Like It Is

Rating:
Summary: (I) Like It (Is)
Review: "Like It Is" is an entertaining movie. While it is yet another coming out story, the performances and characters help make it more interesting than the average coming out story.

The story starts in Blackpool, England, moves to London, and returns to Blackpool for a dramatic and fulfilling finale. The main character is Craig (very appealingly played by newcomer Steve Bell), a bare knuckle fighter in Blackpool who takes on whatever jobs he can to make a living. He is gay, but isn't ready to do anything about it until he meets record company promoter Matt (Ian Rose) outside a gay bar in Blackpool where Londoner Matt was supporting one of the artists label, Paula (Dani Behr), who is also his best friend and roommate. Craig invites Matt back to his house and asks Matt to *ahem* him. However, a virgin, Craig freaks out at the pain and throws Matt out. Matt tries to offer comfort, but Craig isn't ready to accept it. Matt leaves, leaving behind his card.

Neither of the men can forget the other, and Craig finally decides he has to deal with himself and his sexuality, so he follows Matt to London. Matt takes Craig in and they begin a relationship. Craig has trouble fitting into the gay world and Paula feels jealousy towards Craig for taking her best friend's attention away from her. Added to the mix is Matt's boss Kelvin (the immensely entertaining Roger Daltry) who is very much attracted to rough trade like Craig.

This is a very appealing film with interesting characters and strong performances all around. It does fall into the general category of the "coming out" story, but the settings and the characterization keep it fresh and interesting. The script by Robert Gray and the direction by Paul Oremland are sharp. I do wish that the DVD had a director's/writer's commentary track because I would like to know more about the choices they made and why they made them.

All in all, I would recommend this film to people who enjoy "Get Real", "My Beautiful Laundrette", "Maurice", "Boyfriends", and the British "Queer as Folk (series one)".

(C)2001 Joe Edkin

Rating:
Summary: A tough but tender love story
Review: "Like It Is," directed by Paul Oremland, is a love story that takes the viewer into England's gay scene. The story concerns Craig (Steve Bell), a tough young man from Blackpool who earns a bloody (literally) living in the sleazy world of bare-knuckle fighting. He becomes involved with the slick, ambitious Matt (Ian Rose), who works in London's music and nightclub industries. Thus the stage is set not just for a love story, but also for a potent culture clash.

I really enjoyed this film. Director Oremland is unflinching in his portrayal of the violence, drug use, and sexuality of his characters' lives, but the film also is very sensitive in its exploration of their emotional worlds. There is an amusing vein of satire running throughout in the film's handling of a "boy band" subplot.

Roger Daltrey turns in a great supporting performance as Matt's boss, an older gay man with a leering, mischievous charm. But the film really is carried by the two leads. Bell and Rose have a palpable onscreen chemistry and really bring life to these conflicted characters. In a way, "Like It Is" is a very old-fashioned love story that asks basic, universal questions about relationships and the possibility of true love.

Rating:
Summary: A tough but tender love story
Review: "Like It Is," directed by Paul Oremland, is a love story that takes the viewer into England's gay scene. The story concerns Craig (Steve Bell), a tough young man from Blackpool who earns a bloody (literally) living in the sleazy world of bare-knuckle fighting. He becomes involved with the slick, ambitious Matt (Ian Rose), who works in London's music and nightclub industries. Thus the stage is set not just for a love story, but also for a potent culture clash.

I really enjoyed this film. Director Oremland is unflinching in his portrayal of the violence, drug use, and sexuality of his characters' lives, but the film also is very sensitive in its exploration of their emotional worlds. There is an amusing vein of satire running throughout in the film's handling of a "boy band" subplot.

Roger Daltrey turns in a great supporting performance as Matt's boss, an older gay man with a leering, mischievous charm. But the film really is carried by the two leads. Bell and Rose have a palpable onscreen chemistry and really bring life to these conflicted characters. In a way, "Like It Is" is a very old-fashioned love story that asks basic, universal questions about relationships and the possibility of true love.

Rating:
Summary: (I) Like It (Is)
Review: "Like It Is" is an entertaining movie. While it is yet another coming out story, the performances and characters help make it more interesting than the average coming out story.

The story starts in Blackpool, England, moves to London, and returns to Blackpool for a dramatic and fulfilling finale. The main character is Craig (very appealingly played by newcomer Steve Bell), a bare knuckle fighter in Blackpool who takes on whatever jobs he can to make a living. He is gay, but isn't ready to do anything about it until he meets record company promoter Matt (Ian Rose) outside a gay bar in Blackpool where Londoner Matt was supporting one of the artists label, Paula (Dani Behr), who is also his best friend and roommate. Craig invites Matt back to his house and asks Matt to *ahem* him. However, a virgin, Craig freaks out at the pain and throws Matt out. Matt tries to offer comfort, but Craig isn't ready to accept it. Matt leaves, leaving behind his card.

