, is a funny, whimsical look at a 13-year-old boy's growing realization that he's gay -- his obsession with Diana Ross being one major clue. The film starts out as a sort of adolescent "Harold and Maude", with Trevor staging a series of mock suicide attempts in an effort to get some attention from his blase parents. Eventually, he becomes more concerned with his growing attraction to a male friend. He tries to counter his feelings by kissing a girl, bringing no joy. Depressed because of the taunts of his friends and classmates, he tries to commit suicide for real with an overdose of aspirin. However, he gets a new will to live from the encouragement of a gay male candy-striper. Told in the first person, the film is a delicious blend of comedy and angst.
The atmospheric "Alkali, Iowa" benefits from the unusualness of its setting, a farm in America's heartland, where Jack (J.D. Cerna), a young farmer with doubts about his sexual identity, comes to learn the truth about his missing father. The film uses tantalizing hints and skillful technical touches to make its points.
The flashier "Nunzio's Second Cousin" is a strong, sometimes hilariously funny vignette about a brusque gay cop (D'Onofrio) who brings home a would-be "fag basher" to meet his dotty mother (Eileen Brennan). D'Onofrio is convincing in this surprising tale.
The weakest entry is "Must Be the Music", a slight tale about romantic rivalries among boys disco-hopping in L.A. that plays like a gay afterschool special.
BOYS LIFE 2
Strand Releasing
"Must Be the Music"
Director-screenplay Nickolas Perry
Producer Rafi Stephan
Director of photography Steve Adcock
Editor Craig A. Colton
Cast:
Eric Michael Saucedo
Kevin Justin Ulrich
Dave Travis Sher
"Nunzio's Second Cousin"
Director-screenplay Tom DeCerchio
Executive producer Camille Taylor
Director of photography Steve Poster
Editor Mike Murphy
Music Robert Folk
Cast:
Sgt. Tony Randozza Vincent D'Onofrio
Jimmy Miles Perlich
Mrs. Randozza Eileen Brennan
"Alkali, Iowa"
Director-screenplay Mark Christopher
Director of photography Jamie Silverstein Editor Gloria Whittemore
Music Julian Harris
Cast:
June Mary Beth Hurt
Jack J.D. Cerna
Blondie Kent Broadhurst
"Trevor"
Director Peggy Rajski
Screenplay James Lescene
Producers Peggy Rajski, Randy Stone
Director of photography Marc Reshovsky
Editor John Tintori
Music Danny Troob
Cast:
Trevor Brett Barsky
Father Joe Stephen Tobolowsky
Trevor's mom Judy Kain
Trevor's dad John Lizzi
Color/stereo
Running time -- 74 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 3/12/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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