A promising undercover agent assigned to lure and arrest gay men defies professional orders when he falls in love with a target.A promising undercover agent assigned to lure and arrest gay men defies professional orders when he falls in love with a target.A promising undercover agent assigned to lure and arrest gay men defies professional orders when he falls in love with a target.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 1 nomination total
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Plainclothes
An excellent movie set in the 90's that explored the reality of being gay and trying to deny that truth in a straight world of friends and family. Supposedly built on a true story.
The ever present expectations of everyone around you to be what they expect you to be, is well played out in this movie.
Tom Blyth plays Lucas, a cop, who detail at the present is entrapment of gay men, here he meets Russell Tovey, who's playing Andrew and there is an instant connection. The movie skirted around the all to common reality that many a gay man cannot realised his true sexuality whilst his parents are alive and then when that moment arrives all hell breaks loose.
This was a cleverly scripted and crafted movie that alternated between the police work and the embryonic romantic relationship between Lucas and Andrew. There is more than an element of fixation on Lucas's part as this is his first entanglement.
I thought this was all played very convincingly and stated in spades no one can choose their sexuality or sexual preference regardless of their own intellectual desires, it just cannot be denied.
I'm going to give this firm 8 outta 10, a most believable set of scenarios.
An excellent movie set in the 90's that explored the reality of being gay and trying to deny that truth in a straight world of friends and family. Supposedly built on a true story.
The ever present expectations of everyone around you to be what they expect you to be, is well played out in this movie.
Tom Blyth plays Lucas, a cop, who detail at the present is entrapment of gay men, here he meets Russell Tovey, who's playing Andrew and there is an instant connection. The movie skirted around the all to common reality that many a gay man cannot realised his true sexuality whilst his parents are alive and then when that moment arrives all hell breaks loose.
This was a cleverly scripted and crafted movie that alternated between the police work and the embryonic romantic relationship between Lucas and Andrew. There is more than an element of fixation on Lucas's part as this is his first entanglement.
I thought this was all played very convincingly and stated in spades no one can choose their sexuality or sexual preference regardless of their own intellectual desires, it just cannot be denied.
I'm going to give this firm 8 outta 10, a most believable set of scenarios.
The only spoiler I want to give about this finely acted and directed film is to say that it literally shows male love as it should be seen. The plot is basically about a plainclothes policeman who entraps men in public toilets. Set in the late nineties of the last century I had the feeling that this could be today in any place that represses forcefully homosexuality. Tom Blyth is superb as the man who entraps and while doing so he entraps himself in a passion for another man ( played well by Russell Tovey ) and how both of them fall into a transitory, but real love relationship. The film is truthful in its description of sex and how versatile it can be. Both men are willing to open themselves to each other and role playing so often seen in LGBTQ cinema has no place here. It is the best loving sexual scene I have seen and I have seen many. I urge anyone who cherishes diversity to see these two great actors, Blyth and Tovey show us both painful truth and ecstatic joy. An essential film.
I went into this film blind and did not know what to expect .Found Great acting and and an amazing capture of the stress, anxiety and fear one felt in the late 90's being a closeted gay man; told with flashbacks of home movie clips appropriate for each time period from the 70's 80's and 90's. It really highlights the trauma done to men who experience this. The panic sequences were really well done I hope younger audiences can appreciate that it wasn't as easy back then.
I felt what the characters felt, i've been there. I was stunned that a film can make me remember those feelings. Fear, panic, compassion and tears means a job well done.
I felt what the characters felt, i've been there. I was stunned that a film can make me remember those feelings. Fear, panic, compassion and tears means a job well done.
It's so hard to believe that in mid/late 90s the US hunted for homosexuals training police officers to lure them in public toilets only to arrest them and thus ruin their lives. One of these young policemen is a closeted gay man who does this very thing until something happens and he can't do this any more.
The movie is very recent but it is styled as if it was really made in the 1990s, which makes it even more plausible and authentic. It is so easy and natural to relate to the entanglement the main character Lucas is in and how terribly scared he is. And how brave he feels he needs to be in order to overcome the shame and pave himself his own road to liberation, whatever the costs.
Amazing acting, great cast and superb photography. Bravo!
The movie is very recent but it is styled as if it was really made in the 1990s, which makes it even more plausible and authentic. It is so easy and natural to relate to the entanglement the main character Lucas is in and how terribly scared he is. And how brave he feels he needs to be in order to overcome the shame and pave himself his own road to liberation, whatever the costs.
Amazing acting, great cast and superb photography. Bravo!
I was really excited to see this film because Russell Tovey is one of my favorite actors, and representation matters to me. I try to watch everything he's in. His performance as Andrew evoked a familiar mix of love, lust, and the potential for heartbreak.
Tom Blyth's performance as Lucas was phenomenal! He completely drew me in; I felt every emotion and experienced everything Lucas went through right alongside him.
Carmen Emmi-I'm a huge fan! The story was beautifully crafted and directed, transporting me back to 1996. This time, though, I was observing the stories that were used as scare tactics to keep us in line. Learning about the elements of Carmen's own life woven into the narrative, and hearing Carmen's motivation for creating this film during that specific time period, made me connect with it even more deeply.
The movie explores several themes that most queer adults have experienced. I'm being intentionally vague to avoid spoilers, but much of what Lucas experiences resonated with me. Some aspects were painfully familiar, while others made me laugh with recognition-yes, I've been there, even the minivan!
Lucas's anxiety and pain are palpable. Andrew's words in two key moments were spot-on, and I respected his character for the way he communicated with Lucas. He didn't shy away from the pain, but wrapped his words in compassion. It made my younger self feel seen.
Finally, the ending was so satisfying. I've encountered that type of person in my own life, and it was refreshing to see that moment of freedom portrayed so powerfully.
Tom Blyth's performance as Lucas was phenomenal! He completely drew me in; I felt every emotion and experienced everything Lucas went through right alongside him.
Carmen Emmi-I'm a huge fan! The story was beautifully crafted and directed, transporting me back to 1996. This time, though, I was observing the stories that were used as scare tactics to keep us in line. Learning about the elements of Carmen's own life woven into the narrative, and hearing Carmen's motivation for creating this film during that specific time period, made me connect with it even more deeply.
The movie explores several themes that most queer adults have experienced. I'm being intentionally vague to avoid spoilers, but much of what Lucas experiences resonated with me. Some aspects were painfully familiar, while others made me laugh with recognition-yes, I've been there, even the minivan!
Lucas's anxiety and pain are palpable. Andrew's words in two key moments were spot-on, and I respected his character for the way he communicated with Lucas. He didn't shy away from the pain, but wrapped his words in compassion. It made my younger self feel seen.
Finally, the ending was so satisfying. I've encountered that type of person in my own life, and it was refreshing to see that moment of freedom portrayed so powerfully.
Did you know
- TriviaDirector Carmen Emmi considered having Russell Tovey play Andrew a dream come true, since he's a huge fan of the HBO series Looking (2014) and wasn't sure if he would be interested in the role.
- SoundtracksAdagio for a Funeral
Written by Ryan Lofty
Details
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content