Customer Reviews

Boy Culture

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The acting in most gay movies is TERRIBLE, so I was pleased to stumble across Derek Magyar's performance in "Boy Culture". The character he plays is extremely sexy (mostly because he is guarded almost to the point of being completely unavailable). The character "X" is a high priced male hustler with a very select client roster. "X" appears to the outside world to be a hardened, almost heartless, shell of a human being, but the audience is privy to his innermost thoughts. Through this internal dialog, we learn that "X" is "saving himself" for someone who loves him, and has convinced himself that he is secretly in love with his roommate played by the talented young actor Darryl Stephens of LOGO's Noah's ARC. If Derek wasn't a gifted actor, the character "X" would not have been likable (and the audience wouldn't have cared what ultimately happened to him). But, because Derek IS a talented actor, with above average material that borrows from a classic play, the audience is given the opportunity to invest in what happens to "X".



The story unfolds through sexy dialog that is believable enough if the audience is willing enough to suspend belief long enough to buy into a more serious, and sexier, gay version of "Pretty Woman." If you let out a little groan at the comparison, be aware that both of these films owe a debt to George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion". While "Pretty Woman" follows a more predictable, and commercial path with the prerequisite Hollywood happy ending which owes more to "My Fair Lady" than Shaw's original play, "Boy Culture" is actually closer to the spirit of "Pygmalion". Gifted character actor Patrick Bauchau, best known for playing the character of "Sydney" for four years on the television series "The Pretender" plays Gregory Talbot, the rich "sculpture" who is intent on molding "X" into his creation. The story appears to follow predictable paths at times, but is actually more complex than what the jaded viewer may expect. Thankfully, the characters in this story often display traits of nobility that elevate them above what they appear to be if only given a cursory inspection. While this film borrows from "Pygmalion," it doesn't steal; it veers away from the known story arc to find its own path.



With sexy dialog, the conveyance of raw emotion through his eyes, and a male beauty that rivals the sexiest Titan porn stars, Derek Magyar delivers a performance that is more than worth the average ticket price (a rarity these days to be sure). He emotes a type of vulnerability without giving up his pseudo-macho hustler persona. His character establishes early on, that he is unavailable (symbolically placing his jacket on the empty seat next to him, showing that he will allow no-one to get too close). He is very acid tongued to anyone who tries to remove that "barrier" and get too close, but it is obvious he is doing this in order to protect himself from harm. He pushes people away with "humor" based in a need for self preservation. He prays often (humorously enough he owns a religious Madonna icon -the Catholic version, not the pop-star) asking for forgiveness. It is easy for the viewer to grant this forgiveness since "X" is actually a very passionate, albeit damaged, character.



If this movie were a wide release Hollywood drama with heterosexual characters, Derek's performance would be a star making role. Although this film is unlikely to become a blockbuster, hopefully it WILL eventually find the audience it deserves. It has the potential to become a gay cult classic, and audiences that discover this small film may well begin to follow this talented cast to other projects. Without spoiling the ending, I found this film to be both unapologetic and hopeful. Considering the lack of gay cinema that offers either of these outcomes, I am delighted to recommend this film. I go to movies to escape and be entertained, and I found this film to be very entertaining escape on multiple levels.

The protagonist (played by Derek Magyar) of "Boy Culture" uses the film to confess his issues to the audience, using a pseudonym, X. X worked his way through the University of Washington by prostituting himself to his dentist. After graduation, he built up a clientele of twelve customers willing to pay very high amounts for his services. (A zoom looked like $5,000/ 1 hour session; X must be very good indeed.) In order to disguise the source of his income from the IRS, X took on two roommates for zero rent each. One roommate is video store employee Andrew Thompson (played by Darryl Stephens), and the other is promiscuous eighteen-year old Joey (played by Jonathon Trent), who lives off an allowance and hasn't gone past his GED for schooling. One of X's twelve clients just died, giving him a chance to interview seventy-nine-year old penthouse-dweller Gregory Talbot (played by Patrick Bauchau) as the replacement. This is where the film starts.

X, Andrew, and Joey all want love and a better life. Inevitably a triangle formed, sometimes oriented one way, sometimes the other. In general, Joey wants X, X wants Andrew, and Andrew has sex once with Joey. Each partly expresses his love for the others, but internal issues prevent any resolutions. Gregory develops a strong, confiding relationship with X but holds back a key piece, whose revelation catalyzes the triangle. Everyone moves ahead and gets a happy next stage.

The movie "Boy Culture" is based reasonably closely on Matthew Rettenmund's 1995 book of the same name. The big changes are that the location moves from Chicago to Seattle, the story line relating to Joey's brother is gone, Andrew and his family shift from standard Midwest white folk to middle-class, Oregon-based African-Americans, and Gregory is allowed to move from disgrace to helpful uncle-figure. We learn X's real name. All of these shifts are well done and add value to the story.

