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Broadway Damage

Broadway Damage

List Price: $24.95
Your Price: $22.46
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Most brilliant indie film of the 1990's
Review: Reviewers who don't like this film reveal more about themselves than they reveal about the film. It is an optimistic, joyful, old-fashioned, adorable, charming film - and some folks just don't like those good qualities in a film. But if you are looking for a film to cheer you up, or make you feel good about life, this is the film for you.
"Broadway Damage" follows the lives of three characters who just finished college and are ready to set the world on fire... if only they can get a decent job. One main character falls in love with a hot singer, only to find that he is not what he seems, but he later realizes that the man of his dreams was right under his nose all along. It's a storyline you may have seen before, but you have never seen it portrayed this brilliantly.
"Broadway Damage" is amazing in many respects: the talents of the actors are amazing; the editting of the film is immaculate - and could not have been better; the original music used in the film is the best I have heard in decades -especially Cindy Soltoff's "Men/Someone" piece, which is one of THE best songs to ever appear in a film or musical; and the dialogue is some of the best, wittiest dialogue you have ever heard out of the mouths of actors this young (early 20's). The film shows their naivete, but more importantly, it shows their hearts, and they are lovely hearts to spend some time with.
To call this film technically excellent is a great understatement. It is SUPERB in its technical qualities. For a low budget film it is no less than a miracle. You feel exactly as if you are there with the characters, strolling around Greenwich Village. And some scenes are so memorable... well, you just have to see them for yourselves. I can not recommend this wonderful film highly enough.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A cute story, if somewhat erratic.
Review: The film seems to wander and is a bit overly dramatic, but finishes well. If you are looking for a good gay comedy, I would rather watch Trick or Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Grand Gesture
Review: The last time I looked, a romantic comedy was supposed to be fun, improbable, unlikely, amusing, and topped off by a happy ending. BROADWAY DAMAGE fits the bill perfectly and will give you a pleasant and diverting evening's entertainment. If you liked TRICK or even the much-loved BEAUTIFUL THING, you're gonna love THIS movie, too!

Marc and Robert are a couple of real charmers, David offers a remarkably pleasant deceiving diversion, and quirky Cynthia pursues a glamorous carreer (perhaps a little over-long and over-done in fact). It all adds up to a lot of fun with even a few surprises in the middle of events that admittedly are somewhat predictable.

My favorite scenes are Robert's beautiful "grand gesture" and when Robert says, "Don't play with me, Marc" in the middle of one of the screen's sweetest kisses ever. I find myself playing them both on my DVD copy over and over again!

If you want realism, tragedy, or drama, watch The History Channel, "America's Most Wanted," or any number of available gay dramas on the market. But if you like fluff that makes you feel good and makes gay life look like it's a LITTLE fun after all, then you'll appreciate this little gem of a romantic comedy. Happy viewing!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "An Absolute Delight" indeed!
Review: This is a "feel good" movie that is full of youthful optimism and hope. I love the characters, the story, and the music. I have seen the movie several times so there are some parts that I fast forward through now but overall it is a great film - one to throw into the DVD player when an escape from reality is called for.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Likably Inconsequential
Review: This is a nice happy film with some unbelievable twists in its plot. Even though the title is Broadway Damage, and this suggests some sort of trauma or dark goings on in New York, the film is pretty bright and cheerful throughout, even in its darkest moments. The worst and most heart rending episodes have a happy ironic twist to them. In this way it feels almost like a sitcom view of the world.

Fortunately, it's a pretty good sitcom. The actors are all photogenic and likable. None of the comedy is irritating or demeaning to the characters. I enjoyed the film and enjoyed its candy eyed view of New York (even though the film does feature some seedy elements such as big rats, hustlers and snotty card shop employees). However, nothing unexpected occurs in the film and the film breaks no new ground anywhere. It is just pleasantly competent as it runs through its tried and true paces.

