Urbania (2000)

Director:

Jon Matthews

Writers:

Daniel Reitz (play)
Daniel Reitz (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 August 2001 (Israel)

Genre:

Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

Hear any good stories lately?

Plot:

Charlie takes an odyssey through grief during a fall weekend in New York City. His encounters are planned...

Plot Keywords:

Violence | One Night Stand | Hate Crime | Homosexual | Gay

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Dec. 9

4:15 AM

HBO

Cast

Dan Futterman	...	Charlie
Samuel Ball	...	Dean
Lothaire Bluteau	...	Bill
Alan Cumming	...	Brett
Josh Hamilton	...	Matt
Matt Keeslar	...	Chris
James Simon	...	Sam
Megan Dodds	...	Deedee
Gabriel Olds	...	Ron
Barbara Sukowa	...	Clara - The Married Woman
Gerry Bamman	...	Don
Scott Denny	...	Ken
Pamela Shaw	...	Judy - The Photo Lady
David Wheir	...	Gary
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Christopher Bradley	...	Efraim - The Window Couple
Cheryl Brubaker	...	Pam (as Cheryl Brubacker)
Marylouise Burke	...	Yvette - The Poodle Lady
David T. Catapano	...	Frat Guy
Rich Clayton	...	Cashier
Joe Danisi	...	Vin - One Night Stands
Paul Dawson	...	The Bloodied Man
Sanjiv Jhaveri	...	Cassandra's Helper
Brian Keane	...	Neil, The Window Couple
Bill Sage	...	Chuck
Paige Turco	...	Cassandra
Melinda Wade	...	Nadine - One Night Stands

Also Known As:

Urban Folk Tales (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violent and sexual content, including related dialogue, and for language and some drug use.

Runtime:

103 min | Argentina:106 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | Singapore:(Banned) | Argentina:16 | USA:R | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Commotion Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: When Matt is describing his encounter with Clara, she eats the cherry the moment he gives her the drink, but in subsequent shots, the cherry is still floating on the surface of the drink.

Quotes:

Charlie: Distract me, man. Take me out of my own head for two minutes.

Movie Connections:

References Women in Love (1969)

A true gem.

I recently saw this movie and let me say this, WOW. I was blown away by the whole thing! I was shocked at the end especially. Director Jon Shear did a terrific job, and i am appauled that he recieved little or no recognition for this movie. It was powerful, totally redeeming the silly and love-stricken gay films of recent memory, (Beautiful Thing, Get Real and the like,). It gave the gay film industry and not to mention society a new face. Dan Futterman, (Bless him,) did an about-face on his career with this movie, as did Samuel Ball, Matt Keeslar, and Alan Cumming. If i could, id award ALL of those in this film. The depth, power and heat of Urbania are its real stunning feats. It plays as a hetero-flick, (at the beginning, i thought Charlie was straight,) and engulfs us in heart-warming and loving flash-backs. But towards the climax, the film reveals its true colors. Gay characters have never been played with such villanous or sinister-esque qualities. It is a slap in the face for those who think the homosexual community is weak and "sissified." Futterman's brilliance for villany upheld the main idea and the motive behind Charlie's actions. I was shaken when the movie was over, shaken in a good way. If this movie had gone through mainstream release,(which it should have,) homosexuals would be seen in another light. A more darker light which would bring heterosexuals closer to accepting the gay community as the people they are. ****, (four stars out of four) -a shocking, brilliant, and redeeming work of art-