AnotherCineFan Reviews

The Sergeant (1968)

An important film that needs to come OUT of the closet

[6 August 2009]

Cliché? No more than a thousand other films that make melodrama of the agony of unrequited love. What makes the film unique is not just that The Sargeant was "secretly" homosexual, what makes it unique is that he was TOO OLD (and fat!) for Swanson, who was obviously a "hottie", and more likely just plain heterosexual anyway.

It's impossible to watch this film and not be somewhat awed by the performance of Rod Steiger, who doesn't speak a word until ten minutes into the film, but his silent performance at the end still screams in your gut as the closing credits roll.

Did Swanson feel guilty for not helping out the old guy, or just pity because The Sargeant was a pervert? This question is left unanswered at the end of the film. It is as vital and important today as it was when released. It tells a story not only of general attitudes toward homosexuality at the time, but the never-ending story of young men's indifference to the attentions of fat old supervisors.

Seriously, the WB Archive DVD looks very good, but it's easy to see how a full restoration of the film could look exceptionally good. The important thing is that the film not be overlooked because the gay man doesn't get his guy.

The Day of the Triffids (1963)

Great Story with a Moral

[8/10 · 15 April 2009]

This film deserves a remake, true to the original. Today, the visuals could be much more exciting! The core content of the story - that young, handsome people can beat the plant monsters with the earth's natural resources - well, this is a glorious and uplifting discovery. And it is so much fun getting there.

I always enjoyed "end of the world" sci-fi stories where humans beat the aliens, and I remember - 40 years later - the horrible clicking of the Triffids. I put off trying asparagus for many years - it simply looked too evil.

If you accept the visuals as the best they had to tell the story, and the editing as typical of the time and budget, you will come to recognize this as a great story that needs to be told again.

Choose Connor (2007)

Owen could have done better

[9/10 · 16 January 2009]

I was amazed at the quality of this film, particularly after seeing pictures of the barely adult director - all 140(?) lbs of him! Truly, a boy directing a movie about a boy. I look forward to seeing more Luke Eberl films.

I did think this one was a bit too long. There was too much time spent showing Connor being unsuccessful (and unwilling) to make a move on Owen. Caleb didn't try hard enough. Owen, being so young, could have easily become closer to Caleb and later decided it wasn't his preference. And Owen would still have learned the "valuable lesson" about corruption and politics. Instead, he didn't give himself a fair chance to learn about his sexuality. And what about poor Caleb? Owen could have been a good influence.

Though the film intends to show Owen as a hero who overcomes perverted corruption, I felt sad for Owen. He was offered the opportunity to have some boy-boy fun with Caleb, who was extraordinarily beautiful. Owen didn't have to go along with the political perversion as offered. But he could have tried to have some fun with Caleb, and still walked away when he wanted. It was clear that Owen was in charge - no one forced him to do anything he didn't want to do. But he could have had more fun, and with a very hot boyfriend, at that.

I hope Luke makes more movies where appealing young characters have more fun.

54 (1998)

Looking Better A Decade Later

[10/10 · 1 March 2007]

Ryan Phillippe shirtless shouldn't be illegal, as suggested by Mike Myers in his excellent portrayal of Steve Rubell - it should be REQUIRED - for any young man that looks as excellent as Phillippe did in this film. He spends most of it shirtless, and there really is no finer representation of young manhood. While Phillippe has gone on to demonstrate his acting ability in other films, we will never forget his perfect physique in this trendy film.

The movie was never intended to be any better than the era and music it represents, but Ryan would be a treat at any time - at that age - if he removed his shirt. It's also important to note that Phillipe no longer looks like this - as hard as he tries, he'll never have that slender, obviously-muscled teenager's body again. Such is life.