The 24th Day
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Movie Reviews of The 24th Day
Movie Review: Excellent Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
This was a great movie - edge of your seat - would recommend it to anyone!Movie Review: Two Lives Colliding (Messily)
Summary: 4 Stars
I ordered this film, sight unseen from Amazon, and was more than a little apprehensive about it's quality, given the abundance of really bad gay- themed films that have shown up at our local art house/gay cinema in the past few years. In fact, the venue really hardly qualifies as a gay cinema at all anymore because the owners have (wisely) opted to screen better-made independent and foreign films dealing with other subjects, or mainstream fare appealing to a broader audience. If "The 24th Day" played here, I somehow managed to miss it, which is too bad, because it's really a pretty good film. Like other reviewers here have stated, it is more like a filmed play, so if you don't enjoy going to the theater and watching a dark drama unfold onstage, you're probably not going to enjoy "The 24th Day". James Marsden stars as Dan, a good looking stud on the make in a large American city (presumably Philadelphia). Out for a night on the town with his female roommate, he winds up going home with a seemingly shy and naive young man named Tom. He soon comes to regret this decision after he finds himself handcuffed, gagged, and bound to a chair in Tom's living room. Tom accuses Dan of infecting him with the HIV virus during a drunken, unsafe tryst 5 years earlier. He is having Dan's blood tested and if the results come back positive for the AIDS virus, Tom intends to make Dan pay with his own life. The story turns into a suspenseful field day for the very talented actors as each tries to get the best of the other in an intensifying game of life and death.
I liked the film a lot. The production values are high, and it is well-written and filmed. The script has some unexpected twists, and as I stated above, the performances are excellent. James Marsden convincingly goes from smug and patronizing, to angry and afraid as the seriousness of his dilemma sinks in; Scott Speedman is equally dynamic as a man whose sanity seems to grow more precarious with every passing frame of film. If I have any complaint, it would be that I found the ending somewhat contrived and unconvincing. However, the ending wasn't so totally outside the realm of possibility as to negate the rest of the film, so that's saying a lot. I would definitely recommend this film to patient and open-minded moviegoers.
Movie Review: Been there.......done 4 Stars
Director, P.J. Castellaneta, did close to the same thing (minus the death threats) 13 years earlier in his 1991 release, "Together Alone." Here's how the two films line up:
----2 hunky guys (one married / one not---in both "24th" and "TA"),
----A night of lovemaking (remembered+talked about in "24th" / actually in bed in "TA"),
----AIDS as a factor (does he have it / does he not---in both films),
----A night of philosophizing (what if this / what if not this---in both films).
Apparently 1991's "Together Alone" garnered even lesser acclaim than did "24th" (but Castellaneta did go on 7 years later to make a somewhat more successful 'number' you've probably heard of titled, "Relax......It's Just Sex"). Actually, "TA" has never made it to DVD's ranks from its original VHS video release (and even that is shown by Amazon to be available only as used and, then, in a mere 4 copies)(Wolfe Video, it's original releaser, states it's no longer available from them).
Scott Speedman? While still somewhat newer and 'a-learning' as an actor, it takes only moments to see the shock waves of guilt, sorrow, and anger this man throws off in his role as Tom. Wow!
James Marsden? Dear gods, don't be jealous........for this man is so beautiful. (Just an aside: at times I find it almost difficult to look at him. While everyone's perception of beauty differs, to me this man is just plain arresting---watching him here and in "Heights" is almost too much). Nonetheless, his physical attributes are far surpassed by a freshness and depth of feeling, rare in such a young performer, which he brings to his dramatic roles, that of Dan being no exception.
Since I can add nothing more concerning performances and plot points than is contained in the several quite good 4- and 5-Star reviews already here, I will mention only one character detail: Tom is, at his most basic and essential, a good and honest human being. That is never lost sight of in this film, and, I think, is meant to clue us in on the real way in which the film is intended to end.
Movie Review: better left to the stage but it has its moments....
Summary: 4 Stars
I give this movie 4 stars overall but it did have some slower
moments in the middle with all the talking, but it was
tense, unpredictable and a different style of film making. What did move me
was the way it all ended and it made more sense. Having grown
up in the sexual late 70's and 80's I was surrounded with thursday to sunday late night parties for years and I and all
my friends "let their guard" down more times than I care to
admitt, no thanks to the abuse of drinking
and casual drugs that so many of us found our selves involved with.
This movie highlights and brings to light, the other side of
HIV positive situations and desperation, it could be any
sexual disease that could push someone over the edge. I think this movie as a play
on the stage would have more impact but more people will
see this as a movie and make you think, the movie gets its
point across, whatever your sexual situation there are often
people that get hurt sometimes. Todays generation, even with all the
information out there could find themselves in the same situation as the
characters on screen. Are adults responsible(even college age
young adults) for their
actions when their under the influence and if you know that
you may be unsafe, still fool around,(not to even think if
your sober and doing it?) I think the actors did a pretty good job
getting into the characters, I didn't know how it would end,
especially with his threats to kill his prisoner, but I'm glad
he owned up to his mistake and thought it through. This movie
also highlighted the fact that things aren't always black & white and people DO experiment sexually and it can have grave
consequenses on innocent people, this is a movie with
a message, sure, but it still makes you think.
Movie Review: One of the Best Films No One Has Seen...Yet
Summary: 4 Stars
Wow - this is an intense film! Overall, an excellent film, well acted, well directed and emotionally charged.
The storyline is quite straight-forward: 2 guys Tom (Speedman) and Dan (Marsden) who had an sexual encounter 5 years earlier meet again - unbeknowsnt to one of them. Watch the first 25 minutes carefully - you'll find it hard not to.
The film centers around Toms discovery that he is HIV positive, and is certain Dan gave him the disease. Unlike many gay-themed film of recent years, this one pulls all the punches. It puts the topic of sex, unsafe sex, multiple partners, trust and honesty all on the table, no holds barred.
On a personal level, if you are not in a relationship, this film will certainly challenge your own ability to ever believe anyone again.
I liked this film because it dealt with a topic our society seems to be struggling with again - people having unsafe sex, and being afraid of getting tested for HIV.
In addition, it is an erotic thriller, full of suspense, unexpected turns and twists, and emotion. It was near impossible to guess the next scene, and the ending is true to the storyline and directing.
What I didn't like: there is one scene where the directing appears to have come from some "Halloween" thriller type movie. It takes away from the appeal to that point. The film does recover, but some viewers may find the middle of the film at times slow.
Overall, this is an excellent movie, filmed on location in Philadelphia. I discovered it through an Amazon.com "you might also like" link. I am glad I did. The DVD movie runs about 95 minutes, and there are virtually no extras, with the exception of a TV/filmography for the 2 actors, and Spanish subtitles.