Sexy, smartly wrten, and terrifilly acted-- a sort of gay "Before Sunrise"
Contents:
REVIEW: "WEEKEND" IS A GAY RELATNSHIP DRAMA WORTH WAG {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY BRENT HARTGERMARCH 15, 2011/3:02 PMBY BRENT HARTGERMARCH 15, 2011 / 3:02 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"REVIEW: \"WEEKEND\" IS A GAY RELATNSHIP DRAMA WORTH WAG FOR","DATEPUBLISHED":"2011-03-15T19:02:28.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2011-03-15T19:02:28.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BRENT HARTGER","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TOM CULLEN (LEFT) AND CHRIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT SOME POT ALMOST EVERY FE ARTIST'S REER, HE OR SHE WILL PAT A BOWL OF U. MOST OF THOSE PATGS WILL BE MEDCRE AT BT, BUT SOME WILL BE EXTRAORDARY. WHY? IT ALL DOWN TO EXECUTN, OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A STORY WHERE TWO STRANGERS MEET AND VELOP A LOVE AFFAIR OVER THE URSE OF A SGLE WEEKEND? THIS IS THE "BOWL OF U" OF MOVIE PLOTS. IT'S BEEN DONE SO MANY TIM THAT THERE'S NOTHG PARTICULARLY NOVEL OR GIMMICKY ABOUT THE STORY SELF THAT WILL DRAW VIEWERS TO THE MOVIE: WHETHER THE FILM-GOG EXPERIENCE IS SATISFYG WILL ULTIMATELY PEND ENTIRELY ON EXECUTN. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FORTUNATELY, THE SE OF THE NEW UK MOVIE WEEKEND, HAVG S BUT THIS WEEK AT THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWT FILM FTIVAL, THE EXECUTN IS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHY, SELF-NSC RSELL HAS A MOST, UNASSUMG LIFE NOTTGHAM, ENGLAND; HIS MOSTLY STRAIGHT IENDS DON'T ASK ABOUT HIS LIFE AS A GAY MAN, AND HE DON'T TELL. ONE FRIDAY NIGHT, AFTER SPENDG TIME WH THEM, HE VISS A GAY BAR WHERE HE MEETS A BRASH, OUTSPOKEN ARTIST NAMED GLEN. WHAT STARTS OUT AS A DNKEN AND DG-FUELED ONE-NIGHT STAND, SOON BE SOMETHG MORE AS THEY'RE CLEARLY DRAWN TO EACH OTHER OVER THE URSE OF THAT SGLE WEEKEND, EVEN AS THEY RENT THE ASSUMPTNS THAT EACH MAK ABOUT THE OTHER'S LIFE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SOON WE LEARN SOMETHG THAT MAK BOTH CHARACTERS THK THEY N'T POSSIBLY HAVE MUCH OF A FUTURE TOGETHER. "I DON'T DO BOYIENDS," GLEN SAYS, AND HE LATER ADDS, "I DON'T DO GOODBY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT NEHER RSELL NOR GLEN IS EXACTLY WHAT HE SEEMED AT FIRST GLANCE — OR MAYBE THE PRENCE OF THE OTHER MAN HAS CHANGED HIM: SUDNLY, RSELL HAS MUCH MORE NFINCE, WHILE GLEN DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. SO HOW DO YOU EVEN SAY GOODBYE (OR NOT) TO SOMEONE WHO HAS HELPED YOU SEE THE WORLD, AND YOURSELF, AN ENTIRELY NEW LIGHT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DPE THE SIARI, 'S NOT FAIR TO LL WEEKEND "BEFORE SUNRISE FOR GAY MEN." STILL, LIKE THAT OTHER DIE MOVIE, THIS IS A CHARACTER-DRIVEN STORY THAT RIS OR FALLS ENTIRELY ON THE WRG A SERI OF A REVEALG DIALOGU, AND THE PERFORMANC OF THE TWO LEADS, TOM CULLEN (AS RSELL) AND CHRIS NEW (AS GLEN).