The principals all have substantial skin scenes. There are club-goers, bartenders, a hilarious hook-up pantomime, and the like to provide more. It's all really hot!

All of four the principals are splendid; I look forward to seeing more of their work coming out. Of the actors of smaller parts, I thought Peyton Hinson did especially well as Andrew's former fiancée, Jill, whose marriage to a pro-football player leads Andrew and X to visit Andrew's family.

The extras are unusually good. There is a Q&A session at the Tribeca premiere with the director (Q. Allan Brocka), Magyar, Trent, and a producer present. Most valuable is that the director and the four principals each gets an approximately fifteen minute interview to discuss the film, his role, and his choices. The viewer gets to know and like these talented artists even more. There are two deleted scenes as well.

The film does an excellent job of showing the attractions and inhibitions of gay relationships and is certainly the best gay-oriented film of the year. It does so well that it is actually one of the best films of the year, period.

I liked so many things about "Boy Culture" that I had to think long and hard about giving the film only three stars (and would have been three and a half if Amazon had that feature).

Q. Allan Brooks had a limited budget and shooting schedule (not unusual for gay films). Yet "Boy Culture" has a good look, with many location shots in Seattle. Sexy Darryl Stephens' line readings are often stiff and awkward, so time for 2nd takes must have been very limited. The lack of money was most evident in the background music -- awful pretty much covers it.

The story of a high priced male escort and his two sexy roommates is always interesting, especially as the potential for a relationship between X and Andrew seems more and more possible. The 3rd roommate, barely legal Joey, is wonderful as the forever trick happy new guy in town. The theme of friends becoming lovers and then friends and finally lovers again is
done very well.

Now the major problem. A high priced male escort (one check for his very short term company was for $5,000) could not survive in Seattle with only 12 clients who want sex and little or no personal intimacy. X might find 12 clients who fit that mold in New York or Los Angeles, but not in a smaller city. Escorting requres personality and charm, which X does not possess; it is not all about sex. In fact, some of the highest priced escorts are not great in bed.

The special features provide insights into the story and the way the director approcahed the filming of a popular book. I learned quite a bit about the lead actors in their individual Q&As. The lack of a commentary makes the special features fun, but not a necessity.

Finally the film played much better in a sold out movie theater, with Darryl Stephens in the audience, than it did on home DVD. Try to watch
"Boy Culture" with 12 friends.

This movie is hilarious and sweet. The one-liners are enough to keep you laughing out loud, while the promise of love is endearing. The story is about 3 hotties Alex or X (Derek Magyar), Andrew (Darryl Stephens), and Joey (Jonathan Trent), who live with and love each other in varying degrees. X and Andrew provide the promise of love, while X and Joey remind you of a nuturing love, protecting Joey from himself. The angst is revealing yourself, so that you can be loved. All 3 hotties keep your attention away from the convoluted story (a hustler who believes in love, a man coming to terms with his sexuality, and young man looking for family) and you can't help but root for all of them in the end.

Darryl Stephens is the best of the bunch, but Derek Magyar and Jonathan Trent contribute nicely. In fact, they set up much of his amazing performance. I saw this at the theater, which made me purchase the book, which led to buying the DVD. I watched it twice, I enjoyed it so.

Do not buy this film if you are looking for anything even remotely sexually graphic: there is no full frontal nudity. However, the film is very well made with interesting characters. The story is very similar to Queer as Folk, except that the "Brian" type of character is a hustler; there is a similar under aged roommate infatuated with the main character; and there is a comparable, cool, contemporary, urban gay lifestyle. Definitely worth a look.

Oh-my-gosh, a fine gay themed movie made by real filmmakers - what a change! This excellent and touching film is well written and directed and is perfectly cast. The interpersonal relationships are funny, intriguing and convincing. Full marks.

....assic" in the making. And you know what, to become one, not everything has to be an emotional downer like the exceptional "Brokeback Mountain." The 'light romance' film category has its "Classics," too. And this film, this "Boy Culture" is so good it's almost "fairy tale-ish" (that's meant in a good way).....so different from what films usually give us about ourselves (Q. Allan Brocka: "King of Gay Filmdom").

Yes, it is a love story.....one about looking for love---a real and lasting love---and being afraid to accept it when it's found. And "X" proclaims it so simply and clearly when he first introduces us to Andrew: "That's who this is all about." (And wouldn't you, the viewer, then think that puts Andrew in an all-powerful position.....well, just wait and see).

But, enough about the story. While many other online reviewers here have already talked about story line.....plot, lets us now do some "actor digging."

