Skip to main content

Barrio Boy

By Golu
I dont know why, but I had expectations from this film but it ended up being a little underwhelming. I felt like a lot of characters were not developed properly and there were likely some time jumps which were not really explained properly. Regardless, this story of a Latino barber in a macho world, trying to come to terms with his sexuality during a hot and sweaty summer in Brooklyn, makes for an overall average watch.

The landscape of Brooklyn is quickly changing and we meet Quique, a Nuyorican barber navigating his life. One day he sees an attractive Irish man on the street and feels attracted to him. We get to know him better, where he lives with his family and sometimes hooks up with guys online since he is DL. He has a decent group of friends but all wrapped up in the bullshit of macho-ism. One day, the Irish guy Kevin ends up helping Quique's mom with groceries and Quique is surprised to find him at his home. Anyway, soon a nice friendship develops between the two and they start hanging out fueling rumors. Only one of his cousins understand that and is supportive. But Quique's pursuit of love and self-acceptance becomes a complex odyssey through layers of sexuality, family dynamics, friendship, race, and class. He likes Kevin an they have great chemistry but somehow he cannot accepts own sexuality thereby snubbing him off multiple times. Kevin tries his best but he eventually gets beaten by thugs, he has had enough and he leaves the town. The film ends on a positive note a year later, where we see Quique getting more comfortable with his sexuality.

As I mentioned before, we have seen stories like this is a closet gay man trying to come with his sexuality but not confident, mostly because he doesn't want his friends to find out and that is ok. But at least, give a little newer perspective. Nothing much changes in terms of that here. Brooklyn and its changing landscape is featured but never discussed in forefront. Also, as I mentioned it feels very disjointed at times. Scenes suddenly come out of nowhere, especially the scenes where Quique's friends, when they individually meet Kevin act as if they have known each other forever. Meanwhile as audience we are never shown if they ever even met. Even the way Kevin and Quique's relationship is developed, you don't feel that much of a chemistry between the two. This film about the "barrio boy" falling in love with the Irishman but losing him in the most stupid way possible is just too generic. It could have been so much better, especially when you have an extremely gorgeous actor playing the title role and he has a beautiful smile to die for. Also what was up with random side stories of Quique going for audition, or Kevin sleeping with a girl and random stuff like that. It was just not a cohesively written script. (4.5/10)

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Shortest Distance is Round 3: Fallen Flowers

By Golu
Continuing with the weird trilogy of "The Shortest Distance", I am so glad that finally I am done with part 3 and won't have to deal with this again in future. Thankfully, as of now the makers have not announced any further parts; which will save all of us on this earth from the embarrassment of watching this in near future. After the first 10 minutes are used in sort of recapping bits of first two parts, the story moves forward. Haruto is now starting to have feelings for Ruka, the mysterious pole dancer from second part. In a fit of rage, Ruka ends up killing the goat man and to save him and Haruto, Shibahara asks them to go underground. Meanwhile Shibahara continues the search for Seiya (the guy who had cut off Haruto's penis). It turns out Seiya is now also taking care of the original club owner from part 1. Both of them were released after they had informed Shibahara of Aoyama's secret location. Shibahara tortures Seiya's boyfriend leading to Seiya killin
5 comments
Read more

One Summer Night (Korean)

By Golu
I really wanted to like this film but for non native speakers, these movie leaves a lot to be understood and the way scenes were unfolding in front of me, I wasn't sure many times what was really going on. The story had potential button getting any back story on any of the characters limited my ability to empathize with any of these actors. Film starts with two North Korea military guys Yong Joon and Jae Sung having sex and they are caught red handed and they run. Three years later we see Yong Joon in Seoul leading a very mundane and poor life. He has a boyfriend Tae-Kyu, who is a weird guy. He is carefree, doesn't do any work and is completely emotional and financially dependent on Young Joon. In fact, even Yong Joon will go to any lengths to protect him , fend for him and taking care of him to the extent of even taking up prostitution. Suddenly one day Jae Sung appears in their life again. His motivation is not clear but it is obvious he wants Yong Joon back in his life, who
Post a Comment
Read more

Ultimate masturbation: Shigoki no yama (Japanese) [The Ultimate Masturbation]

By Golu
I would never know what was the point behind making this film. Was it supposed to be a comedy, cos it wasn't. It wasn't even porn. It was just a silly attempt at making something absolutely senseless and ridiculous. The story, as well as direction is equally shoddy. You could laugh for having seen something so bad, but I wouldn't call that comedy. An old man runs a camp about gay masturbation. The explanation given is that gays masturbate for pleasure unlike straight men, for whom the act is seen as shame or because they can't find a woman. One day a straight man shows up and wants to join the camp for his thesis. After discussion, he is allowed in. Rules include that you can masturbate together, you can masturbate one another, but there is no fellatio or anal sex. Some students of course breaks rule. The teacher then talks about 2 forms of masturbation which gives ultimate pleasure. He shows one without touching and then refuses to talk of the other. Somehow suddenly,
Post a Comment
Read more