Rating: Summary: A sexy Greek, mixed traditions and the fire of youth...OWAH! Review: "Head On" is a wonderful, but dark feature about young Greek Ari and his exploits in the gay underground in Melbourne, Australia. I first saw the film during its original theatrical release in 1999, and am still haunted by its disturbing and evocative acting, style, and forward content. Most of all, its a film young (as well as mature) audiences can relate to about a young man whose strong, conservative "old country" traditions clash with contemporary times, and his struggle to define his sexuality. Ari's traditional Greek parents are at odds in their new homeland of Australia, as they attempt at raising their children, especially elder son Ari, with their traditional belief system. But his overbearing father, inept mother, and Ari's self-destructive behavior only contributes to a plunging relationship within the family. Once more, Ari only satisfies his insatiable appetite for sex in the dark, dank back-alleys of Melbourne with some unsavory-looking men. Only once when he's almost saved from the abyssmal reality of his actions do we understand his fate.Alexander Dimitriades is excellent as the handsome, young, but torn Ari. He delivers a tour de force performance under the brilliant direction of Ana Kokkinos. The film's frank and explicit depiction is a stunning and bold presentation showcasing contemporary Greeks' struggle from the influential ways of the past. ...Its eerie "Head On" can mirror how the "old country values" can have a profound grip on younger Greek generations, especially in these days of acceptance and open-pride in sexuality. Nonetheless, "Head On" is an indelibly strong, dramatic feature. Great acting, a stylized soundtrack, symbolic cinematography, and an excellent direction bring together a magnificent film for the gay genre. Don't miss it!
Rating: Summary: A Dark, Gritty Film Review: "Head On" is a wonderful, but dark feature about young Greek Ari and his exploits in the gay underground in Melbourne, Australia. I first saw the film during its original theatrical release in 1999, and am still haunted by its disturbing and evocative acting, style, and forward content. Most of all, its a film young (as well as mature) audiences can relate to about a young man whose strong, conservative "old country" traditions clash with contemporary times, and his struggle to define his sexuality. Ari's traditional Greek parents are at odds in their new homeland of Australia, as they attempt at raising their children, especially elder son Ari, with their traditional belief system. But his overbearing father, inept mother, and Ari's self-destructive behavior only contributes to a plunging relationship within the family. Once more, Ari only satisfies his insatiable appetite for sex in the dark, dank back-alleys of Melbourne with some unsavory-looking men. Only once when he's almost saved from the abyssmal reality of his actions do we understand his fate. Alexander Dimitriades is excellent as the handsome, young, but torn Ari. He delivers a tour de force performance under the brilliant direction of Ana Kokkinos. The film's frank and explicit depiction is a stunning and bold presentation showcasing contemporary Greeks' struggle from the influential ways of the past. ...Its eerie "Head On" can mirror how the "old country values" can have a profound grip on younger Greek generations, especially in these days of acceptance and open-pride in sexuality. Nonetheless, "Head On" is an indelibly strong, dramatic feature. Great acting, a stylized soundtrack, symbolic cinematography, and an excellent direction bring together a magnificent film for the gay genre. Don't miss it!
Rating: Summary: Gay-themed without sensationalism. Review: "Head On" is a film which many will see purely for its graphic content - indeed much of its success is attributed to the Australian public's fascination with seeing Dimitriades naked. Behind the sex, behind the hype, lies an artful examination of the pressures of a greek homosexual existence which marks a beautiful debut for Ana Kokkinos. Ari's beat-sex and inability to commit are rendered with a respect and compassion that could so easily have been replaced with a sensationalist approach. Kokkinos prefers to treat her subject cinematically, rather than in the straight-to-video style so many other gay-themed films are produced. Ultimately the film is a visceral but uniquely touching insight into its protagonist's life which haunts for weeks after viewing. The DVD transfer is high quality. There is little in the way of extras bar trailers from the distributors other recent releases.
Rating: Summary: Alex is an Incredible Actor Review: A great film - Very Surreal - And Last but not Least - Alex is such a incredible Actor it is scary.
Rating: Summary: really worth getting! Review: A really clever movie, Head On is a film which addresses the issues and problems which all migrant children face. The film, set in Melbourne, Australia, follows the life of Ari (played by Alex Dimetriades) the son of Greek migrants who settled in Australia when Ari was very young. The movie shows the predicament this teenager faces, torn apart by the culture of his parents and their community with the influences of mainstream Australian society- with the two cultures seeing him and his peers as foreign. The acting in the movie is brilliant, I loved all the performances, although the film spends little time on the other characters, they all seem to complement each other very well. I am definetly looking forward to this film's release on DVD as it is a film any ethnic Australian can really relate to, even if you're not Greek.
Rating: Summary: Nothing Special.... at all! Review: Alex Dimitriades certainly ain't all that. I didn't find his acting particularly competent and (sorry, Alex) he's not that pretty, either. Although the story line was somewhat unique, I didn't find it interesting.
Rating: Summary: Unforgettable Film Experience Review: Alex Dimitriades is stunning in this breathtaking film. He has his role of a lifetime, though reports are he had great difficulty with the project. Fortunately for the viewer, he has made a mark which will undoubtedly gain in stature as the years pass. He becomes Ari, completely and fully, leaving no stone unturned. "Head On" is a fine film achievement, with all aspects of the production excellent.
Rating: Summary: What was this about Review: All the reviews I read bout this said it was good. I guess I must have mis what everyone else say. For well over half this flick i could not get what this was about. I still don't think I get it. Needless to say the main character Ari was worth looking act and thats the only thing that keep me watching. Sorry folks this one just didn't do it for me
Rating: Summary: Sexy Greek+LUV+youth+family+freedom-seek+pain+drugs+passion Review: Ari jams all his energy and defiance, pain and joy into one high velocity night of dancing, sex and drugs. Living in the ultimate contractition of being Greek and/or Aussie, gay or straight, love or hate, sirtaki or trance house.... The film illustrates the lifestyle of someone very close to all of us. We love Greeks (men, women, food, music, films) but we need to know how is it to be Greek and gay in the contemporary Greek world aroune the globe. It is an excellent movie with a lot of passion and can be translated to personall fellings and family issues that many young gays are involved...! Ana Kokkinos first and very best film: keep going!
Rating: Summary: A sexy Greek, mixed traditions and the fire of youth...OWAH! Review: Ari's a double outsider, gay and a Greek living in Australia(!). His parents are fervid Greek nationalists and former radical activists who alternately coddle and berate him, unable to understand why their values don't mesh with his. Not that he's totally outside. His conflict in this realm is one of the driving motifs here. In one of the film's best scenes, his gruff father lures him into a traditional Greek dance in the family kitchen, and Ari succumbs to his father's attention with a kind of sorrowful desperation - he's quite capable of connecting with his heritage, but only temporarily, almost ironically. Typically the scene ends in a fight, with Ari donning his trademark headphones, and storming away to quell his nervous rage with drugs or sex. That's a short synopsis. Although, this film pictures (in a certain) way) the traditional Greek family who immigraded from a small-poor village from Greece and couldn't be adopted easily from the local society of US, Canada and Australia... mixed traditions and values. 'Ari' is somenone who live next to us! Greeks from Greece are much more progressive in gay issues, but I would say that this film is highly realistic (in that case) and everyone knows someone like Aris (from UK, France, Greece, US, ... the planet Earth). Head on. Take a breath and watch it. The Ultimate Masterpiece.
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