Save Me (2007)

A deft exploration of the controversial ex-gay movement, the story follows Mark (Chad Allen), a drug-addicted young man who overdoses and finds himself at the mercy of his disapproving family. Their solution to Mark's problems is to check him into a Christian run ministry overseen by Gayle (Judith Light), who believes she can help cure young men of their 'gay affliction' through spiritual guidance. At first, Mark resists the efforts of Gayle and her loving husband Ted (Stephen Lang), but soon finds solace and brotherhood with several of the members, including Scott (Robert Gant), who is battling family demons of his own. When Mark and Scott begin to find their friendship developing into an unexpected romance, both are forced to confront the new attitudes they're beginning to accept, and Gayle finds the values she holds as an absolute truth to be threatened.



I have mixed feelings about the story of the film probably because of the presence of religion but I was immensely affected by its lead charaters as the actors' fine portrayal of the roles made the film worth watching from beginning to end.

Klass (2007)

See lugu on eelkõige aust ja väärikusest. Üks 16 aastane normaalne poiss satub juhuse tahtel olukorda, kus ta astub klassi äbariku kaitseks välja. Hiljem kui sellelt normaalselt poisilt küsitakse, miks ta nii tegi, ei saa ta enam oma eelmist tegu valeks tunnistada ja peab jätkama äbariku kaitsmist. See aga tähendab talle teiste nn. normaalsete noortega vastandumist. Ta tõugatakse välja noorte mikroühiskonnast ja ta kaotab ka oma tüdruku. Kõik seepärast, et ta ei oska taganeda. Sellises olukorras saab endisest normaalsest poisist peaaegu vastu tahtmist äbariku sõber. Sellest hetkest on loo põhiküsimus ülekohtus. Kui palju lubab inimese väärikus kannatada ülekohust. Ja mis hetkel muutub vastuhakk ise vägivallaks?

First of all, it’s a story about dignity. There‘s a misunderstanding in the beginning. A regular 16-year old guy, Kaspar (Vallo Kirs), stands up for the looser of the class, Joosep (Pärt Uusberg). As I said, it was an accident, a mistake, but later, when everybody asks why he did so, Kaspar will not admit that it was a mistake. Instead, he claims his independence from the rule of the most popular guy in the class, Anders (Lauri Pedaja). This is the beginning of a war where teenagers no longer see where mischievous bullying ends and a crime begins. Would you give up your girl and your life in order to save your dignity?

KLASS (THE CLASS, internationally) certainly has a lot of flaws but such are needed to make the film as horrifying and violent and realistic as possible and I could imagine how horrifying the incidents could be if they are really existent... well, I am referring to the way incidents are presented in the film. Great acting from the three lads and this Estonian feature got my full attention.

(In ESTONIAN with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Clapham Junction (2007)

This is a provocative and powerful single drama about the mixed experiences of several gay men during 36 hours in South London, and the devastating consequences that unfold when their lives collide. From a civil partnership ceremony to a heated dinner party, five separate stories are woven into the fabric of modern day London from school and work, to bars and clubs, during one hot summer’s night in the capital.

CLAPHAM JUNCTION is a revelation that is so true that it hurts those that didn't accept it. The roles played by Paul Nicholls, David Leon, Luke Treadaway and Joseph Mawle are exceptionally moving. A MUST-SEE for everyone!

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Le Paradis du Garçon asiatique

After their respective concerts, Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell), a rising concert cellist and Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), an Irish guitarist and lead singer of a rock band, will meet for the first time at a party...

Surveillance 24/7 (2007)

Adam (Tom Harper) has got his life just where he wants it. During the week he teaches IT at a posh private school. At the weekend he comes to London - the big, bad city - to club, dance, meet new friends -- and get laid. A casual encounter with a handsome stranger, Jake (Séan Brenden Brosnan), brings Adam to the attention of powerful, unseen forces. They rob him of his job, and follow his every move. Suddenly Adam's life is a mess - and he's in serious danger. But why -- why him? Then Adam discovers that Jake planted on him the only evidence of an affair with a gay royal. When Jake is found dead, Adam if forced to go on the run, with only two people he can trust: his disapproving father and Amy (Dawn Steele), a reporter, and old friend. With few resources, and an increasingly desperate, and murderous, adversary, Adam has to dig deep - to find the truth; and the hero inside...