Definitely a nice undemanding gay friendly film to put on when you're in the mood to relax.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: This is a very cute movie... with one of those endings that makes you smile and hug your sweety. =)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A sweet movie with some fine performances
Review: This is not a great movie, but it is a good one, something light but not meaningless with 3 very good leads and a storyline that is somewhat predictable but touching nonetheless. I'm struck by how none of the reviews seem to single out Aaron Williams performance as Robert. The performance is a marvel of communicating sweetness, innocence, good-heartedness, and pining for love while trying to keep one's dignity. In lesser hands, it could have been cloying, but Aaron Williams manages to make Robert such a wonderfully loveable and real character that you keep wishing that Marc would "get it". Marc and Cynthia are also delightfully well portrayed - even if the dialogue is at times pat, they are very three-dimensional, real people. The plot really does wander, quite badly in places, but the big ideas (in particular the "grand gesture") are well-thought out and nicely pulled together, and the happy ending doesn't seem completely contrived. If I have a problem with the movie, it's only that I find it impossible to see Robert as a wallflower - even with the porkpie hat and glasses, he's astonishingly attractive. I suppose it has to be this way - it's always easier to root for people who look good to you - but I think in real life, Robert would be flooded with admirers, not pining away. Still, given that he is so attractive, Aaron Williams does the best job he can of making Robert sweet but slightly geeky. Anyone who's ever wanted someone "out of their reach" (and isn't that almost all of us) will relate this sweet film. It's a nice little treat at the end of a hard day or week, and it's especially nice to see a film about very real, non-hysterical, non-posing, non-"type" gay men who are living in the real world (well, okay, in New York), not isolated in a gay ghetto.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Flawed but Entertaining
Review: This makes a great gay date movie, although it is flawed by an ending that doesn't quite work in the context of the story that is being told. The problem is, it is the ending the audience will want the story to have, but everything in terms of script and performances lead to a completely different conclusion. It's too bad. With a little tweaking and maybe five more minutes, writer/director Victor Mignatti could have made his ending work.

This is definitely a New York City love story (much in the same vain of the slightly-better "Trick"). Marc (Michael Lucas) is an actor waiting for his big break. His best friend is Robert (Aaron Williams), an aspiring Broadway composer. Robert has a crush on Marc, Marc has a crush on David (Hugh Panaro)--a musician with a secret. As Marc is drawn deeper into a relationship with David, Robert tries to find someone who will love him. Meanwhile, Marc's roommate and friend to both Marc and Robert, Cynthia (Mara Hobel in a delightful performance), deals with having to learn to live on her own. Her instability and eventual breakdown causes the three friends to re-examine who they are and what they want and need out of life.

It's hard to fault the performances or the heart of the script. There are marvelous touches and wit throughout and for 98% of the movie, the characters all ring true. It's in the final minutes of the final act where the characters are forced to act in ways contrary to what has been established in order for the author to force the plot into an ending that the audience wants. I have watched the movie several times, hoping to find hints that will make the ending believable, but I have yet to find them. However, there is enough to like about the movie that I do keep watching it.

I wish that the DVD had director's commentary or deleted scenes that might help explain how we get the ending. Oh well.

If you like this, then chances are very good that you will enjoy "Trick", "Just One Time", "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss", and "The Opposite of Sex."

Review (c)2001 Joe Edkin.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A MUST SEE!!!!!!!
Review: This movie is one of the most entertaining movies I have seen all year. Mara Hobel is wonderful. (remember her as Charlotte on "Roseanne") I am so glad it was finally released on video.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Trash
Review: This movie would never have found any distribution had it involved heterosexual characters. As gay men, we are so hungry for representation, we will lower our standards to watch a movie with believable male characters. Unfortunately, this movie has no redeeming characteristics. The saccharine pop soundtrack is cloying, and the generic West Village characters are two-dimensional. The ending where the hunky actor finally falls in love with his nerdy best friend is totally unrealistic. This movie is the pits. If you want a nice gay romance movie, buy "Lillies" or "Beautiful Thing".


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