Those People

IMO overall rate is a bit low, so don't skip this movie after looking at the ratings, as the film is emotionally great. This film will make you feel the emotion ups and downs and struggle with the protagonist, his budding love, and his childhood friend who keeps chaining him down. Its really impacting.

I saw this film at the Frameline LGBT Film Festival in San Francisco on Saturday night. Great performances, heartbreaking story & very intense love triangle. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. Charlie (the handsome, Jonathan Gordon) is a budding artist who is hung up on his self-centered BFF, Sebastian (Jason Ralph). The feeling is not mutual. Sebastian's life is turned upside down after a scandal puts his father in jail. When Charlie meets a hot Lebanese concert pianist, older & more grounded than Sebastian there developing relationship starts to interfere with Charlie & Sebastian's long time friendship. The cast is outstanding but Jonathan Gordon is the star & is just about in every scene except when Sebastian meets his father in jail. It's a heartbreaking moment. Joey Kuhn's directorial debut is very impressive. Well done. Highly recommended.

This film tells the story of a young gay painter, who has a billionaire gay best friend. The best friend falls into disgrace when his father is convicted of a financial crime. Coupled with the arrival of a handsome pianist, their relationships are tested and an unstable love triangle is formed.

"Those People" is actually an above average gay film, as it has great production standards. The picture is clear, the lighting is great and the cinematography is nice. It does not feel low budget at all, which is a refreshing change. The two lead actors are handsome and likable, but the story is overly dramatic to be believable. The pianist is a little too forward and premature in expressing his feelings, and Sebastian on the balcony is an overly dramatic over reaction. If the plot was more normal and less dramatic, I would have loved this film.

Have read other reviews that suggest this film is about unreturned romantic love between two long term gay friends. I disagree. It's about two long term gay friends who have become hopelessly devoted to one another. I am 58 and have a similar type friend for 30 years. There is no sex or romance, but we've been hopelessly devoted to one another for decades. The writer pokes fun at gay men who always think it's pointless to have other gay friends if you can't have casual sex with them. This was made clear in the bedroom scene where Sebastian's trick wants a three way. The attempted suicide scene clearly shows how devoted Charlie is to Sebastian regardless of their circumstances. Their embrace in this scene was the highlight of the entire movie and the whole story in a nutshell.

Pacing is a little slow, but there are many tender and emotional moments that more than make up for it.