Luster

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time on this one.
Review: Amateurish, extremely poor cinematography and a plot that is totally incomprehensible.

Rating:
Summary: Rough Entertainment
Review: From the looks of it, this was shot in 16mm, but the graininess and grittiness work just fine with the script. The characters are fleshed-out for the most part and the acting and direction are satisfying. The script is often a bit silly, and these 20-somethings seem to have suffered an arrest of emotional development somewhere around the age of 13, although on some level, most are endearing in a twisted way and you really find yourself liking most of them. There's a bit of gratuitous violence, nudity, substance abuse, sex - the usual stuff - but the pace never flags. Some of the situations are pretty much beyond the pale, but employing a little suspension of disbelief, the viewer will probably find him/herself enjoying the ride.

I'd suggest renting this one before purchasing it.

Rating:
Summary: Bitterly Disappointed
Review: Having ordered this movie and being very excited about watching (having read the synopsis and seeing the picture on the front cover!!) I was VERY disappointed not only with the plot (or lack of one) but of the scratchy dialogue, poor acting and the obviously very low budget given to the making of the film.

Just goes to show - never judge a DVD by the sleve jacket picture!

I'm not saying it was the worst film I've ever forced myself to watch all the way through, but for a gay R18 movie I was extremely disappointed. Why it is rated R18 is totally beyond me as the only adult themes that 'pop up' once or twice is a supposed rape scene - which is not shown and is supposed to have been carried out by a real wimp of a character on a hunky straight (?) and fit cousin Jed (highly unlikely) and a 'couple' of full frontal newdy shots of Jed (nothing to write home to Dorothy about!). Apart from that there is a couple of gay kisses (shock horror!) and the suggestion of masochism (although again - hardly explicit).

I feel DUPED at having bought this movie - if anyone wants to buy it from me at a VERY REDUCED RATE - please email me at [e-mail]. I'll be only too glad to mail it to you (once the funds have cleared!) :)

Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: I didn't finish watching this one, if that means anything to you. Maybe it doesn't becouse you don't know me. I thought it was pointless and I didn't get where the story was going, if anywhere. None of the characters seemed too interesting. There was some nudity but it didn't help.
The dvd has a full-screen transfer.

Rating:
Summary: Philosophical, if a little uneven
Review: I don't usually write reviews, but I saw Luster with my partner and we had two different reactions. He didn't finish watching it and I really enjoyed it. First, I have to point out that I happen to be part of the indie gay filmmaking scene. There are a number of really uneven and poorly produced titles coming out, (including mine!) but they all have a lot in common: gay filmmakers getting access and experience in creating their art, in finding their 'voice.' This movie was no exception. Clearly it's low budget. But I think the filmmaker was trying to make a point, which is why the movie consists of a great deal of talking and espousing. I wouldn't say there is much of a plot, but I think it realistically depicts a 20-something in today's world. Especially today's gay world. He's good looking, sleeping around, has cool hair and a cool job and on top of all that he still manages to be depressed and unhappy. What a bummer for him. His castmates subplots don't really help congeal his point, which is where I think the screenwriting wanders off course. Overall, though, I think you'll like this movie if you are into these kinds of personal artsy ramblings. If you're not, you definitely won't enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: "A little uneven" is an understatement
Review: I got the feeling I was watching an amateur film since parts of it are done so poorly and seem so outlandish that it is hard to find the film very likeable as a whole.

Not to say there aren't some strong points of the film, which included some of the story and the main character who seemed genuinely confused and frustrated. He explains that he feels he is in love with about 20 people a day, and that sorta sums up the film. Indeed, despite his demeanor, he seems like he has the potential to be a decent, loving person.

I wasn't happy with the gratuitous S&M stuff which didn't really contribute to the film, and the best friend/boss's way of resolving his feelings was cheesy and trite. There seemed like there were just too many characters, and we don't get to know any of them well.

I give this film high bravery marks for all the risks it took, including lots of male nudity, but the story was just so uneven and loopy that it was hard to relate to the characters.

Certainly there is some talent here, and it's worth seeing, but the film could have used some editing and touchups before it was released.

