Third Man Out (2005) (TV)

Director:

Ron Oliver

Writers (WGA):

Mark Saltzman (written by)
Richard Stevenson (book)

Release Date:

2005 (Canada)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

A gay detective who always gets his man.

Plot:

A gay detective is hired to find who has been been threatening a notorious member of the gay community noted for outing people. |

Plot Keywords:

Gay | Gay Detective | Detective | Home Renovation | Blackmail

Cast

Chad Allen	...	Donald Strachey
Sebastian Spence	...	Timmy Callahan
Jack Wetherall	...	John Rutka
Woody Jeffreys	...	Eddie
Sean Young	...	Ann Rutka
April Telek	...	Alice Savage (as April Amber Telek)
John Moore	...	Bishop McFee
Alf Humphreys	...	Father Morgan (as Alf Humphries)
P. Lynn Johnson	...	Senator Dianne Glassman
Guy Fauchon	...	Newspaper Photographer
James Michalopolous	...	Dark Glasses (as James Michalopoulos)
Moneca Delain	...	Nurse
Kirsten Williamson	...	Meredith
David Palffy	...	Bruno Slinger
Colin Lawrence	...	Cole

Runtime:

USA:98 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Insight Film Studios

Goofs:

Continuity: In the love scene between Strachey and Timmy, Strachey's tattoo is on his right arm. When he wakes up the next morning and climbs out of bed, his tattoo is on his left arm. Other scenes in the movie show inconsistent arm placement as well.

Quotes:

John Rutka: How's Senator Glassman these days?
Timmy Callahan: How did you know that...
John Rutka: That you're her Chief Aid? It's my job to know these things. She's got a good voting record on gay rights. Wish the rest of the state senate was like her.
Timmy Callahan: Oh good! So maybe you won't feel obliged to destroy her and I'll get to keep my job.
John Rutka: I do what I do for the good of us all.
Timmy Callahan: Yeah. You're a regular Mother Teresa.
Donald Strachey: O-kay. Timmy, I think maybe you need to take Doctor Watson for a walk.
Timmy Callahan: I just did.
Donald Strachey: I think he needs to go again.
Timmy Callahan: Okay. Excuse me, while I out my dog for the good of us all.

Movie Connections:

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

And Now For Something Completely Different

I watched this film simply because First Wave's impossibly handsome Sebastian Spence was in it. I wanted to see what other roles he might play. His character here is completely different from Cade Foster, and completely charming. The plot has as many twists as an Agatha mystery novel, constantly keeping you guessing, and pulling the rug out from under you when you think you have finally figured it all out. However, it is also a thriller. The protagonist, Chad Allen as private eye Donald Strachey is neither tough nor particularly intelligent, though his body ripples. I was on the edge of my seat worrying about what would happen to him next.

It is a movie about gay people, exploring all kinds of issues from blackmail, to outing, to spying, to HIV, to gays in the military, to sexual abuse. The main pair of characters have a loving, domestic monogamous relationship. It is nice to see a gay couple portrayed realistically. Sex is not the #1 priority for most gays. They are both clean cut, pleasant and sympathetic. At times Spence reminded me of Cary Grant in Arsenic and Old Lace. The lead gay couple don't take drugs, go to orgies or commit suicide as seems mandatory in so many other movies about gays.

There is a touch of frontal male nudity, and a short tasteful scene of a male-male couple in bed caressing gently. It is not a sleasy film despite some of the subject matter. There are also photos of the bad guys engaged in S&M.

This is a film unlike any other. I never could guess where it was going next. It is delightfully entertaining, every last minute of it.