East Side Story
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Movie Reviews of East Side Story
Movie Review: Two-dimensional cliche but fun
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a fun, but heavily flawed, movie. It's charming as eye candy, and the story is light and amusing enough that it certainly passes the time favorably. But sometimes the comedy is too broad, the characters have crossed the line from believable to not, so the entire film suffers as a result of a screenplay and director who needed to take a heavy handed approach, or at least needed to know what the target was. Was the film meant to be a light-hearted romance, or over-the-top nonsense? We've got both here, and that means we've also got characters of little depth.
The villain, and I am referring to the live-in parter, one third of the romantic triangle that has developed, has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, and is of so little appeal overall that one can't figure out how he's managed to have a faithful, devoted, good guy lover for two years.
We open with an over-the-top homosexual-hating chef who is nearly frothing at the mouth, who after being fired by the part-owner of the restaurant who is himself gay (almost angelically gay, in fact, we nearly envision him with a halo, he is so perfect), the dying chef places a curse upon the place of business with his final words. After that, either because of the curse or more likely the owner's being an outed gay in a neighborhood culture that is vehemently anti-maricon (so to speak) the business starts to fail.
The owner might be more upset about this except he has other worries: his one-time real estate agent lover who has just rejected him after the "I love you" words is now dating his young and vibrant aunt, determined to stay in that closet forever, and out angelic hero is now newly attracted to one half of the gay couple who has just moved in across the street.
The couple across the street are an unlikely pair, if merely because one is so straight-acting, he doesn't seem gay at all, and he seems unaware of the true character of his partner (a deleted scene clues us in even more to how bad the guy is), which means he is not overly bright, yet otherwise seems intelligent and sensitive. The other half of the pair is a snob from Mississippi (that has to be meant as a joke; it's such a contradiction) who isn't very bright but whose best friend is also his letching wealthy boss - but at least these two talk the same language.
The aunt is a real hoot and steals the show. She is vitality plus, and is the one who goes through the greatest amount of character growth through the paces of the film. From a globe-trotting, social-climbing "Blanca who has changed her name to Bianca" we see her begin to own up to her responsibilities to her family and her heritage. In a gay romance story, it's the female who owns the film.
Obviously we're touching on racism and homophobia, and a Mexicana strong cultural vocal rejection of homosexuality. We also have self-loathing types, both the real estate agent who is striving to pass as straight, and a woman who is self-loathing as to her heritage, who obviously wishes she'd been born anything but Mexican, as Mexican probably means she can only rise so far in class, and no more.
Some hot kissing scenes, and definitely good-looking male leads, but nothing too explicit. Just randy, hot guys looking for love and finding their place at the end. If they are all just a bit two-dimensional and cliche, I guess we can live with that.
Movie Review: OK, But Nothing Special....
Summary: 3 Stars
This was highly rated, so I took a chance. Filmed on digital video with some fairly bumpy camerawork and poor lighting and the usual low-level sound quality. Well written and Nicely performed, but sluggishly directed and edited. I wanted to enjoy this much more than I actually did. When all was said and done, the end result was OK. Not memorable. I won't watch it again. I know we need positive gay-themed films, and I'm more than intune with the low budgets/constraints that must be dealt with. BUT...we also need well crafted works. This film comes painfully close, but it was ultimatly predictable and unimaginative. If the director was in tune with the material, it doesn't show. Please, when you review these films...Demand Better!Movie Review: Average Lifetime Channel Fare -- If Lifetime Channel was gay-friendly
Summary: 3 Stars
Arriving with great reviews, I had higher hopes for what turns out to be a run-of-the-mill, Lifetime Channel-type relationship film.
Funny, well acted, the directing suffers from poor camera work, and basically bland characters. It's like putting all your good-looking friends into a homemade version of a Lifetime Channel remake -- pick any of the romantic comedies churned out there, put it in East LA, and you have East Side Story.
Entertaining enough as a small diversion. Not worth a repeat visit. Not sure it's a movie a lot of people are going to want to own.
Movie Review: East Side Flair
Summary: 3 Stars
Good plot, tho some of the actors were a bit so-so. Cute movie, overall. Bit risque, but fun!Movie Review: Minority man with a brain
Summary: 1 Stars
Although I try to avoid Gay Cinema at all cost because it is usually terrible, I decided to get this movie due to the fact that I saw on a rating that it had four and a half starts. What a bunch of crap and waste of time this is! Geez, can you put any more Mexican and Gay stereotypes in this instulting and derrogatory movie. Give me a brake, what Gay man (especially a Mexican Gay man)really looks like that or acts that way? It is no wonder that gay and straight men grow up with such problems as to the way they look. In addition, I feel that this type of movie creates more danger for gay teens' self-estem that any bigotry and discrimination that straight society can dish at them. In conclusion, if you really want to exercise your mind and feel proud about being Gay or a member of any minority, then watch a creative and well-done movie such as "Milk" and skip this garbage.