SURVEILLANCE 24/7 is a visually entertaining paranoid tale that can actually be so terrifying if it does exist fully in reality. This fast-paced thriller has a good ensemble of British actors that includes Pierce Brosnan’s son Séan. Let me warn you that its style is not for everyone as I’ve read quite a lot of negative comments but I’d recommend it to those who can stay in focus when they watch a film as chances are they’d enjoy it the way I did.

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Chuecatown (2007)

Leo y Rey son una pareja de gays que viven en Chueca. Son un tanto atípicos, no tienen gusto para la moda, les gusta el fútbol, no tienen un duro y están pasando por una crisis de pareja, pero dentro de lo que cabe, viven felices. Al mismo tiempo, en el barrio se están produciendo extraños crímenes de ancianas. El asesino, Víctor, es el dueño de una inmobiliaria cuya máxima aspiración es convertir Chueca en un barrio modelo donde todos sus habitantes sean jóvenes, modernos y guapos viviendo en casas de lujo reformadas. Para ello se dedica a asesinar a todas aquellas ancianas que no quieren venderle el piso. Víctor mata a la vecina de Leo y Rey que, sin que ellos lo supieran, había testado en favor de la pareja dejándoles el piso. Rey le regala el piso a Antonia, su madre, una mujer mayor, fumadora, desvergonzada, contestona, que odia a Leo a muerte. Víctor, al ver que el piso ha sido ocupado por una nueva anciana se dedicará a partir de ese momento a intentar deshacerse de la nueva inquilina. Pero Antonia es un hueso duro de roer. Víctor, en su afán de conseguir el piso y de cargarse a la vieja, algo que ya se ha convertido para él en algo personal, se acercará poco a poco a Leo, seduciéndolo y engañándolo, haciendo que su ya maltrecha relación con Rey empeore aún más.

Leo (Pepón Nieto) and Rey (Carlos Fuentes) are a gay couple that lives in Chueca. They are very ordinary people with no fashion sense, like football, and though they have some relationship crisis, they still manage to live happily. Meanwhile, a kind of weird crime is taking place in Chueca committed by Victor (Pablo Puyol), a real estate owner whose main aspiration is to turn the neighbourhood to a new place intended for the young generation with good looks. Modern luxury houses will be built and in order for him to accomplish his mission, he murders all those elder ladies that do not give up their units. Next he kills the neighbour of Leo & Rey but unknown to Victor, the couple will have the legal claim of the unit if ever their old neighbour is gone, therefore, Rey gave the unit to his mother Antonia (Concha Velasco) who is a shameless, provoking smoker that hates Leo to death. When Victor notices that the unit has been occupied immediately, he works his way to get rid of the new tenant but Antonia is not that easy to give up. When Victor learns that Antonia is Rey's mother, Victor tries to get into Leo and seduce him to make sure that his relationship with Rey gets down the drain.

CHUECATOWN (titled BOYSTOWN in English) is a wickedly funny dark comedy from Spain. Great actors that will surely make you laugh and as usual, charming performances from Carlos Fuentes and Pablo Puyol. At last, Carlos has finally portrayed a gay role though this is actually his third appearance on a gay-themed film. And I almost didn't notice him because he is bald with a very muscular physique.

(In SPANISH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Rock Haven (2007)

Brady (Sean Hoagland) is a young, spiritual man who moves to the coastal seaside town of Rock Haven with his overprotective mother Marty (Laura Jane Coles), who is setting up a Christian school nearby. When Brady meets worldly, seductive Clifford (Owen Alabado), there's an instant mutual attraction, even though homosexuality conflicts with Brady's devoutly Christian beliefs.

Religion, sexuality and romance are the main issues that are depicted in ROCK HAVEN... how they all collide in Brady's life as he experiences his first true love. It is quite a sensual and honest coming out story that you'll tend to care about his future and wish for a happier ending, I suppose...

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2 Minutes Later (2007)

This sexually charged thriller concerns an insurance adjuster named Michael Dalmar (Michael Molina) who wrestles with his feelings of homosexuality. After an assignment takes him to Philadelphia, he makes contact with his licentious brother Kyle. When the brother turns up missing, Michael pretends to be him in order to investigate. Soon Michael finds that he enjoys his brother's libidinous lifestyle.

