The Velocity of Gary* *(Not His Real Name) (1998)

Valentino is an Ex Aldult film star very much in love with his girlfriend Mary Carmen....and boyfriend Gary. Things take a tragic turn when Valentino is rushed to the hospital after ... See full summary »

Director:

Dan Ireland

Writer:

James Still

Stars:

Danny Arroyo, Vincent D'Onofrio, Salma Hayek

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Danny Arroyo	...	Thug #1 on Street
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Valentino
Jason Cutler	...	Romaine
Salma Hayek	...	Mary Carmen
Olivia d'Abo	...	Veronica
Thomas Jane	...	Gary
Elizabeth D'Onofrio	...	Dorothy
Hakan D'Onofrio	...	Running Boy
Keegan de Lancie	...	Choir Boy
Ravell Dameron	...	Receptionist in Clinic
Yvette Diaz	...	Young Mary Carmen
Marion Eaton	...	Miss Sweetheart
Phillip Esposito	...	Phone Sex Guy
Luchisha Evans	...	Waitress
Ethan Hawke	...	Nat

Storyline

Valentino is an Ex Aldult film star very much in love with his girlfriend Mary Carmen....and boyfriend Gary. Things take a tragic turn when Valentino is rushed to the hospital after collapsing on a city street and is diagnosed with HIV/AIDS...Forcing Mary Carmen and Gary to push aside their jealousy & differences to take care of the man they both love while he is dying. Ultimately finding comfort, understanding, and strength in the other. A beautiful modern love story with a fantastic cast. Vincent D'Onofrio is very charismatic, charming, and intense as Valentino.....

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Plot Keywords:

dying | tears | hospital | transvestite | rain | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, language, some drug use and violent images

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 July 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Velocity of Gary

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineville, Columbia TriStar Home Video, Dan Lupovitz Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Gary: Gary dreams about kissing someone so hard his mouth hurts. He dreams about kissing someone so soft his heart hurts, so long his neck hurts, so deep his throat hurts. Gary dreams about kissing someone so... completely that nothing hurts.

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Connections

Featured in My Big Break (2009)

User Reviews

A story with subtle poignancy, as charming as its weaknesses

What a pleasure it is to discover a little film which presents little pieces of your own life story. This is a film that I imagine many will question what the hell is the point. It feels like an exploratory independent film that doesn't try to be very clever or cool, just an ordinary story with plenty of room for randomness. As it fits in neither the energetic class of cinema characterized by Tarantino and Fellini, nor the understated class a la Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Gus Van Sant, it won't impress the entertainment seekers and may not work for the purists. That said, I personally liked it more than not.

The great Michelangelo Antonioni said that films are not to be understood; they are to be experienced. As a film VELOCITY may not score high, but viewing it was an experience which I will not forget soon. The scenes with the deaf boy in drag were simply poignant and memorable. I'll never forget the priceless look on his face when his wig was pulled away by the rascals. It was a look which captured a thousand unspoken words that few, if any, Hollywood star would be capable of replicating. His pursuit of Gary brings back traces of my own memory. For me, this character was the primary saving grace of the film; his "acting" was superb, so heart-felt that I'm not sure if it's acting or reality--probably a hybrid of both.

In summary, VELOCITY is a film where some fragments are better than the whole package. Whether or not you can enjoy the film probably depends on how much your life experience draws you to the characters.