Saturday, December 29, 2012
DANCING FOOLSupdated 123012
Today's film was a NYTimes Critics' pick, Steven Soderbergh's
with Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer and Matthew McConaughey. Also Matt Bomer, a favorite.
This fun film is nothing more than an old fashioned musical without the singing. Like Singing in the Rain only where Gene Kelly strips while he is getting wet. In fact, the first number is guys with umbrellas. And g-strings.
You would think that a film like this, as well as the stripper milieu it represents, would be very appealing to gay guys and you would be right but not in the way you think. These guys are playing to women. It is explained. And it is true. The moves are hetero as are the attentions of the dancers and while you could see gay guys going for this there is really not an audience for this kind of tease. I say that and am probably contradicted by the facts. There are gay strip shows. I have seen them. They are not the same. The dancing in this film is not in any way camp and the sex is purely pointed toward the titillation of women. I said that.
Did I get turned on? Sure. I looked and it was great to see these guys strutting their stuff. The back stage scenes are more like a sports locker room. A bit warm but not too hot.
There is a homoerotic element. Touching, hugging, kissing almost. Affection of a kind not seen day to day. McConaughey is very good at this kind of thing and does it throughout the film to manipulate the boys. They all want to please him. The boss.
That does tickle the gay place. We don't know if he is gay (Bomer is) but he sure has the right moves.
This is a film not just a movie. There is a difference. A sensibility.
It is clear that Soderbergh brought all his talent to this work and it shows at ever scene. Lights, color, action. Light. Dark. The acting is great and the ensemble is faultless. I am guessing that a lot of the spirit in this film came from the group work learning the acts and dances as not one of these guys other than Tatum has any experience. And he is up a clear notch from the rest. Phenom. As in the musical there is a central chorus boy character, that's him. He has a love interest. A pouting, disapproving and rather cold sister of the Pettyfer character. There is the sidekick, Pettyfer. There is a dark force (drugs) and there is an up and out bit for the hero.
Musical.
I enjoyed it and once is enough. John says it was better the second time. Like day old chili. I wouldn't mind seeing it again although I didn't look over his shoulder much when he was watching. A 3-4 out of Netflix5.
Labels: films
