Rating: 
Summary: Raw & Emotional
Review: I almost didn't check out this flick based on a couple of the user comments, but I'm glad I did. This is a real independent film, in the best sense of the term. It totally goes out on a limb and presents a totally unique point of view...and one I haven't seen a great deal of in gay cinema. It's very low budget and there is absolutely no Hollywood glitz or glamour here, just raw emotion. That's probably a minus to most people, but it's a huge plus to someone like me who hates popular mainstream cinema. It's shot kind of like a documentary and it isn't cast with a bunch of airhead pretty boys like you might find at the nearest circuit party. These are real people who look and act like real people. It doesn't look like anyone is wearing makeup and I thought that was totally cool. I liked the fact that the lead was Asian, for no apparent reason. The dialogue has a tendency to be a bit on the cheesy side sometimes. How many times CAN those two guys use the word "visceral"? But it all still works and though some of it is really sad, some of it is just downright funny. My best buddy and I laughed out loud at a couple of parts when the story started shifting into the "what if" scenarios. Loved that.. especially the third scenario when the young guy comes on to the boyfriend character by giving him a massage. That was hilarious. There's real heart here and I'm glad I checked it out. If you like your films on the glossy side, then this one is definitely not for you. If you like a bit more of an edge, then check this one out.
Rating: 
Summary: What a cool film.
Review: I bought this DVD and watched it with my next door neighbor. It's funny because we had completely different viewpoints about the film. He just didn't get it (not being one the sharpest tools in the shed anyway). But I thought that this was truly one of the best small indie gay films I've seen in a long time. The situations were completely - painfully - believable and the writing was smart and truthful. Though I've never seen any of these people before, the actors were outstanding and totally real - from the leads (Ryan, Joel, and Leo) all the way down to the smaller supporting parts (Carrie, Matt, Bob). The film starts out a little slow, but a third of the way through it takes a surprising twist (but I won't give it away). From then on the film had me and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. Though not for every taste -- there are some raw sex scenes -- I think this is a film that is well worth a look for those who like thought provoking and experimental gay films.
Rating:
Summary: Very authentic
Review: The movie is pretty cool and not boring. That's all lol
Rating: 
Summary: Swinging Love Triangle
Review: "Drift" is a small scale, intimate, gay relationship film from writer/director Quentin Lee, produced with Canadian funding.Set in contemporary Los Angeles, "Drift" stars R. T. Lee as Ryan, a mid-20s screenwriter/ coffee shop worker. Ryan is within days of his third anniversary living with Joel (played by Greyson Dayne), a worker in a gay community center. Having dragged Joel to a cocktail party, Ryan meets Leo (played by Jonathon Roessler), a younger college student who turns out to share Ryan's interest in serial killers and horror movies. Ryan soon is thinking that, although Joel is comfortable and a good provider, Leo is the one who understands what Ryan is all about and could be his true soulmate. Ryan decides the honorable thing to do is move out of the apartment until he sorts out what to do. Luckily Ryan has friends, one a straight man and the other a woman, who volunteer to help him out. After moving out, Ryan wants to get closer to Leo, and Joel gets to try out his own options. Leo meanwhile casts an eye on Joel. Old loves might not be dead loves either. Ryan realizes he is generating a mess for a lot of people as he drifts along but doesn't have much perspective until he tricks with a character who finds some of the right words. The movie goes on to its conclusion. The basic story with its emotional tangles has promise. The difficulties I had came from the script or from the acting. The film focuses on Ryan, leaving the other characters less developed. Why had Ryan and Joel stayed together for so long? Why would low-income Ryan decide so quickly to leave an apartment he didn't even pay rent on without first having a secure long-term landing spot? Why would there be no thought to the economic impact on low/mid-income Joel? Some speeches are deliberately recycled, sometimes to telling effect (especially one asking serially for devirginization; some live life as a script). The viewer can go along with most of the words, although the portrayals of some of the emotions may lack conviction. I liked the pithy reflections Ryan had on himself as he walked away from his last trick. He later concludes with a sentiment that the key to happiness was living a life without regret. The audience will have to weigh this with all the emotional damage done to self and others and with what Ryan's final situation is.