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I N'T HELP BUT PARE TO ANOTHER RECENT GAY DIE FILM, THE U.S. FILM ROLE/PLAY, WH A SIAR PLOT WHERE TWO MEN MEET AND SPEND A WEEKEND AT A GAY BED AND BREAKFAST. BUT WHEREAS THAT FILM, THE CHARACTERS SERVE AS THLY-VEILED MOUTHPIEC FOR THE OBV OPNS OF THE WRER-DIRECTOR, HERE THE CHARACTERS ARE ALMOST BREATHTAKGLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INED, THIS CEPTIVELY SIMPLE SCRIPT IS MUCH MORE THAN JT A SERI OF TERTG DIALOGU. THERE'S A PERFECTLY NSTCTED SCENE WHERE THE TWO TAKE ON THE AGE-OLD GAY ARGUMENT ABOUT MARRIAGE, ABOUT WHETHER TWO MEN GETTG MARRIED IS EHER SELLG OUT TO THE HETEROSEXUAL MAJORY OR PLETELY SUBVERTG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT WATCH REFULLY: THE ARGUMENT STARTS OUT GENERAL TERMS AND ABSTRACT NCEPTS, BUT BY THE END, REALLY ULDN'T BE MORE PERSONAL. IT'S SIMPLY GREAT DRAMATIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHILE THE PLOT SOMETIM SEEMS RELS AND MEANRG, I'D SAY 'S ACTUALLY PRETTY DISCIPLED. NOTE HOW, BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND, RSELL AND GLEN HAVE PLETELY CHANGED ROL: SEE HOW RSELL NOW RPONDS TO HOMOPHOBIC THUGS, AND WHETHER GLEN NOW DO BOTH "BOYIENDS" AND "GOODBY." RSELL AND GLEN ARE EACH EXACTLY WHAT THE OTHER NEED, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INCINTALLY, WHILE NEHER CULLEN NOR NEW IS CLASSILLY HANDSOME, BOTH ARE EXTRAORDARILY SEXY — PART BEE WRER-DIRECTOR ANDREW HAIGH HAS GIVEN THEM SUCH GREAT ROL WHICH THEY'VE PORTRAYED WH SUCH TELLIGENCE AND SIGHT. IN SHORT, THE ARE FOLKS WE REGNIZE AND FELY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT. WE FALL LOVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SPEAKG OF HAIGH, TERVIEWS HE'S SAID THAT PART OF THE SPIRATN FOR THIS MOVIE WAS THAT SOMETIM SEEMED TO HIM LIKE THE ONLY ASPECTS OF THE GAY EXPERIENCE WORTH TELLG ON FILM WERE G OUT OR REPRSED LOVE. INSTEAD, WEEKEND TAK ON A MUCH MORE SUBTLE, BUT ALSO ULTIMATELY MUCH MORE TERTG (AND, FOR MOST OF , MUCH MORE RELEVANT), TOPIC: HOW DO GAY MEN 2011, AN ERA OF MOSTLY-TOLERANCE BUT ALSO LGERG ANGER AND SHAME, MAKE A RELATNSHIP WORK?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PROBLEMS WH THE FILM? IT STARTS TOO SLOW, AND SOMETIM THE PACE IS A LTLE TOO LAZY. ONCE WE ENGAGE WH THE CHARACTERS, 'S VERY EASY TO GO ALONG FOR THE RI, BUT TAK A LTLE LONG TO GET {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THIS IS A QUIBBLE. WEEKEND MAY NOT BE A "MASTERPIECE" EXACTLY, BUT 'S ONE TERRIFILLY PATED BOWL OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE TRAILER FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
* living for the weekend gay series *
Brad’s first foray to the world of gay datg quickly turns to obssn, wh the film playg out largely on smartphone and puter screens years before the panmic ma ol.