First, it's got to be said that this is not one of those movies where one need only watch facial expressions, or body language, and listen to what's being said. Oh, no, in this one it's an absolute must to "watch the eyes".....you've just got to "watch the eyes." Why? Because Derek Magyar ("X") has great eyes---he can make love to you with those eyes. And did you even catch how many times his eyes had tears in them? Amazing! And while it's Darryl Stephens who has the beautiful eyes, it's Derek who has the world in his. Watch for them misting up when he knows he's been cutting and unkind to Andrew, or when at a wedding he becomes aware he's about to lose out on the only person he knows he wants / he loves. Oh, and, for the fun of it, be sure to watch closely what he does with those eyes at that point in the film where he enters their digs and sits down right against Andrew on the sofa. Just watch where those eyes "go to" (you'll be able to picture yourself having done exactly what he does). Yes, those eyes are his most devastating physical feature.....I so hope you have a large and clear enough screen to see all this. Again, he's just amazing! Am I in love? Yes, I am.

Second, what else can you say about the two young lead characters in this fairy tale of love, other than that they have "those feelings" for one another......if only they'd let themselves stop to realize it. In that exciting, near-the-end scene (which is a repeat of another love tale told in this story), when asked what he is doing, "X" replies: "Waiting for you" (going on to tell us, in voice-over: "The words haunted me"). We, the viewers, then realize, as does he, that's exactly what he has been doing throughout the entire film narrative: "Waiting for Andrew"......to accept Andrew. BUT, dear readers, whether he accomplishes that is for you to find out.

Everything in and about this production moves like the proverbial clockwork; there really are no rough spots. How Director "Q" got these levels of performance out of this "tri-pod" of, essentially, first-timers-to-movies (Magyar, Stephens and Jonathon Trent), is almost unprecedented and beyond me. To be factual, though, it is really more of a "quad-pod," when you stop to realize that our good, senior Mr. Patrick Bauchau is as much a "cast leg" of this production as any of the other three. But.....the important thing for us to note is that "Q" did draw out top notch levels of performance, and he has, indeed, given us that rarity---a gay love story that provides a "lives happily ever after." You needed that, I needed that, (Ennis and Jack needed that), we all needed that. Thank you immeasurably, Mr. Brocka, nephew of The Philippine's Lino Brocka, director of 1988's "Macho Dancer" (we know; it's in the genes, it's in the genes). I'm so looking forward to what you give us in the future. If I knew a way to invest in you, fiscally, I would.


A final thought for a specific audience segment---Isn't it interesting that any "real simulated" sex in this production (that means 'anal' for those of you wondering) is not necessarily between our young lead characters. Perhaps, instead, we Seniors out here might just get the goods---for once. Go us!!

****

This is a terrific movie. There's not a lot of action or comedy, but there is a good story, with intelligent dialogue, very professional production values, and great acting. It all came together so beautifully at the ending. Not to give anything away, but it has a great ending, not the usual bitter one so many serious gay movies feel they have to have.

I read the book this film was based on about four years ago and loathed it. Loathed it. As a matter of fact, I couldn't believe that it had been made into a film and had utterly no intention of ever watching it. Ever. But I was bored one evening so I watched the preview on Here! on Demand and it actually looked more intriguing than the book, so, with trepidation, I checked it out.

The verdict? Not bad. Not great, but such a huge improvement over the book that I couldn't help but be impressed. It tells the story of X (Derek Magyar), an exclusive call boy who earns [unrealistically] large sums of money from an elite clientele of twelve men. He shares his loft with two men, one of whom he harbors a secret crush on (Noah's Ark's Darryl Stephens), while the other, a twinkie teenaged club-kid (Jonathon Trent), has a not-so-secret crush on him. The book was brimming with cynicism and sarcasm (badly masquerading as dry wit), both of which have been toned down considerably for the film. And, mercifully, all the raunchy, ostensibly comic, moments between X and his various fetishistic johns have been eliminated entirely.

I don't care for voiceover narration, which is usually a cop-out way of telling rather than showing, but in this case maybe it can be forgiven because it's an attempt to recreate the narrative voice of the novel. But even giving it the benefit of the doubt, I still found it annoying - particularly as I didn't find the protagonist's observations to be very interesting or witty. All three leads are attractive and put in decent, if not exactly Oscar-worthy, performances. The cinematography is quite lush looking considering this was likely a low budget affair. And, if this sort of thing is important to you, there is a romantic ending.

Recommended - with caveats

This movie is actually good in addition to having an attractive cast and some male nudify (sorry - no frontal as advertised). I think the acting is solid especially by the main character, X, and the dialogs are snappy and intelligent.