Sunday, April 08, 2012
ARAKI ONE
Today's gay film is one of four that I am seeing written and directed by Gregg Araki. The fourth in line will be a 50 Favorite Gay film but today is his first film.
"An irresponsible film by Gregg Araki" on the titles
Araki is/was transgressive..
Was in that people have caught up with him. Now he is making more conventional but slightly skewed films. He has not lost his edge, just found a way to incorporate it in more conventional surroundings.
This one is a road/buddy movie. Two gay men, HIV positive, fall in love after meeting not-cute-at-all.
The review at the link above is the best rundown I have seen.
My own reaction is very positive. I have seen this before. What is not to like? It has the underlying sadness of HIV but, as one of the boys says, that allows a lot of play on top of the fatalism. There are some very funny scenes.
His style is scene, scene, scene, all straight cuts, bang. Nothing goes on very long. It is a very efficient scenario. Bang, bang, bang.
The guys are beautiful to look at, the sex is straight forward, nice and not in your face. Sexy. That relieves the starkness too.
I would see it again in a minute. It is great to watch.
This film was made for so little money it is simply amazing. Araki wrote, directed and photographed. It is his film all the way. Auteur.
What else? Thrills, laughs, chills, comedy. What else could we ask for? A 5 out of Netflix5.
