Rating: 
Summary: Powerful depiction of lost soul learning power of love.
Review: A powerful, though somewhat stagey, film set in WWII Berlin. The depiction of decadence merely sets the scene for a loveless, soulless, lost man who, once captured and interred at Dachau, learns the meaning of love from a fellow gay prisoner he is not allowed to touch. Bluteau's supporting performance is stunning. Beware - cruelty, torture depicted. Beware for homophobes like the one who wrote the May 11 review on this page - love, tenderness, intimacy also depicted. Not for the tolerance challenged.
Rating: 
Summary: Touching Pro-Gay film!
Review: Although parts were difficult to understand, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. As disappointed it is not out on video for sale.
Rating: 
Summary: Confusing at first, but very good!!
Review: BENT was wonderful. I read previous reviews that it was a gay Schindler's List and boy they weren't kidding. From the first few scenes you start to really feel the pain and suffering that Nazi Germany brought upon everyone. The beginning goes fairly quickly and can be difficult to follow, but as soon as they enter the concentration camp it slows down and it begins to wear on you. If you liked It's My Party then you'll love Bent. It's also a grand eye opener for those who don't know much about the Holocaust. And by the way: Yes that is Mick Jagger as a drag queen!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, stark, well-acted movie
Review: Clive Owen and Lothaire Bluteau bring talent and personality to these two victims of the holocaust. In stark contrast, the beginning of the film shows "gay" Berlin (with a ghastly performance by Mick Jagger) in it's glory. Owen's character is full of lusts and life, oblivious to the woes that are so near his door. Until his fling with a soldier brings his and his lovers capture. Once the Nazis have him, Owen doesn't want the stigma of being a homosexual at the concentration camp so he admits to being a Jew. His friendship with Bluteau emerges while in the camp, soon growing to love, but nothing can change their tragic fate. A great film about the forgotten victims of the holocaust - the homosexuals.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, stark, well-acted movie
Review: Clive Owen and Lothaire Bluteau bring talent and personality to these two victims of the holocaust. In stark contrast, the beginning of the film shows "gay" Berlin (with a ghastly performance by Mick Jagger) in it's glory. Owen's character is full of lusts and life, oblivious to the woes that are so near his door. Until his fling with a soldier brings his and his lovers capture. Once the Nazis have him, Owen doesn't want the stigma of being a homosexual at the concentration camp so he admits to being a Jew. His friendship with Bluteau emerges while in the camp, soon growing to love, but nothing can change their tragic fate. A great film about the forgotten victims of the holocaust - the homosexuals.
Rating:
Summary: absolutely amazingly sublime
Review: I admit to buying this DVD because of Clive Owen, the most handsome man alive. However, after watching the film I realized that I made the right choice in terms of great cinematography as well. And no, not because it's another triumph for the GLBT crowd. This film is simply one of the best character studies available.
Without delving into the plot too much - Clive Owen is great as a smart but fragile "fluff" Max who realizes only too late that some things are worth more than life. He goes through the entire film trying to avoid reality; his repeated phrase "This is not happening... this is not happening" on the train is so raw that it's hard to watch; about as hard as it is NOT to feel sorry for him when he dashes back and forth saying "I'm going to survive... I'm going to survive". By the end of the film, he realizes that survival at all costs is not worth the effort.
The film does a good thing when it leaves the most gruesome moments to viewers' imagination - like the necrophiliac act with a (probably) Jewish girl that Max is forced to perform to prove he's not queer(watch the film to find out why). Overall, the film is in very good taste, which must have been hard to do without diminishing the power of it's message; the gay "intercourse" might be too much for some, but I found it to add an important dimension to the film.
Overall, a great film with sublime lead performances - although I find the Mick Jagger hype hard to understand.
Another great film with a similar theme: "Max" with John Cusack as a leading man.
Rating:
Summary: Bent
Review: I could not believe how much this movie moved me. It opened my eyes to a lot of thing I did not know. I have pased it onto a lot of my friends. There is total quietness afer viewing this film, and then there are many discussions.
Rating:
Summary: 'Bent' makes NO apologies
Review: I felt as though this story is one of the most moving tales I have ever seen on film. I have been in and also am preparing to direct the play version of this, and this movie has proven to be a great asset in showing how raw and real these men's lives were during this horrible time. I recommend this movie to all. Being gay, this movie also made a huge impact on my understanding of gay culture throughout history, in the US and in other countries. However, I feel that gay and straight alike will be affected and walk away with something new after seeing this film. A+++
Rating:
Summary: Everyone but me liked this film; did we see the same one?
Review: I hate to be a snob, but the play was far superior. Since it came and went, you'll have to do with the very professional reviews you see on this page! That understood, you *really* should buy... or give it to friends. While it is not a "keeper," it is worth seeing once. Other than the German documentary about wearers of pink triangles, this film is all that is available; that alone requires that you see it. Our brothers didn't do well under Hitler, though strong evidence exists that as a soldier in WWI he did quite well under several blond Aryan studs in the foxholes! The play was kind enough to hit you over the head with its study of Nazi morality; here it requires that you fill in some blanks, and that requires that you try to understand the mean-spirited nature of the typical frustrated homosexual who was the typical Nazi. The sad truth that people put their lives before others is shown through the brilliant acting by Mick Jagger: he volunteers as an informant in order to leave for Holland. Ironically, the Nazis were quite thorough in Holland as well! The shocking final scene was played out many times in *all* of the camps; I know a retired airline pilot who spent 3-1/2 years in 11 camps: he saw what is portrayed several times. It is also true that the Nazis hated it when someone would commit suicide: it *did* show free will, something they could not understand. So, buy this film. It's a hell of a light comedy for a fun evening with the family after Sunday dinner ;-)
Rating:
Summary: The most impacting GLBT film I have ever seen...
Review: I have seldom seen a film which stuck me on such an emotional level. It is rare for a film to have a lasting impact on me, but I left the theatre changed after watching "Bent". It is right up there with "Requiem for a Dream" as movies that can be labled psychological brutality, albiet very worthwhile psychological brutality. A truely superb film.
|
