Beautiful Something [DVD]

Rough and powerful, viscous and fluid, hot and freezingly fearful. A film of pure contrast and even opposition. I just wonder if the full unity we reach at the end is not the result of the sordid and yet pathetic conflicts and tearing up passions and feelings in all the characters all along.A gallery of something like five main characters around whom the existential situation or situations revolves or revolve. Brian is a poet. Jim is just a lover to Drew, a sculptor, but this Jim has a flimsy episode with Brian and another with the older man (the older man’s own lover when he was young died in Vietnam), Bob Williams who does not want intercourse actually but only some gay company to reminisce and cultivate his nostalgia, the only way for him to feel happy. And finally Sergio who is going to be the morning-after consolation gift to Brian after he has spent the night roaming around with a lover who runs away, an ex-lover turned straight who kicks him out, Jim who terminates the relation after his own hormonal satisfaction. Sergio accepts a relation, accepts to speak and tell his story provided he can do what he likes, hold Brian like a human doll you love and embrace and touch and caress.The first turning point in the film is the poem Brian finally manages to write after having been kicked out by his ex-lover turned straight and other failed episodes. The poem is about “Your Name” meaning the name of the man he loves but no particular name at all. It remains generic and yet each line is what this name brings into Brian’s mind. This turns the film into a gay urban 21st century Walt Whitman’s “Song of myself,” or rather in this case “Song of yourself.” It projects us into that generic character with a generic name who has only one defining characteristic, he is loved by and he loves Brian, and as such opens up doors, gates and windows for us to get into the world of love.The second turning point is the time spent by Jim with Bob Williams, drinking some, making half a strip tease, dancing with and for Bob, reminiscing life, Bob thinking of his dead lover of a long time ago who he has not been able to forget and yet who needs Jim to be reactivated in Bob’s memory, and Jim just dancing with Bob, then dancing for Bob and finally stripping for Bob and speaking of his desire to be protected by Drew and yet not to be possessed though the divide is very fuzzy. But at this moment we can finally feel empathetically that the characters are coming to some consciousness that intercourse is nothing but hormonal desire whereas love is a passion that burns inside and possesses or even haunts your mind.No lecture about it but a clear succession of episodes showing how brittle intercourse is and how strong love could be, with or without any hormonal satisfaction. That is strange how the 21st century is discovering what has been known by the Buddhists for centuries, since Buddha himself who stands in contrast with the Hindus who cultivate, in their Kamasutra and in their gods, physical intercourse as a basically and defining human and divine, human because divine, activity.For Buddha love is a great human achievement whereas physical or even physiological attachment and satisfaction are nothing of any value since the individual is only attracted by the body of the lover and not the mind, the illumination even or attempt to reach that enlightenment that is residing only in the mind of the person you love and who loves you. The call of the flesh is excessive attachment for the Buddhists whereas the empathy and love from the mind to the mind of the other is a gate to enlightenment. At times though, this mental dimension can be slightly cold, but it is mental and has to be enjoyed in your mind, not in your toes, walking away, running away or escaping the call of the flesh you are not able to control.That spiritual dimension in this film is utmost and brilliant. It makes us desire to love other people just for the pleasure of feeling the mind, the passions and the empathy of all these others, with maybe one standing out now and then, at times for long periods, at times forever, even after death them does part.The exclusively gay situation among men only is thus a friendly discovery for those who do not know about it and a homely welcoming warmth for those of us who have experienced this mental and passionate state. A film that should be shown and discussed, along with others of course of different orientations, with all teenagers, as soon as 15 according to the rating of the DVD.Dr. Jacques COULARDEAU

Among the best of Amazon's current crop of new gay films, which is to say it's an excellent effort by the young director/writer Joseph Graham (2nd feature), Beautiful Something is original in its conception and execution, taut and dramatic despite its restrained pacing (so that the viewer really feels the long night in which the film takes place), and it's a beautiful film to watch. Unlike some reviewers I didn't find it too slow or dull but it could be edited a bit further.Most important is the small ensemble cast's sensational acting and the director's and cinematographer's close attention to nuances of actions, facial expressions - the eyes of these actors are a marvel of expressiveness. The screenplay is idiomatic and feels very true, really engaging, if sometimes a touch long-winded.Aesthetically it's also a delight with all the dark, gritty look and feel of Philly, and of the emotionally torn characters who inhabit it; the musical score and songs (many original with beautiful performances by Ryan Shaw) are also a pleasure as is the marvelous poetry of Richard Siken (from his first book "Crush") which is heard towards the end in voice-over - they stand in as the words and soul of main character, Brian, a poet himself, and come as the painful events of the night explode into epiphany, raw, honest and beautiful. (I found myself rewinding the end credits to ID all the music and poetry!)The story rests tidily within one dark, wintry night with its limited resolution arriving only as the bright dawn arrives; Brian having been exhausted after the night's sexual and emotional exertions - disappointments - is totally exposed and honest so that the ending has an honesty and expresses each of the characters' vulnerability, through Brian, and this seems to me the film's purpose for being. It's a sexy film too, with some intense, brief and harsh, bareback sex, as well as tenderer moments; I think it's unclear what the director's attitude is toward unprotected sex and that's one of the few problems I've got with the film; but then random, unprotected sex is a reality of gay male sexuality these days and, of course, it adds an darker vibe, and undercurrent to the foolish, impulsive behaviour of the characters throughout the night's rambles and the searches for satisfying connection.Quoting from the BFI's (British Film Institute) brief notes on the film: "Joseph Graham’s fresh and frank drama presents unique portraits of these characters as they each grapple with their issues. It’s unpredictable, sexy, heartfelt and authentic. The compelling narrative is realised by a brilliant ensemble cast that act their socks off (in both senses). It reveals how each generation repeat the same mistakes..."

Brian is a frustrated poet who having lost his muse, now has also lost his inspiration. He seeks solace in easy love – that never works. Then there is Jim who is in a relationship with an older sculptor but he feels trapped. An ageing actor’s agent, Bob, also cruises the streets in his limo looking for the young boys that will fill the void in his life.On one night all the stories come together but in a way that is far from obvious and with enough drama to make you want to know more.Now this also features a fair amount of bedroom rumpy pumpy and it is done in a realistic way. The actors are all excellent here and the direction is spot on. This is a film from Joseph Graham who you may remember from ‘Strapped’. In some ways there are recurrent themes that were explored there but this is still an original, subtle, in your face and compelling piece of cinema that I can easily recommend.

worth every penny... superb service

4 disparate characters going through their lives over one singular night.The sex scenes are intense with lust yet excellently acted out.All the characters have something that hooks you about them be in lack of inspiration, lack of relationship (except for the obviously naughty shenagians) or lack of youth there is something for anyone who likes very current 'Gay Cinema'.Only downside side for me personally is the pace isn't that fast for a 93 minute film but I like what I see.This was a complete impulse buy but it was worth it, good times.

Good gay drama film