Making Love
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Movie Reviews of Making Love
Movie Review: a classic
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie was nicely reviewed by Sandy Mc Lendon, David Kucharski and Mark Knight who express much I agree about in a very fine, sensible and sensitive way. Even what I happen not to agree about is very finely written.
This is an all time classic for gay people and everyone interested in gay-themed movies.
It was one of the first openly gay films ever released by a major (1981 - it seems ages ago now) but this is not all of it.
First of all, nobody dies here... well, one side character does, but there is nothing wrong with it because that death has a sense different from mere convenience.
The three main characters are, at the end of the film, alive and kicking, all three with a comparatively whole life and many ammunitions still to shoot.
Secondly, the setting is rather middle class, well to do, so to say. There are no drag queens (no offence intended, I am just underlining that anything sensational is avoided), no gay-people bashing gangs, no tragic illnesses (AIDS was no issue yet), no intruding cops.
This is hardly a coincidence. I am convinced that authors were willing to give such a normal understated approach as was possible and the effort really pays off: no melodrama here, just a lot of raw, tear moving human emotion, a lot of character interaction, a lot of meaningful dialogue.
Thirdly, the story may appear a little dated now (costumes really are: dear Goddess, did they really dress like that?): a husband discovering he has repressed his real self for too long, but even admitting it may not be that actual it is so tastefully done, with so much professionality, the the viewer is dragged into this simple story.
Not to say that, as another reviewer has already pointed out, coming out is one thing, but learning to accept oneself for what one truly is can never be a dated subject. It can only be ill or well treated.
Fourth, the acting is distinguished. Kate Jackson had unfortunately a rather unpleasant acting voice, but she overcomes this problem and gives us an emotion stirring lively figure. I know very little of her two male co-stars but here, helped by a masterful script, they are perfect, always believable and to the point.
I believe nobody loving good cinema should miss this one. No gay man, especially.
Movie Review: "...Alabaster and Lapis Lazuli"
Summary: 5 Stars
This film, whilst far from it, was sort of the "Brokeback Mountain" of it's time, 1982. I didn't see "Making Love" until it hit a cable film channel a year later. I do remember my college paper having a review of it, and being very intrigued. I saw it in January 1983, and it spoke to me volumes. It was my drop of rain in a figurative desert environment growing up in Oklahoma. I will subjectively give it 5 stars despite it's technical mistakes. Although it is good, it reminds me of a Lifetime Television film.
The poem "Farewell my Dover maiden, alabaster and lapis lazuli...", and the references to Gilbert and Sullivan were nice inclusions. The good acting makes up for the sometimes awkward dialogue and attempts at humour. The cinematography is well orchestrated in most scenes, especially when Bart is walking by a reflective surface near the end of the film and there are rhythmic divisions in his reflection suggesting a visually poetic repetition of his one-night-stand behaviour.
Some questionably humorous subtleties are noticeable. When Bart and Zach are walking after their first dinner together, there is a sign in the left of the frame which reads "Welcome to Dan Tannas /Parking in Rear". Further, when Claire finds a matchbook phone number in Zach's pocket, she visits the stranger, and there's a jar of Vaseline on the table next to the sofa. There are a couple of loops that are evident, and an editing flub which cuts abruptly from Zach's hand on Bart's shoulder to the end of an embrace or kiss, which indicates some questionable editing. The sound for the DVD is a choice between stereo or mono, and why would anyone choose mono in 2006? Not being a sound effects film, that's not a major disappointment.
I fell in love with Zach. I wondered, "Where is this man?" His character is what drew me to see this film dozens of times in repeat airings.
The final scene is heartbreaking, feeling somewhat like the final scene of resolution in "Brokeback Mountain" (compare the final lines of both films). The music score, and Roberta Flack theme song are very nice and lend considerably to the overall mood. This is a great little film for the price to have in any collection of gay/lesbian films. It will always bring back bittersweet memories of my burgeoning self.
Movie Review: A tale of one man, two loves.
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw the movie when it came out in 1981, and with a mind not knowing what to expect, it went to paths no flim ever dared before, especially when you saw the leading men making out. that then was the same as Freddy Kruger making his kill. Now looking at it with a christ lke mind, it is truly a movie to appreciate with more than one conclusion to be drawn by many audiences. In one way, you can see it simply as a man finally coming to terms with his real self and embracing it no matter what the cost. Another can see it as the dreadful results of what is still referred to today as a sin, and the way it can destroy what was otherwise a very good marriage, at least from appearances. No matter what, this flim takes a very brutal look at homosexuality, and how real it can be, and the consequences that can follow not just from getting AIDS. Sadly many can get wounded, and seeing how "Claire" had to let go of the man she loved so he may live out "his life" was very sad to see. All the actors were really great in the movie. Harry Hamilin did the role of a swinging single jigilo perfectly, and reminded me of some of the soles i seen like him, but Kate Jackson was really great in this movie as Claire, and is a far cry from some of the other roles she has played in the past ( Remember it was her departure from Charlies Angels that hurt the show then that says a lot). I definalely recommend this movie for all to see, there are a lot of good lessons to be learned from watching "Making Love"Movie Review: Longtime Overdue!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always liked this movie since it's release back in 1982. For years, it was only available on VHS. I have the VHS version of this movie, and just recently purchased the DVD version. The VHS was released by CBS Video, and DVD is released by 20th Century Fox. It's a lot clearer on DVD, but the print is not as good as it could have been. There are still the reel change indicators that show up on screen (the holes that appear on the upper right-hand of the screen) It's presented in it's original aspect ratio of 1:85. When disc is inserted, it will automatically start playing in English Mono. You have to go into the set-up menu to change it to English Stereo. It is not really stereo, but more of an enhanced, dual mono type of sound. It sounds OK on headphones. You can hear this hiss of the film in the background, so this indicates to me that the soundtrack dialogue was never re-mastered for this release. It was still rare back in 1982 for a movie to be offered in Dolby Stereo, the majority were still released in Mono. There is also the choice of the dialogue in French Mono, Spanish Mono, or English/Spanish subtitles. The original theatrical trailer is an added feature too. Even though this movie has been criticized as being dated, this is a part of it's charm. I always thought it approached the subject matter in a tasteful and thought provoking way. It's great to see it finally on DVD, and it will not disappoint for fans of heart-wrenching drama.Movie Review: "Brokeback" of its time - still touching and beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
Released in 1982, this could not be a better time to release a DVD in the midst of the masterful and unforgettable "Brokeback Mountain" (2005). The two films share many similarities, both pairs of leads are handsome, non-sterotypical Caucasian gays, one or both have wives, both have scenes where a character smells an article of clothing and remembers, and most importantly, one can not overlook the importance of the expressive musical soundtrack in both pictures, this one by Leonard Rosenman, whose lilting score stays with you and the sweet title track sung at the end by Roberta Flack. I saw it on network TV in mid-1980s, but it excised the kissing scenes, then on VHS Video it was uncut and intact. "Making Love" is more about self-discovery than a love story, as doctor Michael Ontkean, married to television executive Kate Jackson for eight years, begins exploring past-repressed attraction to men, starting with successful writer Harry Hamlin. Wendy Hiller is featured as a pyschic and it appears Arthur Hill and Nancy Olson (as Onkean's parents) ended up with scenes on the cutting room floor (Olson says only one line). All the actors are superb, the script, by Barry Sandler, incisive and thought-provoking, direction (Arthur Hiller) assured and moving. This is a gentle, meaningful and positive film. The last sequence almost had me in tears (again). DVD hasn't many extras, no commentary or interviews, but the picture/audio quality is great. Not to be missed.