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38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Admirable First Film, December 31, 2004
200 AMERICAN has many good things going for it, especially as a first film, made on a very low budget: the story is solid (written by Director Richard LeMay, the character development is good, and the acting is for the most part excellent. There are flaws (some of the worse editing ever attempted, a musical score that is inappropriate at best, and some evidence of shortcuts in the flow of the story that are jarring), but for the most part this film has a rather sophisticated appearance.
Conrad (Matt Walton) is an Ad Executive who has been deserted by his lover for being "controlling" and on a bored evening he decides to find sensual pleasure without emotional commitment via a hustler service, the hustler turning out to be one "Tyler" (Sean Matic whose actual name is Ian). Conrad beds Tyler, finds an attraction, discovers through questioning that "Tyler" says he is a straight man, newly immigrated from Australia, who is forced into hustling as the only means available to him for making enough money to marry his girlfriend! Conrad befriends him by giving him a job as an assistant to the photographer in his agency and there begin the problems of mistaken identities. Conrad's art director Michael eventually falls for Ian and the truth about Ian's hustling background is made clear in a way that impacts all of the characters in the drama.
The sensitivity in the film is the obvious need for people to be truthful in their relationships - at every level from acquaintance to commitment. Each of the characters is shown to be needy, to have dark sides, and capable of change. They are also likeable guys who just want to be happy.
For a film about gay relationships 200 AMERICAN is a positive lesson. Director LeMay tells his story with a minimum of on screen sexual acting out - to a degree that the animal appeal of the characters is minimized and that harms the film. But with solid actors with good screen presence and a script that for the most part minimizes cliches, this is a film worth watching. Grady Harp, December 2004
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29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A well-made film, with a low budget but a lot of heart.., December 21, 2004
This is a well-done story of an Australian hustler in New York, and his involvement with an American advertising executive. A heart-warming script by producer and director Richard LeMay and outstanding performances by a cast of talented actors make this movie a real winner. It was made on a shoestring with "no budget," but the film nonetheless achieves the glossy look of a slick production that belies its low budget. This charming movie is a perfect example of what can be achieved with almost no money but with a great deal of talent and creativity. It's definitely worth a look.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
What would you pay for a life-changing night?, August 3, 2005
This is an adorable movie. It's low-budget and the acting is not
spectacular, but nevertheless, it's a cute story with sexy characters and an impressive, unique plot.
Conrad is a successful, attractive man recently heart-broken. Venturing into the unknown, he hires a sex worker for the night. As it turns out, his hired man, Ian, is quite the catch -- a young, charming, sexy Australian trying to save money to stay in the country. Soon enough, Ian is in Conrad's life every day, though not as you may think.
As Ian moves into Conrad's social life, everyone's issues come to the surface. Love stories unfold and redevelop, problems at home collide with life at work, the truth behind Ian's need to do sex work comes out, and everyone is in for a wake-up call about life and what they need.
Basically, it's genuine, it's cute and charming, and it deals with real-life problems, most of which just happen to be gay, a definite plus in my book. So give its budget a break and sit back and enjoy a film well-worth seeing.
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