Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Play for pay
Today's film is not just another hustler movie.
The difference is in the people, primarily the hustler himself who moves from the cold hard facts of his job to the realization that he really likes his job. He likes the people and identifies with them. Hence, realizing he is "probably" gay.
There is no denying that this is an exploitation film. There is not a lot of plot, serial sexual encounters when a hustler gets lost in a building he has visited for a client.
A contrivance but one that works as he encounters a compendium of gay situations. People project on him what they want him to be.
He helps them out. He is very good at it. As he collects his money.
Yet, each one, progressively, leads him to a series of insights about himself. I suppose that this is really an allegory. Sexy, but full of moral lessons, nonetheless.
The title is a little distant from an obvious connection but all the participants hustler and clients, are, in a way strapped in place. Or strapped for funds, material and emotional.
I don't want to make too much of it. I really like this film and think that it deserves a lot more recognition than it got.
Everyone in it is good at what they are doing. The hustler, Ben Bonenfant is magnetic.
I cannot see that any of the people connected with this went on to bigger or better things. There are a lot of films like that. One time shots that are wonderful in and of themselves.
I have seen this several times and it is part of our DVD collection. A 5 out of Netflix5.
