BOY CULTURE - TRIBECA

2006 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

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 Tribeca.

   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+