Highly Overrated But Still Good

Awesome Movie

A different way of telling a story

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Straightman is the story of Jack and David and what happens to their friendship once they become roommates.This is a tough movie to watch. Not because of the subject matter, but because the acting, directing, and the writing are not up to the quality needed for a movie like this. While having some really great moments, it seemed that the director was more interested in keeping the viewer off balance with unsteady camera work.The script, if there was one, seemed to broad and too focused by strokes. Where things should have been played with a delicate hand, we were smashed over the head with info. Where we should have been given the internal dialog of a character, we are just given the outcome.The acting seemed both earnest and forced. The moments that shone are the ones where the two main characters weren't talking to each other. When they did, it felt forced and awkward.This is a movie I would have eagerly watched when it first came out. So starved for representation in movies, I would have been glad for it. Now, it just doesn't hold up to newer movies that seem to have done the same story, but better.

OK, so I decided to give this low-budget queer film an hour and forty minutes of my time. I'm always apprehensive about low-budget films, considering all the Clerks and Reservoir Dog knock-offs during the '90s...shudder! I'm happy to say Straightman is its own film, and a good film at that.Berkowitz is quite charming as David, playing him even-keeled until his back was against the wall. I thought his take on David was entirely appropriate--here's a guy who doesn't want to be seen as the good guy b/c that entails some personal responsibility in his behavior that maybe he's not equipped to handle at this point in his life. I hope I'm not off the mark there, but that was my take on him. And when I watched this scenes with Jack lamenting that his homosexuality was getting in the way of David's listening skills, I had to laugh. Jack was acting like a teenager, not realizing that David was merely treating him as a fellow guy who's getting hung up on a piece of ass...which leads me to Jack.What I loved about Jack is that he had regressed emotionally, like a teenager, after he came out. This is something many of us go through...it's like you come out in your 20s and have to experience everything your straight friends have been experiencing for ten years...so sometimes you feel a bit stunted. At least, most of my friends and I did. I really loved Redgrave's performance--from coming out to his mom via phone to freaking out over his lover being seen with a new man. From a personal standpoint, you do tend to be a bit possessive of your first, b/c at the time you're sold on the idea of "one person, the one, for life..." I suffered for a few years believing that myth, and essentially, it has been a heterosexual myth that a lot of gays have adopted in an attempt to feel "normal." I'm not surprised to see that the script won a prize at Outfest--not an easy achievement. I recommend the film, as it's one of the few gay movies that seems real to me, not forced, campy or silly in any way. Yes it's a bit rough, tight shooting spaces, minor sound issues here and there--hey, it's an Indie! Berkowitz should be proud of this film, and if you like queer stories that don't stereotype or have a soundtrack by La Bouche, rent this film and SUPPORT YOUR INDIE ARTISTS!

I don't usually skip ahead in movies, but had to do it with this one. Was thanking my dvd remote for that option! Not entirely bad, just overall boring. Ben Redgrave is white trash "eye candy". The homo sex scenes are very erotic. The straight sex scenes were like watching a Ron Jeremy movie. Yuck! A nice attempt for film production. Will be looking for more movies by this novice team. If they can pull it together, lot's of potential.

At first I thought this film had doubts to it, by the almost documentary presentation of its camera work. But after awhile I got hooked into the lives of the two leading men. This small gem of a film was written and starred Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave and was directed by Ben Berkowitz. Not a bad attempt on doing it all. I especially liked both male leads in this. Redgrave as the gay coming out of the closet guy and Berkowitz as his "straight man" friend.We watch how their relationship changes along the way when Redgrave confesses to his friend his secret gay lifestyle. I liked the way Berkowitz reacted to what he heard. It seemed natural and quite real. If only others could take the same example in the "straight world" and have as much understanding and acceptance.You have compassion for the characters and like where they are coming from. This praise goes to the writing and the performances. And Redgrave is gorgeous! Hard to believe that anyone wouldn't want him for a lover. As the two friends go their own ways, you feel a sense of sadness that they couldn't find a way to live their lives together.Congratulations on a sleeper of a film with excellent performances and direction.