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All the Rage

All the Rage

List Price: $24.99
Your Price: $22.49
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Rife with cliche
Review: After reading the glowing reviews for this film I had high expectations when it arrived in my mailbox. Even the DVD case featured quotes from newspaper reviews that lended credence that this satire would indeed be worth watching. It was worth watching...once. And even then it's just to remind us that gay stereotypes are still prevalent in our society and perpetuated through bad films like this. The storyline is nothing more than boys, one in particular, who see themselves as catches looking past guys that really are of substance just because they always are in search of something better around the corner. On a technical level, I can often look past bad acting in small films because they are so often made on shoestring budgets. The acting, in fact, wasn't too offmark but the delivery of lines was a little forced, and again, cliche. On a technical level the lighting and sound was good and the DVD sports some added features, but the content is so lacking one might do better to buy a porn film. You won't find anything of substance in this feature and at least the porno will have equally good production and acting and the boys would be better eye candy. Who knows? The porno might not have as many stereotypes and a better storyline.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: cheesy beefcake
Review: All in all, a low budget production with weak acting. I remember having such hopes for this film when it premiered and spent my time in the theater trying not to laugh at the dramatic moments. Even today, my partner and I dissolve into uncontrollable giggles by quoting the classic line at the climax of the film:
"I'm the awesome one; you're the loser!"

Rent this somewhere if you're curious, but spend your money on something else worthy of having in your gay dvd library.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Remember Me?
Review: All the Rage" focuses on the behavior of a successful gay Boston lawyer, while displaying a range of hook-ups, dates, and relationships, primarily in the gay community. Christopher Bedford, a trust and estate expert (played by John-Michael Lander), is a cute, buff Don Juan with a box of phone numbers from all the tricks who get no second opportunity. Christopher has a number of confidantes, including co-worker Larry (played by Jay Corcoran), real estate agent Dave (played by Paul Outlaw), Dave's wealthy lover, Tom (played by Peter Bubriski), and straight real estate agent Susan (played by Merle Perkins). The movie's action is triggered by matchmaking Tom arranging for Christopher to meet unbuff, rebounding book editor Stewart (played by David Vincent) at a dinner party.

The group has a certain wonderment when Christopher and Stewart hit it off for a few months. Still Stewart keeps living with a handsome gym bunny quite attractive to Christopher. Eventually this leads to trouble. Almost immediately, Christopher takes home a back-room trick, John (played by Jeff Miller), and gets a surprise when the trick has an additional agenda, forcing Christopher to face his past behavior. After the climax, both Christopher and John are shaken.

Playing this (as a tape) has been a guilty pleasure. The dialogue gathers together most of the nasty, insensitive things ones hears (and maybe says) in the course of cruising and tricking. The main character is in the center of this, but the other characters know the story too and play along with each other's illusions. There is no easy way out. The gay couple has communications problems and uses a wacko therapist. The straight woman gets a series of hopeless dates (and also uses the therapist). Christopher gets to absorb the audience's frustrations with unproductive tricking with hunks. There are many skin scenes with many attractive characters. There are several beautiful outdoor scenes in Boston, a favorite city of mine.

The movie intercuts several short scenes showing a shirtless Christopher curled up in a chair, speaking his real thoughts. The scenes are shot in black & white as a contrast to the rest of the movie. This technique works well, although his chatter on the ideal body grows tiresome.

In general the acting is average, though several supporting characters and cameos were more impressive. I especially liked Jeff Miller's and Paul Outlaw's performances. For me the biggest dissonance was the performance of the lead. Christopher's lines and monologues suggest a vesting in his transaction-driven character. The actor usually delivered the lines in an ironic manner, with a laugh hidden behind the smile, suggesting the character's non-existent inner awareness of the difference between his behavior and his real self. At the end there was room to wonder if he had a revelation or was annoyed at the ripping off of his mask.

The DVD version is all right with acceptable extras. There is a commentary by director Roland Tec and actor Paul Outlaw. There is a twenty-minute group discussion on "Men, Dating, and Sex".

