Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An urban nightmare with a heart of gold, 6 Aug 2005
By A Customer
I was a little skeptical about this film as I knew nothing about it until it was 'recommended' to me by amazon based on my prior purchases.Having just viewed the film I was very pleasantly surprised. Although it is quite a dark story, one mans urban nightmare if you will, it is essentially a beautiful love story as well as a modern day view of the many ways we can inter-connect with others. Thanks to the touching performance of Dan Futterman, in a difficult role, and some fine performances by actors such as Lothaire Bluteau (Jesus Of Montreal) and Alan Cuming (The Anniversary Party) in small roles, I was incredibly moved and couldn't wait to press the 'play' button on my dvd player as soon as the credits rolled. This should have been a lot bigger than it was. I urge everyone to see it.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Dark Urban Tango of the Strange, 17 Oct 2006
If, like me, you keep coming back to this page, hovering over the buy button but still unsure of whether you should do so or not, I strongly urge you: buy it today. I'd seen this film around for months and thought it sounded interesting, however, knowing what most "alternative films" can be like, was put off. That assumption of mine is now slowly dying in the back garden as it kept me from buying what has to be one of the most challenging and passionate films I have ever seen.
Ask yourself this: when was the last time you watched a film with your mouth describing a perfect O and your head shaking from side to side because you couldn't believe how raw a performance or how visceral the tension was? Well, for me it had been a long time, and never to this extent. And what's great is on the flip side of all the raw, visceral tension is a story and performance so close to human need it's almost primal, and completely melts the heart, makes you cry and otherwise puts you in a state unfit for any other human being to see and from which I'm not sure I'll ever emerge.
Okay, so I'm getting carried away, but really, there are so many levels to this film I can't believe there isn't a statue on the front proclaiming it the winner of every category currently in the running for an Oscar.
I won't recount the story because others have done it better than I can, but praise for Dan Futterman I must attempt. He pulls off the good-natured and sweet, slightly vulnerable and recently damaged character of Charlie superbly; delivering a mesmerising performance from the word go, right through to the heartbreaking scene with his partner Chris at the end, giving us a full range of emotion from happiness to sadness, and contentment to down right apoplectic rage. The setting fits the feel of the film perfectly - evoking that certain edge-of-sanity darkness that seems so allusive. The music is poignant and moving when it needs to be, and down right terrifying at other times with single discordant strings almost making you grit your teeth. The whole cast is outstanding; Charlie and Chris make THE most adorable and sexy couple in Hollywood history (imho) beating Heath and Jake by a mile; and a special nod has to go to Lothaire Bluteau (if you haven't yet seen Bent in which he acts, you must!) who breaks the heart with his exceptional cameo performance.
It's a dark, gritty urban tango of the strange - at times touching, frightening, erotic and down right heartbreaking but never far from superb and surreal...
Buy it - it's the best story you'll ever be told!
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
haunting, 14 Dec 2005
Partly a thriller, this is really the story of a young gay man's trying to come to terms with the loss of his boyfriend.
Confusing at first, the film assumes a more steady pace towards a very emotional, heart-wrenching climax.
Great acting from all the leads. Dan Futterman (Judging Amy) is excellent, pained, tense, and so full of sorrow. Matt Keeslar as the boyfriend is gorgeous. Samuel Ball menacing as the villain.
Beautiful music on the soundtrack too.
This movie stayed on my mind days after wieving. It has real depth, and even though it's very dark, there's a sense of catharsis, of coming to terms with loss.
Highly recommended.
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