Rating:
Summary: Drifting Within
Review: Quentin Lee's highly interesting latest cinematic work, "Drift" allows us to explore within the realms of reality the answer to "what might have happened if....", and to see their interesting and often surprising results. The protagonist, Ryan, meets potential soulmate Leo at a party one evening. The hurdle? Ryan's boyfriend Joel, who together are approaching their third anniversary. Ryan is then forced to stand on a very narrow ledge, to make a terribly difficult decision: what to do about this new, intriguing ingredient thrown into his life. The rest of the movie plays out the different scenarios, each one coming to a surprise ending, of sorts. What marvels in this movie are two aspects. First, the acting is superb. It is so understated, that you really do believe Quentin Lee set cameras up in people's homes, left, and just filmed reality. All of the actor's inhabit their roles realitisically, especially Leo, played by Jonathon Roessler, who's role as "the other man" is so subtle you don't mind him getting involved with Ryan. Secondly, the script and story treat each scenario with respect and reverence. There is no cheap humor, or overdrought drama. Each scene is played with the correct tension, making for pleasant, intrguing viewing. One flaw I found involved the use of the camera. I noticed from the beginning that camera seemed to be uncomfortably close to the actors. Throughout the movie, we see an unusual amount of close ups, and one shots. While it may have been the director's decision to isolate characters on the screen to emphasize their individuality, or possibly true aloneness in this world, I found it becoming distracting. Some of the scenes would have been better served with the camera farther away, to allow distance between us and the characters. At any rate, I did enjoy Drift. Quentin Lee has made a wonderful contribution to gay cinema by writing a script and directing a movie that avoids the usual stereotypes, and casting a wonderful cast of actors that pulled off his vision commendably!
Rating:
Summary: Cool film!
Review: This film is really great! It is far from the plain romantic love stories. One of the few films about the problems of long-term gay relationships.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent-- in theory...
Review: Upon stumbling on "Drift" at my local video store, I had to snatch and rent it. Unfortunatly an amazing story line and awesome message was overtaken by medium-rate acting and low-budget shoots.
An amazing plot that highlights the possibilities in life lead this film, and is one of its few redeeming factors. It sends a well needed message that little things and choices can change your life more than you think. One can only hope that a studio with a bigger budget may have it in there hearts to remake this amazing script into the maserpiece it has the potential to be.
Rating:
Summary: Low-Budget Does Not Mean Artistic!
Review: Alright, I am pretty open-minded about low-budget movies, and I love arthouse films if they are made right. First of all, it is interesting that the cover of the movie tries to make it look like some sort of sex-themed flick, which actually made me avoid it at first. True, the people and the situations look real, but you still watch a movie for some entertainment value of some sort, and there really isn't anything to see her except for a few well-done scenes. It is a documentary, essentially, so if you enjoy watching documentaries, then you'll probably like this. Like the title says, just because a movie is low-budget and gay-themed does not mean that its worth watching!
Rating:
Summary: Love in a Cruel, Unforgiving World
Review: This movie served as an eye-opener for my last relationship. I totally understood the painful decisions that the characters were forced to deal with. The movie, on the hole, is a bit slow moving, but that I didn't mind. I thought the sex scenes were very believable and delicious. This is a must-see for the gay male who wants to see someone else with relationship issues that need dealt with...
Rating:
Summary: Decent little flick
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by this decent little film. The script is respectable, the acting is good (the actors actually look like real people), and the premise, if a little predictable at times, is still interesting. I've heard this film called a gay Rashoman, but it's really more a gay Sliding Doors. I don't know what the one star reviewers were expecting; this is very watchable low-budget, independent gay film that deserves more attention/respect.
|