Neither of the men can forget the other, and Craig finally decides he has to deal with himself and his sexuality, so he follows Matt to London. Matt takes Craig in and they begin a relationship. Craig has trouble fitting into the gay world and Paula feels jealousy towards Craig for taking her best friend's attention away from her. Added to the mix is Matt's boss Kelvin (the immensely entertaining Roger Daltry) who is very much attracted to rough trade like Craig.

This is a very appealing film with interesting characters and strong performances all around. It does fall into the general category of the "coming out" story, but the settings and the characterization keep it fresh and interesting. The script by Robert Gray and the direction by Paul Oremland are sharp. I do wish that the DVD had a director's/writer's commentary track because I would like to know more about the choices they made and why they made them.

All in all, I would recommend this film to people who enjoy "Get Real", "My Beautiful Laundrette", "Maurice", "Boyfriends", and the British "Queer as Folk (series one)".

(C)2001 Joe Edkin

Rating:
Summary: Like it is NOT
Review: 'Like it is' is very entertaining and quite a fun movie to watch. It's best attribute is that you get two see two guys getting it on. Aside from that, it lacks content, truth and proper directing.

It depicts a rather seedy and (in my opinion) dirty opinion of the gay community. Being a gay man in the UK, I find that it doesn't convey a true image of the British gay scene and feel sorry that it is presented as being the absolute truth about homosexuality.

Rating:
Summary: Good British Gay Love Story.....
Review: 'Like it is' was my first British gay themed film I have seen. I was not sure what to expect when I started watching this. What I found turned out to be an interesting love story between two unlikely characters. While the fight scenes were a bit over the top, you could not help but root for the two main characters to get together.

In this film, London's gay club world comes alive in this sexy, funny drama about two young men--one a bare-knuckle fighter and the other an ambitious record producer--who fall in love, despite enormously different backgrounds.

Newcomer, Steve Bell is unforgettable as the Blackpool fighter who is struggliong with his sexual identity, Ian Rose plays the ultra-cool urbanite, and Roger Daltrey (of the Who) is wickedly funny as Ian's bitchy boss.

This movie is romantic, honest, and entertaining. 'Like it is' offers an enjoyable and positive look at gay life rarely seen in films.

Mike Heine ('winterstone')

Rating:
Summary: "And now for something completely different." M. Python
Review: A film depicting a gay love story between a bareknuckled fighter and a coke sniffing record producer? Who would have ever thought it would work? But it does, thanks in large part to Steve Bell, a natural in front of the camera, who steals the show as Craig Collins, a shy, working class, bare-knuckled fighter from Blackpool who chooses to reveal his, uh, less macho side to Matt, played by Ian Rose, an ambitious record and club executive, who's smitten mightily. Christopher Hargreaves, who is reminiscent of Bob Hoskins, plays Tony, Craig's older brother, and also gives a good performance.

By turns romantic, very sexy, humorous and painful, Like It Is is a much better take on the theme of a gay athelete coming out than the smaltzy, better known but much overrated Get Real, and is to be appreciated for showing the diversity of gay relationships. The unlikely ending to this unlikely love story will make you glad. Plus, it's not about high school kids, for once.

As good as it is in the good parts, I can't call this a great gay film, however, because of the inclusion of The Big Name Star, Roger Daltrey of the Who, included, I suppose, in the hopes his name on the marquee would draw crowds, but who only mugs his way through the most unlikeable role in the film, distracting attention from the real stars and the real story.

Still, I highly recommend Like It Is.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss This One!
Review: A likeable and capable cast in a well-made movie.
An unlikely relationship develops between an ambitious music promoter and an amateur boxer who is struggling to come to terms with his being gay
Steve Bell, (A real life title-holding boxer,) is a real find, a relatively inexperienced actor with a natural talent and a dynamic screen presence.
Ian Rose also excels in the other lead role.
Roger Daltrey gives a standout performance as a sleazy record producer.
Well written, sensitively acted and directed, the movie is one not to miss!

Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss This One!
Review: A likeable and capable cast in a well-made movie.

An unlikely relationship develops between an ambitious music promoter and an amateur boxer who is struggling to come to terms with his being gay

Steve Bell, (A real life title-holding boxer,) is a real find, a relatively inexperienced actor with a natural talent and a dynamic screen presence.

Ian Rose also excels in the other lead role.

Roger Daltrey gives a standout performance as a sleazy record producer.

Well written, sensitively acted and directed, the movie is one not to miss!

Rating:
Summary: Great story
Review: A real live drama between a gay couple that believe or not is very common. Very down to earth although a little different for what I consider the "ämerican way of life". But is very well acted and directed.