| Title: | Movie Reviews and Discussion |
| Notice: | Please do DIR/TITLE before starting a new topic on a movie! |
| Moderator: | VAXCPU::michaud o.dec.com::tamara::eppes |
| Created: | Thu Jan 28 1993 |
| Last Modified: | Thu Jun 05 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1249 |
| Total number of notes: | 16012 |
The title character, Jeffrey, played by Steven Weber (Brian in TV's
"Wings"), is a gay man who loves sex. Unfortunately, he's afraid of getting
AIDS or falling in love with someone who might die of it, so he decides to
become celibate. Just his luck, he immediately meets a charming hunk named
Steve (Michael T. Weiss) and there is an instantaneous mutual attraction.
Steve, it turns out, is HIV+. He advances, Jeffrey retreats, and we come to
realize that Jeffrey isn't just running away from the virus, but from life
itself.
You wouldn't think any plot turning about this nightmare virus could make a
genuinely witty, up-beat romantic comedy, but go see this movie and be
surprised. It has some serious moments, but mainly it's played for laughs.
It's based on a play by the same name and it definitely falls into the
obviously-filmed-play category. There's no attempt to convince the audience
that it's really happening. The movie sets up one joke after another while
it simultaneously exposes us to and asks us to ponder Jeffrey's profound
dilemma. Implausible events occur, characters talk directly to the screen,
others recite completely unrealistic but witty dialogue, and personal
conversations draw comments from people passing by on the street. At one
point the camera even turns around to look at the reaction of an audience
apparently watching the movie.
Weber does fine as Jeffrey. True, he only has about two and a half rather
goofy facial expressions which work better on "Wings", but the actor has a
kind of hapless Everyman quality about him that is well-suited to the part.
On the other hand, consummate actor Patrick Stewark, a.k.a. Captain
Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise, plays Jeffrey's flamboyant
"interior designer" friend, Sterling. He is remarkable. He could have
camped it up to the point where there would have been nothing left but a
stereotype, but instead Stewart manages to invest the character with real
personality. He gets some of the funniest lines in the movie, and
demonstrates that his comic timing is as well developed as his dramatic
talents. Fans of the actor definitely don't want to miss this performance.
The movie is also populated with other well-known actors playing minor
roles, including Sigourney Weaver and Olympia Dukakis. Broadway's Nathan
Lane shows up to belt out "Everything's Coming up Roses" as
enthusiastically as Ethel Merman ever did.
Thumbs up.
John
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 898.1 | JMO | PCBUOA::CHENARD | Tue Aug 08 1995 10:20 | 8 | |
I saw Patrick Stewart interviewed about this movie and saw some
scenes from it - I definitely want to see it even though I thought
P.S. didn't play the role as well as I would like him too. I thought
he was too stereotype of the "gay" designer even though he does seem
to have the funniest lines in the movie.
Mo
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| 898.3 | Ditto.... | MAL009::RAGUCCI | Tue Aug 08 1995 16:51 | 10 | |
The film sounds good, even though nobody can fit one perfect "mold"
be it hetero or homosexual.
re.2 sorry about your friend, I agree with you about Aids being the
disease of all others being sensationalized (sp?). I guess it can
be real depressing if they don't add any humor, you know tragicomical?
I still want to see it.
Bob
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| 898.4 | ONOFRE::SKELLY_JO | Tue Aug 08 1995 19:41 | 11 | ||
>Light hearted homosexual romantic comedies have ever done much for me
In the history of film, how many are there? Actually, you'll note I
chose the term "up-beat", not "light-hearted" when I described this
movie. I don't think this movie is light-hearted at all. It's a
serious, deliberate and effective use of comedy to explore some
fundamental aspects of human existence. "Jeffrey" isn't light-hearted
comedy. It's comedy with a cutting edge. It's wit.
John
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| 898.6 | ONOFRE::SKELLY_JO | Thu Aug 10 1995 23:29 | 47 | ||
I agree with you completely that "Parting Glances" is an excellent movie,
but I'm not really sure why you've mentioned it. Apparently, because you
didn't like "Jeffrey", you saw it only as a mediocre movie that depicts gay
people, some of whom are HIV+. Certainly if someone is particularly
interested in seeing a movie in the category of "films that depict gay
people, some of whom are HIV+" and he/she prefers drama to comedy, "Parting
Glances" is a good recommendation.
The two films have little else in common. They both take place in New York
City. Neither apologizes for nor avoids the homosexuality of its main
characters, as does, for example, "Philadelphia", another movie that
depicts "gay people, some of whom are HIV+". The only other thing I see
that they have in common, which I suspect you don't, is that they are both
actually capable of transcending this peculiar film category with its
limited appeal to impress a wider audience. I think people who like to
observe the universal human condition in their movies might be entertained
by either. People who like to observe the universal human condition with a
lot of laughs might actually prefer "Jeffrey".
I hope I'm not coming across as quarrelsome. You didn't like "Jeffrey" and
I can accept that. It's a matter of taste. I'm not arguing that you should
have liked this movie. I just think too much emphasis on "gay and HIV+" may
leave people with the erroneous impression that that's what this movie is
about. The author clearly learned a life's lesson in a gay community
afflicted with AIDS. It's always wise for a writer to write about what he
knows, so he did. He's a good writer, so the lesson transcends the
characters and their particular situations to become universal. He's a
witty writer, so the lesson is also fun to absorb.
If you don't like comedy, you don't like comedy. If you're not in the mood
for comedy, you're not in the mood for comedy (going to Mass first sure
would have put me off ;) ). If you don't think anything as serious as AIDS
and suffering and death ought to treated by a comedy at all, then this is a
movie to avoid.
Apparently, it's wise not to go to Mass before you see this, but by all
means, go to confession afterwards if you enjoy it. It's sinfully funny!
;) ;) ;)
John
PS: <spoiler>
Especially since the part of God is played by a toy balloon! Shocking!
Irreligious! Humanistic. Nice. Profound.
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| 898.7 | on the nail! | MAL009::RAGUCCI | Thu Aug 10 1995 23:45 | 9 | |
Right-on John!
BR
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