World and Time Enough

Rating:
Summary: Flawed but worthwhile
Review: This is a believeable, well-acted romantic drama. There's nothing as grand and all-encompassing as the title, just the story of two young men deeply in love, coping with money and family problems while working to stay together. That's about all, but it's enough. The two leads (Mark Gruindy and Gregory Giles) are appealing and believeable, and the low budget actually helps the film. The only significant flaw is the REALLY annoying narrator. He's only a minor player in the story, so why have him introduce the story? But other criticisms of the film are trivial. It's true that the Mark Gruindy character is exasperating in his self-richeous, I'm-A-Victim attitude. But there are a lot of professional activists im the community like him. Gregory Giles's character is too good to be true, but that's typical of movie romances. As for the characters being too handsome, so what? If you want to see a heartfelt, realistic romance and cheer on a couple to stay together, this may be worth your while.

Rating:
Summary: heartfelt and honest
Review: This magical and mystical little Minneapolis-based film is basically about two cute (but not 'Hollywood perfect'), quirky guys who fall in love at first sight (much to the pretend annoyance of their friend, the catty narrator who propels the story). They struggle with all the problems of life: living together; the death of parents; coming out; homophobia from family, peers, and workplace; their future. Matt Guidry and Gregory G. Giles could not be more perfect, and loving, in their portrayals and Mark (an HIV+ artist) and Joey (a garbage collector who sees art and beauty in what is 'junk' to others). Mark's cynicism softens in the light of Joey's loving, giving nature and they complement one another perfectly. But their story is far from maudlin. It is gritty and real, and they both have demons. But Mark and Joey also have each other, and their sweet story is just about as lovely, intelligent (with homages to Gregg Araki's The Living End and Hamlet), and warm as any on screen. A bright, shining little gem.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Fresh
Review: What's interesting about this film is if you look at in the context of how gay cinema changed throughout the 1990s. Until "Parting Glances" came along 15 years ago, there was really no example of gay cinema that showed gay men as they truly exist in real life: fleshed-out characters with regular wants and desires. "World and Time Enough" is best seen as a steppingstone in gay film history. It was made before the explosion of gay films that happened in the late 1990s.

While the film definitely has problems story-wise, and it was clearly made on a very tight budget, the two main characters portray a tenderness and honesty that captures real-life relationships. And that's something you don't see even now in this "Will and Grace" age. Definitely worth seeing.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Fresh
Review: What's interesting about this film is if you look at in the context of how gay cinema changed throughout the 1990s. Until "Parting Glances" came along 15 years ago, there was really no example of gay cinema that showed gay men as they truly exist in real life: fleshed-out characters with regular wants and desires. "World and Time Enough" is best seen as a steppingstone in gay film history. It was made before the explosion of gay films that happened in the late 1990s.

While the film definitely has problems story-wise, and it was clearly made on a very tight budget, the two main characters portray a tenderness and honesty that captures real-life relationships. And that's something you don't see even now in this "Will and Grace" age. Definitely worth seeing.

Rating:
Summary: Enough is Enough!
Review: With most movies I try to attach myself to the moving plot that takes you from beginning to end. In this very low-budgeted offering, I asked myself several times, "what is this about! " The story is very weak in it's point. The trouble begins with an annoying narrator. A stereotypical flamboyant preppie nerd who also doubles as close freind to the lead character. Mark, our lead, an HIV-positive artist, seems to search for his own meaning to the film thoughout it. Joey, his lover, is the adopted son to unaccepting parents with whom he comes out to in the presence of his new boyfriend Mark. Both actors, equally attractive, never seem to make us believe that there is any true love strong enough to make a 90's gay relationship last more than the running time of this film. The box is beautiful. The title is inspiring. What you hold in your hands after the purchase is the only good thing about the whole deal. To those out there, and I know you are, this film, if it were rated, would be of broadcast television standards. Translation: no nudity, nothing graphic, maybe three harsh words throughout.

Rating:
Summary: A good, likable gay indie
Review: World and Time Enough is surprisingly good. For once, here is a down-to-earth, simple, everyday gay couple with their own fair share of idiosyncrasies. What makes the film so enjoyable are the little details: Mark's t-shirts, Joey's aversion to food with seeds and bones, their little in-jokes, secret phrases, morning rituals, and a sweet discussion about cheetah farms. As each of the men tackle their own private crises---Mark his preoccupation with his own mortality, Joey, his search for his birthparents--- there's never an overwhelming sense of great tragedy or unbearable grief. Just two people trying to figure out the questions. All in all, a good film.