This is a useful movie. The gay community does not look often at the ethics and manners one member should offer another. This movie asks a lot of the questions, although it doesn't really deliver the answers.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Finally! A funny daring non-stereotypical gay film.
Review: Here's a film that holds a mirror up to the sometimes shallow, narcissistic, gay male urban world. But why did it take so long for a movie like this to be made? Instead, the films with gay themes that do receive distribution tend to be either light comedies about queens or depressing dramas about AIDS. So along comes "All The Rage" like a breath of fresh air--multi-dimensional characters, gay and straight people as friends, and, yes, a fair amount of humor, both light and dark. For a low-budget movie that was adapted from a stage play, the film is very cinematic, with beautiful colors and fluid camerawork. The acting is uniformly strong, with Jeff Miller's quick appearance at the end an especially powerful performance. The film was a hit at festivals around the world, but it's no surprise that it didn't receive wide release from a major distributor. It takes a hard look at a certain subculture and resists stereotypes. And everyone knows Hollywood operates out of fear and rehashing what worked before (sequels). Since "All the Rage" breaks new ground, maybe it was deemed too "difficult" for mainstream audiences. What a shame. Writer/director/composer Roland Tec should be applauded not only for having the guts to take on this subject matter, but for pulling it off with such finesse. This first-time feature director is already head and shoulders above many veteran directors who keep churning out trite, recycled, safe "entertainment". Bravo! PS--the DVD has some great extra features.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fresh and funny
Review: I bought this DVD on the advice of friends, and it was incredible. Very funny and a very accurate look at gay life in the big city, from the gyms and bars to the dinner parties and first dates. I could recognize so many of my friends in the characters of this film, and I really got caught up in seeing how their lives would turn out. Plus, there are some gorgeous guys in the film, and there are a lot of freeze-worthy shots of them.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: sharp, funny -- and poignant
Review: I enjoyed this film *so much* when it was in the theaters and I can't wait to see the DVD. What I liked most about it was that though we had a shy-yet-cute boy protagonist we were rooting for, we also wound up having sympathy for the guy he falls for and who falls for him. It's one of those thoughtful movies that lingers in your brains for weeks; it's smart without being "smartypants". (I also thought the dashiki-wearing lunch companion was freaking hilarious!)

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not bad
Review: I felt a little confused when the movie ended. I wonder wether they got too self-righteous with the final scene, somehow spoiling the whole movie. I think the rest of the movie is less jugdmental with the characters. The coldness of the tone fits the story but doesn't help the movie in getting one you'll attach emotionally with either. Though it's mainly a comedy, it's a subtle one and there are enough heavyer or more reflective moments, so that a grim ending won't catch you by surprise. But I think it's an intelligent movie and worth watching.
The dvd is non-anamorphic 1.66, approximately, with good image quality.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A classic look at Gay Life in Boston Mass
Review: Long before that was Queer as Folk there was All The Rage. Director/Writer/Producer Roland Tec's first effort is a humerious look into being gay in the 90's. The film is funny, well written, and looks very slick for a modest budget independent flick.

If you gay, gay curious or questioning you have see All The Rage.

The special Directors cut available on the DVD also includes a brilliant round table with average gay men.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: bad
Review: Talk about gay stereotypes! If this is what Boston is like, I'll never go there. This is about a self gay man who thinks he is hot (and therefore sleeps around a lot). He falls in love with a guy who is not as good looking as him. He then cheats on him, and then the guy leave him. Then, in the end, the stud sleeps wtih a guy that he slept with a long time ago without realizing it. And this twice done psycho trick lectures him about caring for people. During the movie, you get to hear the guy interact with his queenie friends. This movie will leave you depressed. It gives "gay" a black eye.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Realistic, Funny and eye opening.
Review: The manner that this film is presented is semi-movie, semi-documentry and works in this format. The story of a motivated, good looking, successful, professional gay man who is looking for perfection in others. It is a fairly factual depiction of one type of gay man that may be found in most cities. The acting was good and the story kept my attention. The production quality was good as was the audio quality. The film was enjoyable for the humor and it had some heavy scenes filled with lifes drama. It had a fair amount of semi-nudity however was rather mild sexually speaking. This is not a feel good movie nor will it be considered sensual however it is worth renting first, to see if you like it enough to add to your collection. Not a bad investment but not great either.


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