Trick

Rating:
Summary: Fun!
Review: It's funny. Often. Also interesting. It's a kind of "day in the life of movie".. It takes you through very diverse scenes and predicaments. It keeps moving along at a nice and unpredictable pace. It's not a kids movie for sure but it leaves you with a good feeling. It's fun, It definately deserves 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Trick or treat
Review: This is a film that even most of my gay friends haven't seen. It didn't make it to the major theatrical release, playing at "art" theaters in this area, and by "art" I really mean art, not the other meaning!

This is an interesting little film that stars essentially unknown people, who have largely remained unknown in front of the camera, although their acting and good looks might speak otherwise. The only person you might know generally is Tori Spelling, yes, that Tori Spelling formerly of the 90210 zip code. She is an essentially but secondary figure in the piece.

The main character is Gabriel, played by the very cute Christian Campbell, brother of the more famous actress Neve Campbell. He is an aspiring composer who wants to compose and produce the kind of campy Broadway musical that really doesn't fly any more. He shares a one-room flat, several-floor walk-up in the Village, an artsy, gay area of New York City, but this flat, shared with a straight roommate, is probably no more than 300 square feet, just enough room for the piano, a bed, and whenever there's company, the other roommate has to leave.

Gabriel's real job is a low-level paper-pusher in an office. After work, he goes to his composer-music support group class, and his friend Katherine (Spelling) is helping him by performing the piece he has composed, a not-very-good song called "Enter You," for which Gabriel hasn't even finished the lyrics.

After this class, he stops by a bar for happy hour and sees a gorgeous male dancer, Mark, played by John Paul Pitoc. He runs into him later on the subway, and invites Mark home. When they get home, Katherine is already there using Gabriel's computer to run 100 resumes. Gabriel gets impatient to spend time with Mark, and edges Katherine out. Just as things are about to get steamy, Gabriel's roommate Rich comes home, with his girlfriend just home from France.

Mark and Gabriel leave, in search of another place to comsummate their meeting. They run into Gabriel's friend Perry from music class who offers his apartment, only to have to take back the offer when his ex-boyfriend shows up unexpectedly. Mark then takes Gabriel to another dance bar, where Gabriel is accosted by the drag queen Miss Coco Peru - who really is a drag queen in real life with the name Miss Coco Perus. Gabriel leaves in a hurry; one thing leads to another. You get the picture. The whole film is one disaster after another of their attempts to be alone. Will they ever make it?

There are a few musical numbers. Tori Spelling's piece is a monument of a so-so actress trying to play a bad actress, and in this she does rather well! Christian Campbell as Gabriel sings one of his pieces, showing off for Mark, but it really isn't a musical number. The friend from music class, Perry, sings a night-club song, but this again isn't really a musical number. So the idea of the musical that isn't going to work is sort of built in to the film itself.

The soundtrack has some good late disco-type songs, including one remake of the 70s song "Dreamweaver" redone to a disco beat by Erin Hamilton, daughter of Carol Burnett.

There is still a website dedicated to the film run by Fine Line on their website. This is a fun little romp through a night in New York City. I can remember such things in my life. Alas, the guys were never so cute, and the ending never quite the same, but never mind. I can dream.


Rating:
Summary: Must See! Even if you are not gay!
Review: How often have I been disappointed by gay-themed films? Countless. They are often too stereo-typed, too sexual consious, too racial conscious, or simply just damn.
Then, TRICK came out and my friends and I were so entertained! The story is about two young gay boys, one is a hot go-go dancer (Mark) and the other is a wanna-be-a-musical writer (Gabriel), meeting up, and spending a night together in NYC. Though the first intention of both of them was just getting off as a one night stand, things did not go well as they planned when much drama started happening around them...
The movie is so sweet and, the best thing is, NOT unrealistic. What these two gay boys experience over night are happening to many gay youth (though surely in different levels and situations). I believe most of gay guys can feel Gabriel's excitement about the chance of having a go-go over his place, and those good looking ones can relate Mark's twisted feeling about being always seen as a sex object and his overly sexual attitude to fight against it. And even non-gay can agree with the story and the character's feelings to a great extent (according to my straight friends). Boys or girls, gay or straight, this film definetly will bring you a warm heart feeling and smile. If you cannot enojoy this film, you need to admit that you are somewhat too jaded!!

Rating:
Summary: No trick, just a great film!
Review: "Trick" is a charming, thoroughly engaging, comedy-romance. It is brilliantly written, excellently directed, and superbly acted. The total production is of the highest quality (even the original music is fantastic!). A rare gem of a film!