| Men Shorts: Natural Selection |  |
Date: Saturday, 10/21/2006
Time: 4:00 pm
Venue: Lincoln Theatre
Tickets: $9 
Type: Collection of short films
Metro Weekly Rating: 
(3 out of 5)
by Sean Bugg
EVERY GAY RELATIONSHIP has its strong and weak points, although the ''Natural Selection'' shorts programs tends toward the latter. Hey, the worse the relationship, the better the drama, right?
The
Underminer (
), a short version of Mike Albo's book,
explicates just how vicious your best friend can be. Or is it being
vicious to yourself? Either way, everyone will recognize the friend
who always has an unkind word to say.
In
Proteus Point (
), curly-headed straight guy Jason may be
wavering between orientations. His fiancé is annoyed with the
attention he pays to his gay best friend, and demands that the third
wheel be disinvited from their camping trip. In between are a few
funny moments -- an elementary school play based on The Seventh
Seal among them -- but mostly it's telling a story through lots
of pensive, drawn-out stares and gazes.
When
credit collection officer Dwayne calls his latest deadbeat in Rugburn
(
), he gets more than he bargained for: his deadbeat ex, Jeff.
Things start off rather interestingly, but the concept doesn't have a
lot of flesh on it, and it plays out for too long.
Hard
Parts (
) is a story of three people: a straight woman, her gay
best friend, and her ex-husband. Of course, her husband's secretly
dating her best friend. Oh, and her new fiancé is as flaming
as they come. As she tries to guide him through the act of
cunnilingus, he pops up, alarmed, ''I think you have a wart.'' She
replies, ''That's my clitoris.'' The rest isn't quite as funny, but
everybody learns a very important lesson about life and love. So,
that's okay then.
Seeing
You in Circles (
) is another threesome, all gay this time, but
focusing on a man who brings his cute new boyfriend to a birthday
dinner for his ex-boyfriend. Because things like that always work out
to the emotional benefit of everyone involved. Well acted, but not as
compelling as you would hope.
The
big surprise of the program is Hustler WP (
), about a
cute, racist, skinhead hustler and his big, black and gay best
friend. Did I mention they both live in Chelsea? Of course they do.
It sounds really offensive -- and it actually kind of is -- but the
bubbleheaded innocuousness of the racism and the obvious affection
they both have for each other make this a deeply weird and enjoyable
little comedy. -- SB
| More information |
Film Links:
· Reel Affirmations details
Festival Venue:
Lincoln Theatre
1215 U Street, NW; Washington, DC 20009. (202) 328-6000. (map)
Directly across from Green Line Metro / U Street-Cardozo station.
Tickets:
You may buy your tickets or passes in advance: Online at BoxOfficeTickets.com
or by phone at (800) 494-TIXS (494-8497). Or you may visit the Lincoln
Theatre (1215 U Street, NW, WDC); the Landmark's E Street Cinema (555 11th Street, NW);
or Lambda Rising (1625 Connecticut Avenue, NW, WDC).
|
For more info visit the official Reel Affirmations website. |
