Rating: 
Summary: Sensitive, erotic, and enjoyable coming out story
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by the movie. The erotic scenes toward the beginning between Paul and his "hero" was very moving. The delicate dialoge and tender touching, massage and kissing was something I have rarely seen.
The many bits of nudity were also very pleasurable.It was an easy to watch film. A great gay date film.
Rating: 
Summary: If you love classical music....
Review: If you love classical music, this is a good movie to buy. However, I had problems with the unbelievable storyline, the sterotyping, the lack of a noticable plot, and the main character (Paul) acting like crack addict with his mood swings between seducing older men to further his career. The sound quality was very bad unless the music was playing. At one point I found myself looking to turn on the subtitles (there weren't any) because it was impossible to make out the dialogue. This is a huge disappointment from TLA Releasing.
Rating:
Summary: promising and intimate, yett . . .
Review: Put together glorious Barcelona, wonderful chamber music, a great score, and the stage is beautifully set for an intimate story that, no matter how hard it tries, does not measure up to its promise.
Manipulation and secrecy drive Food of Love. Everyone has an agenda and will do anything to get what he wants. Caught in the middle inexperienced 18-year-old Paul (perfectly played by stunning Kevin Bishop), an aspiring concert pianist whose life changes when he turns pages for turning-forty pianist Richard Kennington (lugubrious Paul Rhys).
They meet again in Barcelona and it's lust at first sight for Richard, who has Paul in bed inside of five minutes. Speed notwithstanding, their love scenes are intimate and quiet. Paul announces that he is in love and gazes at Richard with absolutely startling blue eyes. But he gets his first harsh lesson in life and love when Richard suddenly abandons him without a word of explanation and returns to his lover/manager Joseph (remember that name) in New York. Paul's wise old Russian piano teacher tries to cheer him up by telling him that great artists are like vampires.
Their orbits merge once again six months when Paul attends Juilliard and disconsolately watches a classmate get a big manager (Joseph), has an affair with one rich old man (Alden) and sex with another (the ubiquitous Joseph!).
There's no place in the classical music business, apparently, for a genuine, straight-forward, hesitant young man like Paul who simply wants to realize his dream of a life playing the piano on the stage, but whose only asset is his beauty. Too bad Paul doesn't use this currency to his own advantage.
With all the flaws and oddities, this is a nice little movie. An extra star for the Three B's: Barcelona, Beethoven, and Brahms.
No, make that Four B's: there's also (beautiful Kevin) Bishop.
Rating:
Summary: promising and intimate, yet . . .
Review: Put together glorious Barcelona, wonderful chamber music, and a great score, and the stage is beautifully set for an intimate story that, no matter how hard it tries, does not measure up to its promise. Manipulation and secrecy drive "Food of Love". Everyone has his (or her) own agenda of desires and uses everything to get what he wants. No one is up front with anyone. Caught in the middle is semi-hunky 18-year-old Paul (perfectly played by Kevin Bishop, an aspiring concert pianist who turns pages for turning-forty pianist Richard Kennington (tall, ghoulish Paul Rhys). Sparks fly across the keyboard during the performance, but they are thwarted by the young man's hyper mother hovering about. They meet again in Barcelona. For Richard it's lust at first sight. He seduces Paul with the obligatory back-rub leading to bed inside of five minutes. Even so, the love scenes are intimate, quiet, and well-done. Paul announces that he is in love on the spot, and gazes at Richard with his startling eyes. He gets his first lesson in life when Richard suddenly and coldly abandons him without a word of explanation, and returns to his lover/manager, Joseph, in New York. It was, apparently, just a one-week stand for Richard. Paul's wise old Russian piano teacher tries to cheer him up by telling him that great artists are like vampires. Oh, I almost forgot: Paul's mother falls for Richard, too. It is, perhaps, her ghastly flirtation that drives him away. Their orbits collide again six months later when Paul attends Juilliard. He's pretty busy in New York. He watches a classmate get a big manager (Joseph). He has an affair with one older man and sex with another (Joseph). It is suggested by their evasive demeanor that Paul's older man and the ubiquitous Joseph have a history, too! Paul's mother shows up to 'save' him from Richard's clutches. But nobody ever fills poor Paul in on the machinations that are driving his life, and affecting his music. As a graduate of Juilliard in piano, I found Ventura Pons' film (his first in English) a vivid reminder of the musical demi-monde in New York with its thinly veiled artistic Darwinism. The photography throughout is stunning, but the disc itself has some strange flaws. The soundtrack is ever-so-slightly out of synch, and is at times overly loud while at others barely audible. Still, it's a nice little movie. Should probably get one less star, but I had to throw in an extra for the Three B's: (beautiful Kevin) Bishop, Barcelona, and Brahms.
