Customer Reviews

Jeffrey [VHS]

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The professional reviewer missed the main point of Jeffrey's dilemma. He's not so afraid of getting AIDS; he's afraid of falling in love with a man who then dies of it. Most people figure a 50% chance of dying before their spouse; but taking on a person with a known, fatal disease throws those odds way out of kilter and creates a desperate, poignant situation.

Steve Weber is no gayer than George Bush but he certainly is an enthusiastic kisser. This was the first film I saw Michael Weiss in and he totally had me convinced he was gay. I knew Patrick Stewart isn't, but his performance is dead on.

Overall, a very funny movie with a big, big heart.

I laughed at some of the negative reviews posted on here for this movie. This is a Paul Rudnik movie - He wrote "In & Out" "Adams Family Values" etc - this is not supposed to be "Longtime Companion" kids!

He tackles these topics from a "Neil Simon" point of view. Meaning wisecracks leading to the serious subjects. This is a COMEDY first and second tackles the issues of intimacy in the age of AIDS.

The performances are wonderful. Especially Patrick Stewart who should have been nominated for an Oscar. Steven Weber is adorable and Michal T Weiss is so hot he almost melts the film.

I highly recommend this very funny movie with a point. Plus I like romantic movies about ADULT gay men. You hardly see them. It's always a coming out story about young boys. That was done in an excellent way with 'beautiful thing' but move on gay filmmakers. Adult men deserve their love stories too.

Don't let the gay storyline keep you from seeing this video. Although a couple scenes may be too graphic for some, the humor in the opening scenes helps get almost any viewer involoved in the story, which, by the end of the movie, will have you rooting for Jeffrey and Steve. And several of the scenes do appeal to the female viewers. Jeffrey (Steven Weber) is confused and afraid when having to deal with AIDS on a personal level, and Steve (Michael T. Weiss) is lonely and angry, and craves the meaningful relationship we all want and deserve. The well-known cast is impressive, and deserves a round of applause for making us all more aware of the devastating affects of the AIDS crisis on human relationships, and for reminding us that being HIV+ does not make a person any less of a person.

When this movie was originally released by Orion pictures, the gay and lesbian community flocked to see Steven Webber, Patrick Stewart, Olympia Dukakis and Michael T. Weiss, among the other star studded cast each play a part in this rendition of Paul Rudnick's novel & play of the same name. The movie is much brighter and upbeat than the book. It is a great movie about life in the AIDS epidemic. I recommend this movie to anyone and everyone.

This offbeat comedy about the trials of life as a single gay man will have you laughing until it hurts, whether or not you're part of the gay scene. Side-splitting daydream sequences in Jeffrey's mind give the entire thing a surreal feel, and Patrick Steward (Star Trek TNG's Captain Picard) as a lisping, leopard-skin-clad interior decorator is a sight that nobody should miss. Cleverly written, well choreographed, fast-paced, light-hearted, and very, very, VERY funny. Homofiles and homophobes alike should watch this movie.

Not having seen the off-Broadway original stage version, I have no basis for comparing the film rendition. But if the stage version was "hilarious" and "a riot," as the blurbs on the dust jacket proclaim, the film is none of these things--but it is a superb work of art nevertheless and arguably more so. Jeffrey is the very troubling story of the tension and the choice between risk and misery. Jeffrey (Steven Weber), a gay man in mid-1990's New York City, at the height of the AIDS crisis and before the widespread use of the protease inhibitors and antiretrovirals that have made HIV infection a more-or-less manageable chronic condition rather than a guaranteed death sentence, decides to forgo sex in order to avoid becoming infected. However, his resolve is tested when he almost immediately makes the acquaintance of a handsome man in his gym (Steve Howard [Michael T. Weiss]), who is deeply attracted to him but whom he rebuffs systematically for fear of getting infected. Jeffrey does not know at this point that Steve is HIV-positive, but it is almost irrelevant because he refuses to get involved with any man for fear of becoming infected. Yet, he continues to run into Steve at various events which at least on the surface tie them together as members of New York City's gay community. While there comes a point, at the goading of his good friends, at which Jeffrey agrees to have dinner with Steve, the possibility of a relationship disappears when Jeffrey does learn about Steve's HIV status. But, as with many scenes in which he runs away from the risk of sex to avoid a premature death, he then faces mortality in some other form: being nearly run over by a taxi, getting bashed by a New York street gang, facing the unlistening, nasty world of secular evangelists, game show hosts, and mindless news reporters that nearly drives him to a nervous breakdown for failing to provide an answer to his predicament. Still, because he is at bottom a decent person despite his selfishness and consistent lying, he has guides (Sterling the decorator, Darius the dancer from Cats, Mother Teresa) who point out to him at various points along the way that his compulsive flight from the risks of sex, in order to avoid an early death, is a kind of death in itself as is all compulsive avoidance of joy in a life that is perilous and short whether one has AIDS or not. Nathan Lane, though a lascivious priest who tries to bed him down, finally imparts the kernel of wisdom that will ultimately turn the tide for Jeffrey, since he teaches him that life is and always will be miserable, and that Jeffrey therefore needs to seize any chance of happiness that presents itself, since ultimately what saves the world from collapse is not a divine being but the goodness that is present in people, which implicitly is reflected in the goodness and decency of Steve, who loves Jeffrey despite his constant rebuffs. The story takes a crucial turn with the death of Darius, who comes back from the dead to tell Jeffrey that he should not let his fear of AIDS turn into a fear of living, an option that Darius himself no longer has. If Jeffrey is alive, Darius tells him, he should prove it by enjoying life. At the same time, Sterling scolds Jeffrey upon Darius's death and tells him something unexpected: That he should indeed go through the pain of losing a loved one--which some day might be Steve-- because, by implication, that loss would demonstrate just how precious life is, which is more valuable than the living death that Jeffrey has chosen in his over-protective, supervigilant renunciation of sex. Jeffrey has been fleeing the one thing he really needs and could have, a relationship with a man who loves him and a man whom he can and should love. This message, offered when Sterling casts Jeffrey away in disgust for offering himself only in death and not in life, finally hits home, and Jeffrey realizes that life is all the more precious when that which is most valuable in it is subject to loss--which really is the chief insight of this story. Far from being a comedy, despite the obligatory gay caricatures throughout, "Jeffrey" is a profound and very sad story because Steve's love for Jeffrey is deep and genuine, and the way it is rebuffed by Jeffrey's instinctive selfishness (and Steve's palpably devastated but always mature reactions to this selfishness), shows how stellar Michael T. Weiss's performance really is. This gorgeous man is one of the undersung heroes of American film. He hits every scene with exactly the right note. In the end, his decency, goodness, and understanding of love triumph over Jeffrey's compulsiveness, paranoia, and fear.

