Customer Reviews

Grief

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"Grief" is Richard Glatzer's ode to working for several years on the "Divorce Court" TV show. In this humorous and cock-eyed vision of tabloid television, the show is called "The Love Judge". Most of the action take place in the production office, showing the inter-relations between the staff and the underlying tensions of lust, sex and death which surrounds them. Craig Chester, Lucy Gutteridge, Illeana Douglas, the incredible Jackie Beat, Carlton Wilborn and Alexis Arquette form the nucleus of the story line.

Cleverly juxtaposing the action are clips from "The Love Judge" with character actor Mickey Cottrell sitting behind the gavel. These vignettes are not only camp classics in themselves (based on actual "Divorce Court" story lines) but they serve as counterpoint to the actions within the production office.

I know this because I appear in the first "Love Judge" vignette. I play schizophrenic opera diva Beverly Frattelli, who is being sued for gross infidelity by her gorgeous husband (unfortunately, cut from the final print.) However, Beverly has a slutty alter-ego named Ginger (who inexplicably has an Italian accent!) who emerges in court to defend herself!

Made on a shoestring budget, "Grief" is a low-impact look with sadness and wit at life, love, death and AIDS in the 1990's.

Recently released for the first time on DVD, the 1994 dark comedy "Grief" stars Alexis Arquette, Jackie Beat, Craig Chester and Illeana Douglas as the creative team behind a sleazy TV soap called "The Love Judge". Chester plays Mark, the show's head writer, a gay man who goes into depression on the 19th of each month (the anniversary of his lover's death to AIDS). His co-workers include his best friend Jeremy (Carlton Wilborne) and young sexy Bill (Arquette), who is always talking about his girlfriend but still flirts openly with his male co-workers. Their boss and "den mother" of sorts is Jo (played deadpan by draq queen Jackie Beat), whose assistant Leslie (Douglas) counts the minutes until she can sell a screenplay she is writing and quit her job. They get involved in impossible work deadlines, homophobic office politics from above, a secret affair and resulting jealousy, and competition for Jo's job when she announces she is leaving to marry her boyfriend in Prague.

Believeable, fleshed-out characters in a setting that is just crazy enough to make it credible. It's not much of a story, but you feel you know the characters and root for them to overcome their personal demons, whatever they may be. You also get peeks at their TV show, which is a wild satirical take on "Divorce Court"-type shows. Overall, a positive message about friendship and loyalty, in a business where usually it's "everyone for himself."

The film is a ten year old low-budget indie, and looks it. The photography is lacking in spots, but the story and acting makes it worth while. Nominated for prizes at the 1994 Sundance festival and at a couple of gay film festivals.

I was amazed to find only one review of this movie. I first saw "Grief" on TV a few years back and I have a real fondness for it. Although I've heard it labelled a "post-AIDS gay flick", it is really so much more. Due to a tight script and some great performances (namely Jackie Beat and Illeana Douglas) you can't help but get sucked into the sleazy world of tabloid TV where the extremely likeable characters work on an early "Judge Judy" protoype. As the main character deals with the recent death of his boyfriend and the stresses of working in no-budget TV we gain insight into life and love in the 1990s. I don't want to give too much away about this movie as I feel if you watch it without any prior knowledge (like I did) you'll experience something quite wonderful. I liken the attitude and general feel of "Grief" to that of "the Opposite of Sex" and think they are both smart and excellent.

This movie to me is more to the tune of "The Boys in the Band" and other EARLY gay films that focuses on the gay lifestyle, "flaming style" in the big city. I'm still trying to figure out why I wanted to see this one. I think I must have bought it by accident. Nevertheless, it is a spoof about a group of very openly gay and lesbian people working on the staff of a crazy flamboyant TV soap Opera. It showcases their relationships, lust and personality traits. It is ok if you are into films of this nature. Not really my cup of tea but it did hold my attention enough that I didn't want to turn it off without seeing the whole thing. Perhaps that was in the hopes something would show up later in the film to take away the disappointment. I don't know. An indy film, thus quality is not expected to be at Hollywood status and of course wasn't. Not bad all in all if you like this type of production. Be sure to read to description carefully so you know what you're getting.

This was a really "cute" film. I wasn't expecting much, so was pleasantly surprised to find good acting, good plot, laugh-out-loud lines, good-looking actors (male & female), and a "message." Don't overlook this sleeper. Needs a different title though.