2 MINUTES LATER has been badly reviewed and I am trying to understand why. Is it a kind of marketing strategy or is that bad, really? Jessica Graham's portrayal as Abigail the lesbian detective is quite good. The photography is far better than average. It certainly has some good laughs and some very sexual moments. It's an Indie film... and I wonder why so many people would want to see it with all those negative reviews. Well, judge for yourself!

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A Four Letter Word (2007)

With its breezy shots of male genitalia and characters nicknamed Long John and Tripod, this is a surprisingly endearing romantic comedy that explores gay relationships with low-budget verve. The film’s swishy centerpiece is Luke (Jesse Archer), a promiscuous “gay cliché” who works in a Chelsea sex shop along with his friend Zeke (Cory Grant). While Luke chases sexual oblivion, Zeke engages in social activism and a running commentary on Luke’s moral shortcomings. But when Luke falls for a less flamboyant lover named Stephen (Charlie David) and decides to cut back on the sparkles, he soon discovers that his new boyfriend is even more old-fashioned than he thought.

A FOUR LETTER WORD to my belief is a sequel to Slutty Summer with practically the same lead characters minus Markus & Tyler who are supposed to be living happily in Europe. I have to be honest that in terms of laughs, I prefer the older one but in terms of the total film, I certainly would vote for this one. I wonder if they'd make another sequel... if so, I definitely want Luke & Zeke in it again and I think Marilyn had enough as she really bored me this time!

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Ang Lalake sa Parola (2007)

Hindi maiiwasan sa buhay ng tao ang mabatid ang kaniyang tunay na pagkatao kung kayat si Mateo (Harry Laurel) ng siya’y magbinata ay pilit hinanap ang kaniyang ama na iniwan silang mag-ina noong siya ay limang taong gulang lamang. Sa kaniyang paghahanap ay napadpad siya sa Lobo, Batangas at napag-alaman niyang ang kaniyang ama ay nagtratrabaho sa Dubai. Habang hinihintay niya ang pagluwas ng kaniyang ama ay namasukan muna siya bilang tagapagbantay ng parola. Dito ay nakilala niya si Jerome (Justin de Leon), isang binabaeng taga-Maynila. Nagkaroon sila ng relasyon kung kayat ang kaniyang katipang si Suzet (Jennifer Lee) ay nangangamba na ang pagmamahal sa kaniya ni Mateo ay mabawasan. Ang paghahanap sa ama ay nauwi sa paghanap ng tunay na katauhan... isa rin ba siyang binabae at higit niyang nanaisin ang makipag-relasyon sa kapwa niya lalaki o siya ay tunay na lalaki na ang pag-ibig niya sa babae ang namumuno sa kaniyang katauhan?

A homo-erotic journey in finding one’s true self Mateo (Harry Laurel) has been searching for his father who left him with his mother when he was only five. His search leads him to Lobo, Batangas only to discover that his father is in Dubai. Awaiting his father’s return, Mateo works as the caretaker of Lobo’s lighthouse. He meets Jerome (Justin de Leon), a gay man from Manila. What ensues soon after the meeting is the beginning of his homoerotic journey, whilst Suzet (Jennifer Lee), Mateo’s girlfriend struggles for his love and attention. What begins as a search for one’s father evolves into a search for one’s self. Will Mateo, in the midst of his conservative rural community, cross the thin line between being straight and being gay?

ANG LALAKE SA PAROLA (THE MAN IN THE LIGHTHOUSE) is a coming out story of a young man in the midst of rural homosexuality, myths, fairies and superstitious beliefs. It confirms that a gay will always be gay and a true straight person will remain straight even if he submits himself to some homosexual experiences.

(In PILIPINO with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Ben X (2007)

De zeventienjarige Ben (Greg Timmermans) duikt in zijn eigen kamer weg in de wereld van de online roleplaying games. Ben lijdt aan het syndroom van Asperger, een vorm van autisme en wordt op school gepest omdat niemand hem begrijpt. Online ontmoet hij regelmatig de mysterieuze Scarlite. Als de pesterijen een triest dieptepunt bereiken kruipt Ben steeds verder terug in zijn schulp. Zijn moeder had al moeite hem te begrijpen maar kan nu helemaal niet tot haar zoon door dringen. Als Scarlite vermoedt dat haar cybervriend in de problemen zit probeert ze wanhopig contact met hem te zoeken maar de vraag is of ze elkaar ooit zullen ontmoeten.