Rating:
Summary: LACK-Luster ... Really Misses the Mark
Review: I guess all the "official selection" awards don't always mean much. Indeed this was the case with Luster. We never got anywhere! Slow, slow and slower. I never connected with the characters, none of them. Nothing to make me laugh, certainly nothing to make me cry. I watched the movie from start to finish, waiting for something to happen. The film is choppy, the story lines crossed. In fact, I just had to look at the DVD box again - nope, definitely not this movie. In fact, there is no mention of the S&M message portrayed in the film. Which there should have been, since it plays into the storyline (or lack thereof at times).

Rating:
Summary: Fun, Flesh, And Lust
Review: I knew this was going to be a "cool" flick from the opening credits that just list the first names of the cast and crew, but it isn't without its flaws as well. Namely some campy acting, a customer in a record store squealing for Madonna, to numerous subplots that tend to bring down the film as well as audio that tends to be muffled in spots. But overall the more it went on the more I accepted and enjoyed these vagabonds and the flaws found within.

The story centers around a punky, skateboard, party goer, poet, named Jackson (Justin Herwick), who works at a record shop called, how appropriate, "No Life". After waking up from the aftermath of an orgy he inquires about a boy who was there, Billy (Jonah Blechman) with whom he develops an infatuation for and decides to track down. Who wouldn't! He's a cutey but he he too has some flaws. Needless to say Billy is the boy toy of a record mogel played by Willie Garson (Sarah Jessica Parker's gay friend Stanford on Sex and the City) who gets off on getting beat up. It does get a bit ugly and some people might not like the S&M. Throw in Jackson's hunky cousin Jed(Barry Wyatt), a clean cut collegiate type customer at the store (Sean Thibodeau) who's in love with Jackson, a lesbian friend named Alyssa (Pamela Gidley) who screws around with Jed and is later found out by her lover, and you get a smorgasboard of a soap opera. The one character I really wish had been more developed and with whom I felt something towards was Jackson's supposedly straight boss and friend at the record shop, Sam (Shane Powers). He gives a real emotional performance at the end and his story only scratched the surface. The other performances are hit and miss. Sometimes they're great and then at other times it seems campy and silly. It's a real mixed bag along with the storylines. Take it for what it's worth though and you'll have fun with these characters, their loves, lusts, and losses.

The DVD is stereo and the transfer is a bit grainy but it only adds to the seediness of the tale. I didn't expect much more from a low budget "indie" and it also includes a short documentary with the director and a film commentary and trailers for other TLA releases.

Note: plenty of full frontal nudity
From TLA Releasing

Rating:
Summary: Thank you Dennis Cooper
Review: I love the spoken word--and there are some beautiful ones said here (and mostly well-delivered). From the opening scene, we know just where this film is going, each turn foreshadowed without being ominous or heavy-handed. So we empathize with the characters as they stumble forward, having the advantage of knowing where they are heading which gives this movie a kind of warm predictable feeling despite the many seemingly insatiable appetites. If nothing else, watch and listen for the poetry--its good and definitely worth a listen.

Rating:
Summary: very disappointing
Review: I ordered this dvd after reading the editorial comments as well as customer reviews. Also, it was recommended to me by Amazon. What a huge disappointment. The film is completely self-aware and self-conscious in trying to be hip and cool and cutting edge. For a film released in 2000, it is none of the above. It took me a while to realize I wasn't watching a film set in an 80's punk-lite scene. The acting was mediocre, the script was purposely vague (was that trying to be atmospheric, moody, or avante garde?), the cinematography was trying too hard to be gritty. And poor Willie Garson. How embarassing for him in a cliched role he walked through. I can't recommend enough that you avoid this movie. I watched the whole thing looking for signs of "fun" "refreshing" "sexy". It was really kind of sad and pathetic, with characters who were so full of themselves, I couldn't care less about the bad things that happened to them. It was just plain dirty, and not in the good way. I felt like I needed a shower afterwards. It's not that I didn't understand the film. I understood it too well. Maybe if it really was organic and earthy and real instead of trying hard to be those things, it might have worked. As it is, it may seem cool to people with limited perspectives. But if you're looking for something new or with an edge, this isn't it. In its attempt to be something original, it just became a bad version of more of the same, with bad haircuts.