Rating: 
Summary: Decent but no triumph
Review: The film has strong possibilities but doesn't quite accomplish what it set out to do. As with many independent films, certain aspects of the filmmaking process have been sacrificed (typically because of budget reasons), so the film winds up stagey and stiff at points. Despite a few strong performances, I found the acting unconvincing on the whole. While I have not read the book, the characterizations felt incomplete. Certainly this isn't a bad film, but it simply fails to satisfy.
Rating:
Summary: FOOD OF LOVE
Review: The odd little film is about secrets and lies. With the exception of aspiring young concert pianist Paul, not one of its characters displays even an ounce of honesty. Paul is duped by every one of them. Secret and Lie No. 1. Eighteen-year-old Paul is turning pages for turning-forty pianist Richard (played by ghoulish Paul Rhys). Sparks fly. Richard suggests they go out 'for a drink' after the concert, but the two are thwarted by Paul's hyper mother hovering about and shrieking. Paul was asked out 'for a drink' by Richard's manager Joseph prior to the concert. The viewer does not yet know that Richard and Joseph are lovers -- and neither does the hapless Paul. S&L No. 2. Paul is vacationing with his mother in Barcelona and meets Richard once again. The older man has him in bed within five minutes by way of the obligatory back-rub. Afterwards, in a rare moment of truth, Richard asks Paul if he made a mistake by hopping into the sack with him so quickly, but spoils it by adding that he assumed Paul just wanted sex when he came to visit! Richard does not tell Paul that he has a lover back home, even when it is obvious the inexperienced boy is falling in love with him. S&L No. 3. Richard and Paul begin a one-week stand. They have dinner each evening with Paul's histrionic mother (Juliet Stevenson doesn't leave an ounce of scenery anywhere). She has also taken a shine to Richard and, having sent Paul out sightseeing, sets out to seduce him. It doesn't work, of course, but her ghastly flirtation does succeed in making the pianist flee the country. He returns to Joseph in New York without a word of explanation to poor Paul. S&L No. 4. Paul is in New York attending Juilliard. He has begun an affair with yet another older man, Alden (even more troll-like than the others), who just happens to live in Joseph's building. Joseph spots Paul in the elevator and immediately begins to seduce him with an invitation to a party, a treasured LP, and a date to the Berlin Philharmonic. But, even when questioned about all the pictures of Richard in his apartment, Joseph still does not let on that they are lovers. S&L No. 5. One surmises, from all the hemming and hawing going on, that Alden and Joseph have been involved in the past. So, by now (mind you, we're less than half-way through the film) all four male protagonists have slept with at least two of the others! Paul and Joseph have slept with all three. Only the neurotic mother has been excluded from this sexual merry-go-round, not that she didn't try. A rather savory Freudian stew, I'd say -- ever mindful of mixing my metaphors unduly. S&L No. 6. Paul, while sleeping with every man over forty in the film, is totally closeted as far as his mother is concerned. Unfortunately for him, she happens on some private reading matter while snooping through his suitcase at Christmas, promptly hops on a plane to New York to save him, and acosts Richard and Joseph. The cat's finally out, but don't think the lies stop there. Ever clever, Joseph assures Richard that shameless Paul came on to HIM, that he's probably in cahoots with his mother, and they must be gold-diggers! Quick thinking is an invaluable asset to a good agent. After this final fiasco, Paul's mother fills him in on Richard's marital status, which at last explains the whole film -- and his needless suffering for the last hour and a half -- to the luckless lad. The best part of this high-flutin' pot-boiler, to be sure, is beautiful Kevin Bishop as Paul: collegiate, adorably preppy (in Burberry from head to toe), lovely body, and sweet -- most of the time. When confused by the inexplicable behavior of everyone around him, he can become a tad truculent. I mean, who wouldn't?! Deserves but three stars. The extra is for pretty, put-upon Paul. He really earns it.
Rating:
Summary: 3 creeps and a grown-up
Review: The only adult in this coming-of-age story is the teenage Paul, an aspiring concert pianist. He comes to accept who he is. He realizes that he will never play as well as he wants to. He also discovers his homosexuality and he gets on with his life in a 'live-and-learn' calm manner. The other characters were unlikable. There is a creepy concert pianist, Richard, that Paul loves and idolizes. There is Richard's ghoulish manager, Joseph. And ther is Paul's psychotic, scenery-chewing mom. It was painful to watch these adults act like kids. But maybe that was the point. You have to put with the people in your life.
I read David Leavitt's novel "The Page Turner" after I saw this DVD and would recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A feast . . . for the eyes
Review: This ambitious little film is about secrets and lies. None of its characters display an ounce of honesty with the exception of aspiring young concert pianist Paul. The striking eighteen-year-old, in his innocence and inexperience, is duped and used by them all.
