Cubby

How disrespectful to people with mental health and / or the LGBQT community. The lead character is repulsive, irresponsible and enormously unlikeable. The script is just dreadful, everyone is awkward and uncomfortable, a lot of it is just difficult to watch. The lead Mark Blane is awful, and he directed it too, so he gets double blame. The saving grace - the kid who plays Milo is just so adorable hopefully he goes onto a thriving career.

Mark Blane never lets up on the crazy energy and heartfelt emotions of a man overwhelmed by his imperfections. Super weird visuals and absurd characters deftly intersect with real-world mental illness, situations, and stakes. Go in with an open mind and it will charm you.

After college, artistic Mark escapes from his Indiana hometown to a fake job in New York City, where he rents a room in the apartment of his college roommate. Taking a job as an after-school babysitter to a 6-year old, the 2 bond together very well. Meanwhile, he meets Leather Man, who may be a figment of his imagination, from a porn magazine he found at home years ago. In certain BDSM scenes, Leather Man tells him to seek his safe space, which to Mark is his childhood "cubby".

But Mark is not all together, especially financially, and prefers street drugs to his prescription pills. So reality intrudes, and he has to eventually adapt.

Mark was played by the writer / director, and I found the character absorbingly irritating. I was charmed by the line drawing illustrations that permeated the film - something Mark could likely have done. The net result is, to me, a mixed review.

Cubby is an interesting film and a captivating debut from filmmakers Mark Blane and Ben Mankoff. It has characters which, while unique and their own people, all have elements that I was able to find very easy to relate to. It's a funny story that also carries a real emotional weight to it, and because of that, it's a film that creates real emotional resonance with the audience, even when traveling to places that are dreamlike or weird or wonderful.

I don't know that I've ever seen a lead character like Mark (played by Blane, who also wrote the script) in a film before. He's troubled and a little despicable, but also has heart and joy. He's a man confused just trying to find a place, which I absolutely found common ground with, even if we don't share a whole lot of other life experiences in common.

The supporting cast all adds layers. They all have been created with reality and care, making them people who add to the depth of the film as opposed to just being objects for Mark to bounce off of.

At the end of this movie, all you want to know is what happened to Mark next. Where is he in six months. Eight months. A year. He's someone who stays with you. And that speaks to the actor, writer, and director. The fact that those are all the same people is a pretty amazing thing.

I know this film is currently rocking festivals. I would love to see it get picked up and have a chance to make it's way into audiences. This is a film that takes chances, and that's a powerful and wonderful experience.

After reading the precis in the Frameline catalog, I was not so sure. But the film was a delight from the git-go. The main character is a total nerd, self-conscious to the point of discomfort, and out-of-place in the big city. "Sounds just like my kind of character!" said one friend. And yes he was, despite the description of him only having two friends, one 6 years old (and not a squirmy relationship) and the other imaginary. The audience actually cooed and roared its approval throughout. This film deserves a wide viewership.