2006 NEWFEST-Boy Culture

          Q. Allan Brocka's follow-up to his debut, EATING OUT, marks a
  great advance for the moviemaker. Whether it is because he's adapting
  a novel or working with a collaborator (Philip Pierce, who also
  produced), his sophomore feature, BOY CULTURE, was one of the
  more pleasant surprises at NewFest.

          The film is framed as a narrative confession by an unnamed, 25-year
  old veteran street hustler who calls himself X (newcomer Derek Magyar).
  He's a bundle of contradictions. Despite his "profession," he has
  standards, refusing to sleep with a client until the desire is a mutual one.
  X also maintains a small list of johns -- 12 in all that he jokingly refers to
  as his "Disciples." When one commits suicide, there's an opening for
  someone new and X encounters Gregory (Patrick Bauchau). Gregory
  appears to be lonely and only wants to talk, so the pair spend their time
  (for which X is well payed), exploring life histories before taking their
  relationship to a new level.

          X lives with two other men -- the quiet Andrew (Darryl Stephens,
  who also appears in the abysmal ANOTHER GAY MOVIE) and 17-year
  old Joey (Jonathon Trent) whose raison d’être is partying, drugs and sex
  (not neccessarily in that order). The trio have formed a dysfunctional
  family unit. X harbors a major crush on Andrew but rebuffs him when
  Andrew makes it clear that he has issues with X's "job" as well as a
  desire for a more casual relationship. Fueling the tension in the home is
  Joey's desire for X and his escalating clubbing.

          The film has several nice twists, including a road trip to Andrew's
  home for a wedding, and a surprise involving Gregory. Under Brocka's
  strong and assured direction, the performers all deliver fine
  performances, particularly Bauchau, Magyar in his feature acting debut,
  Trent as the lovable club kid, and Stephens who perhaps has the most
  difficult role in the film.

          BOY CULTURE is a well-made, engrossing and well acted
  comedy-drama. X can easily reside alongside Jon Voight's Joe Buck
  in MIDNIGHT COWBOY as one of the screen's more memorable
  hustlers.

                                                     Rating:         B+

Boy Culture