Paul is turning pages for turning-forty pianist Richard (played by ghoulish Paul Rhys) and sparks fly. The artist suggests they go out for a drink after the concert, but is thwarted by Paul's strident mother. Joseph, his manager, approached the tempting young man similarly prior to the concert. The viewer does not yet know that Richard and Joseph are lovers -- nor does the hapless boy.
Paul is in Barcelona with his mother and meets Richard once again. This time the older man has him in bed within five minutes by way of the obligatory back-rub. In a moment of rare candor after, Richard asks Paul if he made a mistake by hopping into the sack with him so quickly but spoils it by adding that he just assumed it was what the boy wanted. The disarming youth declares that he is in love with his idol.
Richard and Paul begin a one-week stand. They explore gorgeous Barcelona with Paul's histrionic mother (Juliet Stevenson doesn't leave an ounce of scenery unchewed anywhere). She takes a shine to Richard and, blind as well as boisterous, attempts to seduce him. It doesn't work, of course, but her ghastly flirtation does succeed in making the pianist flee the country without so much as a word of explanation, or farewell, to the heartsick boy.
Paul goes to Juilliard and moves in with Alden, yet another older man (even more troll-like than the others) who just happens to live in Joseph's building. The agent immediately sets out to seduce Paul with invitations to sold-out concerts and the hope of management. He does not come clean when Paul questions him about the pictures of Richard everywhere in his apartment.
One surmises, from all the hemming and hawing, that Alden and Joseph have been involved in the past. So all four male protagonists have slept with at least two of the others! Paul and Joseph have slept with all three, making for a rather savory Freudian stew. Only the neurotic mother has been excluded from this sexual merry-go-round, not that she didn't try her best to hop on.
Though he's slept with every man over forty in the film, Paul is totally closeted to his mother until she happens on some rather 'personal' reading material while snooping through his suitcase at Christmas. Ever impulsive, rushes off to an outlandish Gay Mothers group and then hops a plane to New York, where she lets the cat out in one last shrill crescendo of confrontation. Quick thinking, however, is an invaluable asset in a good agent and Joseph persuades Richard that the exquisite young man came on to HIM. At last the reasons for his needless suffering are finally made clear to the luckless lad.
The best part of this fun, high-flutin' pot-boiler is beautiful Kevin Bishop as Paul, adorably preppy in Burberry from head to toe, with a lovely body and incandescent blue eyes. Unlike his partners, Paul is ingenuous and sincere. And sweet . . . most of the time: when confused by the inexplicable, overbearing behavior of everyone around him, he becomes a tad truculent. I mean, who wouldn't?!
An extra star for pretty, put-upon Paul. His beauty makes it easy to watch the film which, despite all its goofiness, disjointed dialogue, musical ineptitude, and unintentional hilarity, I really like!
Rating: 
Summary: Believable portrail of coming out/coming of age of a gay man
Review: Very enjoyable and sincere effort to describe the thoughts and feelings associated with a young man's awakening sexuality and coming out as a gay man. Interesting and true parallels within the psychology used in the screen writing regarding the fact that the participants ie mother. lover, aquaintances and the young man; all 'know' about, and are aware of their individual 'problems', but cannot deal with these 'problems' until they help each to other bring them into the open. Whether this be the young man's acceptance and expression of his homosexuality, or the mother's discovery and acknowledging of this; or the young man's realisation that he will not be pursueing a dreamt-of carreer and of his realisation of the existence of the relationship that the object of his desire is already in. The point being that we always 'know' but are unable to admit these kinds of situations and circumstances in our lives until we assist each other (supportively) to name, own and accept the matters. Then we can relate to each other and go on to live, be real and be contented, happy and find peace with ourselves and with each other. Kevin Bishop as the young gay man, is very good at expressing the passions and frustrations that he and so many other gay men go through at that age and stage of their lives. Not that this movie is heavy on the message, or in any particular way dark. In fact I found it to be a 'feel good' movie. They have their difficulties, but work on them, so you have the sense that they will get through together in the end. I must say that he is also a very good looking man, but this does not distract from the sincerity of his acting performance. Nor does it give any impression that he is being used, or using the older men with whom he has sexual/emotional relations. On the other hand the older men are attracted to him for his looks, talents, and pleasantness of manner; while he is attracted to the older men for their support,assistance and encouragement of his career, and no doubt their experience and worldly sophistication. An entirely believable set of relationships. After all, if you are 18 years of age, then just about everyone that you meet or make love too is going to be older than you are. These gay men are generally good for and to each other, and neither shallow or selfish about their dealings with each other. The way it really is with the majority of reasonably mature and caring individuals. Thank you to the director, writers, and cast. Well done.
|