Seventeen-year old Ben (Greg Timmermans) has his own world – role-playing games online. He suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism and very often bullied at school because no one understands him which is viciously making his life a living hell. His mother seems not capable of understanding him but cannot help him until he asks for it. Online, he regularly meets the mysterious Scarlite but when she suspects that her cyber friend is in a lot of trouble, she desperately tries to contact him and meet each other for real.

BEN X is a well made, superbly acted piece with an emotionally engaging script and an important message. It is for every human to watch and feel. A highly recommendable film from Belgium and the Netherlands based on a true story...

(In DUTCH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Le Paradis du Garçon asiatique

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (2007) is a story of love and true friendship set in the 60's amidst the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n roll. Jude (Jim Sturgess), Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) and Max (Joe Anderson), along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements.




Girl / Helter Skelter / Hold me tight... the opening number giving everyone the bird's eyeview of what this dramatic musical has to offer -- GREAT ENTERTAINMENT!

Into The Wild (2007)

This film is based on a true-to-life story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), an actual student-athlete at Emory University, as told by his sympathetic sister Carine (Jena Malone). In response to his materialistic, manipulative, and domineering parents Billie & Walt (Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt, respectively), McCandless destroys all of his credit cards and identification documents, donates $24,000 (nearly his entire savings) to Oxfam, and sets out on a cross-country drive in his well-used but reliable economy car towards his ultimate goal: to live alone and off the land in Alaska. Along the way, leaves his automobile in the course of a flash flood, to hitchhike his way there after burning the remainder of his dwindling cash supply. Taking an unintentionally circuitous route, he encounters Rainey (Brian H. Dierker) & Jan Burres (Catherine Keener), Wayne Weterberg (Vince Vaughn), Tracy Tatro (Kristen Stewart), Kevin (Zach Galifianakis), Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook) and many other unconventional individuals on his itinerary as he purposefully trudges onward to his final destination, arriving in the wilds of Alaska nearly two years after his initial departure. He starts living in a "Magic Bus" serving as a shelter for people walking in the area (though in the film there is nobody else). Resourceful, McCandless finds joy in living off the land, and begins to write a book of his adventures. Unfortunately, as the spring thaw arrives, he is cut off from civilization by waterways. As his food supply lessens, he resorts to eating plants. Although he consults a brought-along book about the edibility of plants, he confuses an edible and a poisonous kind, which weakens him. While he survives the poison, he is unable to find animals to hunt and he slowly starves to death. As he dies, he continues to write, detailing his painful demise as a dramatic denouement to his autobiography.

When I have watched it on the big screen last year, I was so amazed about the life Christopher McCandless had chosen. I got so puzzled because in today’s existence, all I see are people who want nothing else but power and wealth. I might have exaggerated but I know that given the chance, everybody would want to have both in their hands. So the question is… was he really for real? I have to admit though that he has given me some inspiration. The DVD is out now and I say that INTO THE WILD is definitely a MUST BUY!

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Naked Boys Singing (2007)

This film is obviously based on the long-running Off-Broadway musical comedy revue which features 16 original songs celebrating the splendors of male nudity. In the years since its first performance at the Celebration Theater in Los Angeles, the staged version has become an international phenomenon, playing successfully in more than 40 cities and in six languages all over the globe. It stars Vincent Zamora, Andrew Blake Ames, Jason Currie, Jaymes Hodges, Joseph Keane, Anthony Manough, Joe Souza, Kevin Stea, Phong Truong, and Salvatore Vassallo.

NAKED BOYS SINGING needs no further introduction as the title itself gives the whole scenario away. It is a great musical entertainment and a good watch when you want to be cheered up. Bottom line is... it's nice seeing men singing in the nude, aye?!

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Soulmaid (2007)

Moses (Joe Schenck) is a yogi and cleans houses in his underwear for a living. He is a sweet sexy smart dude with the images of Hindu gods and goddesses on his walls. A totally peculiar being, when he begins having epileptic seizures that trigger religious visions of a spurned goddess, he prepares for her second coming. Convinced he has to rescue Earth's gay population from extinction; he enlists the help of his roommate and a jilted boyfriend David (Tom Bailey) to save the day.

SOULMAID is as wacky as its musical score and as magical as the sponges in the film. Having said that, you have to think out of the box to really enjoy this experimental indie film which can also be described as crazy, nutty, sweet, captivating, fun, and romantic. Are you ready to get insane?

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