Like You Mean It

Mark is an actor who like many is struggling; he is having other problems and has a past of mental issues. He decides that he wants to reconnect with his caring partner – Joshua. The thing is he does not know how and in trying to do so he starts to learn more about who he actually is.

We follow him and his partner Joshua on their journey and it can be slow going at times – but life is hardly a white knuckle roller coaster ride all of the time – so I am fine with this. The issues they have seemed to be universal and not just limited to the gay community and that is exemplified by some of their straight friends who have alternate relationship issues.

Now as I said this can be slow in places but it is the resonant honesty about the characters and situations that will pull you in and make you care. It is all handled in a very adult way. It is also acted extremely well and the cinematographer has done a rather excellent job with the complimentary and often inventive camera shots. There are some bedroom scenes here too but nothing to frighten the horses or anything. It is one for people who like their films to be more on the contemplative side and if that is your thing then I am sure you will find a lot here to appreciate.

Sometimes hard to watch, with the subject matter of someone who may or may not be helped by taking (or not taking) wellbutrin, or other antidepressants. Or maybe the dosage wasn't right. It was a good depiction of the on again off again success of any meds, or dose. About halfway through, the guy on the meds owns the poor communication and the effect his actions are having on their relationship. His partner seems to be willing to wait things out, and to attend the therapy sessions. I really liked when the therapist asked them if they were looking to get into the relationship, or out of the relationship. Nice bottom line! A couple of reviewers have written that they aren't happy with the ending, but I think it summed up a real life situation. Another reviewer mentioned that they didn't see the point of showing their straight friends "timeout" relationship. But i think it was important to show the two main characters' reactions to what their friends were doing.... it kind of told us where they might stand on things. Good acting, if difficult to watch a couple going through really rough times.

Interesting to see a film that depicts a central character that has a mental disorder for which he's received treatment. Mental disorders are very common, but most people don't recognize it when they see it. Often, it's associated with substance abuse problems. In the end, it's hard to tell which came first....the mental problem or the drug or alcohol abuse. In this story, Mark, the leading character, doesn't seem to have a drug problem, but he certainly is struggling with mental issues, none of which become well illuminated. It's unfortunate because nothing is learned about how to deal with loved ones who have mental problems. Even Jonah, Mark's boyfriend, doesn't seem to have a clue. Nor does their relationship therapist. The film remains a germ of a good idea, but it never got what it needed to fully germinate.

This is a good film. On the surface it is about a gay couple struggling to stay together, but it is actually about one-half of this couple.

Mark, played by LIKE YOU MEAN IT'S writer/director, Philipp Karner, doesn't merely have difficulty committing, he has increasing difficulty communicating with anyone. His character is interesting, especially in that, as a professional actor, auditioning generally for voice-over assignments, he must use a wide variety of voices. That English is not his native language, and though he has mastered an infinite variety of American accents, he is finding himself unable to continue.

Jonah, his boyfriend, played by Denver Milord, is a struggling musician. What is very subtle about this movie is that it shows us typical tensions a gay couple experiences but demonstrates a unique element: Post-traumatic stress disorder. Jonah, an intelligent man, is helpless to reach Mark, whose relationship to his estranged father is the backdrop to this couple's crisis.

It is well-acted and photographed, and unlike a lot of movies which have entertainers as main characters, it shows what they do. We see that Mark isn't just an actor down on his luck. We see him auditioning and we realize he's good. When Jonah sings to Mark one night, at Mark's request, we are shown that he is good and that he is doing the sort of music heard today. This adds to the realism.

LIKE IT IS is as thoughtful as any story by John Updike or Joyce Carol Oates. The short story may be the form which has most influenced this film. In my view, that is a plus.

I really can't think of other gay-themed movies that come close to the class, plot and execution of this film. As it was written and directed by the main character (Mark/Markus) my immediate reaction was that it would be a self-indulgent vehicle for this actor to highlight/showcase his skills (usually meaning lack thereof). But no...this was really incredible on all levels. The writing and acting was completely believable (I'm even wondering if some of the characters ad libbed because they "owned" their roles so well). The subject matter is a failing relationship; common enough to most people. Yet the twist is not that this is a gay relationship so much as it was really doomed from the beginning due to the mental/psychological baggage of one of the characters. The pace, editing and cinematography spoke VOLUMES for the characters as opposed to dialogue in places...I totally GOT it. I would highly recommend this Indie film for anyone who enjoys psychological drama.