Jeffrey follows a very predictable plot - a 'thirtysomething' gay man is jaded and confused by dating and sex in an era of HIV and emotional distancing. He meets a wonderful guy who is HIV positive and becomes scared and runs away. We then see him work through his issues to eventually become reunited with HIV positive guy. Hhhmmm, certainly sounds like a terrible Hollywood cookie-cutter plot so far.....

But what makes this movie special is the low budget nature and the use of 'arthouse' style tricks. Yes, every conceivable trick is employed here - artsy fade outs, character narrative (including direct to camera whilst other actors are frozen), dream sequences and an almost cartoonish quality to the performances. So if you're like me and adore the forementioned arthouse style of film making, this movie is a must see!

Whilst the overall plot may indeed be predictable, the journey to the end is filled with many wonderful moments. We have over the top characters providing hilarious comedy which is contrasted nicely to unexpected moments of raw emotion leading to an emotional rollercoaster of a movie.

Two actors particularly stand out in this movie. Michael T Weiss (from TV's The Pretender and Days of Our Lives ) excels as the HIV positive gay man who thinks he has found someone special in Jeffrey. He really delves deep into the character to deliver a wonderful three dimensional performance of a gay man who is looking for love. Patrick Stewart (well known for his role in Star Trek) plays a flamboyant, over the top, quick witted older gay man to perfection here. Just when you think his role is completely 1 dimensional, we also see a more human side to him.

A special mention must also be made of the numerous cameos made by well know Hollywood actors throughout the movie. Most of their apprearances may be brief, but they all sink their teeth into their respective roles to give us something extra special. Though I won't spoil it for you and tell you who they are....

The predictable plot not withstanding, this movie is a very enjoyable journey through the struggles of gay men during an era of HIV and emotional distancing. The 'arthouse' gimmickry employed may not be appreciated by those who are used the standard Hollywood fare, but for those of us who enjoy thought and experimentation in our movies, Jeffrey will leave you with that wonderful 'goosebump' feeling.....

Some of us remember what it was like "coming of age" in the mid 1980s when everyone was terrified of HIV/AIDS, and coming to terms with whether we were going to let our fear ruin our enjoyment of sex and intimacy was not a small thing. This was the first movie I ever saw that acknowledged this, and managed to laugh a loud, hearty laugh.



Steven Weber is a gay man who is tired of having sex ruined by "safe". He loves sex, but all of the preparations have spoiled the enjoyment and he swears off sex forever. Since the Gods like a good laugh, they put Steve (Michael T. Weiss) in his path and you can see the sparks flying from the moment they meet. But this temptation does not convince our hero to give up his no-sex lifestyle, that job belongs to Sterling & Darius (Patrick Stewart and Bryan Batt).



Of course Steve is HIV+ which completely freaks out Jeffrey. And why shouldn't it? This was every gay man's fear at the time and a not-insubstantial fear in the straight community too. Jeffrey comes to terms with the fact he has let his fear not only ruin his life, but made him act like a jerk to everyone around him. Finally coming to terms with his fear and seeing that it is ruling his life, Jeffrey makes a decision to face his fears and continue living ... and loving.

Don't know what it was about the film, but I just couldn't stop watching it. Within a span of 5 days, I saw the movie almost 10 times (on video, of course).

Steven Weber wasn't bad at all, though there are times when he seemed superficial and of need of some acting pointers. There are times when he overacted, and other times when feelings that should have come through did not. Otherwise, Weber is pretty good (especially in the kissing scenes).

I have to give it to Patrick Stewart: he was great in this film. His ability to portray Sterling as this particular gay guy was great. Overall, his acting was excellent.

And Weiss was sexy in this movie.

Overall, the film was well worth watching.

Do you remember when Gay meant "Happy"? Well the Gay and Lesbian community has taken a lot of comic slaps and personal tragedy over the last 20 years. Jeffery is a good example of how, with all the problems, threats and diseases, we can all be kind and learn to see the humor in life.

Jeffrey was a Broadway play that went to the big screen with a low budget. Really low budget. All the actors in here came together for basic "scale" for payment to convey the message of hope and love in a world of fear and hate.

The cast is to large to mention everyone, but stand-out performances are as follows - Patrick Stewart, Kathy Najimy, Olympia Dukaksa, Sigorny Weaver and with all that has been going on with the Catholic Church theses days, a performance by Nathan Lane that will have you in tears.

Keep in mind this movie is blunt, direct and holds no punches. It's a comedy about love, life and Aides. A really refreshing point of view and you'll love it.