fatbuddhadvd Reviews

The Journey of Jared Price (2000)

Thank goodness he got better

[5/10 · 24 October 2010]

I have been harsh in my scoring of this film because I know it couldn't have been easy to make for the money but what lacks here to satisfy the viewer is a comprehensively decent narrative. This film stands as a record of gay film making in 2001 and yet sadly and portentously has given birth to a plethora of US gay titles that probably saw this film as the ceiling of what could be achieved for gay film and that other film makers have chosen to poorly copy or make less inspiring or aspirant films.

That said obviously it was a good lesson for the writer/director - he went on to win an Oscar for a film that did break through that glass ceiling (but let us hope that this was not just down to a much bigger budget by several degrees of magnitude nor solely because of a great cast or director because gay film in 2010 and beyond needs to get better and reach further.)

With the knowledge that Dustin went onto write and win that Oscar for MILK and looking at this film I wonder if it isn't more autobiographical than we think? Ten out of ten for progressing on from this first stab at a film, it was a valiant effort but just not enough for me to fully embrace it. But essentially thanks Dustin for persevering and writing MILK. Oh and my god you're good looking!

Shank (2009)

awesome debut

[10/10 · 30 December 2009]

An awesome debut from writer/director team behind SHANK. A shockingly challenging and provocative film....as impactful in it's content as Beautiful Thing was in it's day. This film pushes boundaries and squares up to the realities of being gay in the 21st Century. It says as much about what has changed as it does about what hasn't and it's powerful multi-layered and clever script reaches out to a far wider audience than just the gay community. This really does have a socio/economic/realist vein to it that pulses with an energy that will grab your attention and shock your senses whilst at the same time refreshing you with the delights and the beauty of the first flush of love.

Excellent award winning film. Under valued by the star ratings that it's received - this is a deserving 8 to 10 out of 10 film in my book.

Summer (2006)

the producer should have known better

[1/10 · 7 July 2009]

This film lacks the experienced hand of a good producer to steer it away from being a tired and hackneyed 9 minute exploration on the well worn subject of coming out to a mate. A dedicated and ambitious producer would have spent more time developing this script into something more interesting.

Whilst the director's composition of shots and choice of angles is appealing and shows promise he couldhave benefited from a more mature and adventurous producer's input on the narrative and guidance on the film's intentions. That the director has not gone on to do another larger project might have more to do with the producer's failings and less to do with the director's promise.

The cinematography deserves credit for capturing a still calm from the atmosphere of the woodland scenes.