Today, partner and I went to see one movie over in Dupont Circle
and saw another one on cable this afternoon. Both had scenes on
Catalina Island, both were filmed in panavision, both had drag
queens and use older pop music, both had beautiful blonds, and
both were about desire and the obstacles to a good romantic kiss.
The movie at the theater was "Billy's Hollywood Screen
Kiss," directed by Tommy O'Haver. Although he labels his
film in the end credits a "trifle," signaling the light
touch of his story, he still manages to get a couple of thoughts
across that stuck with me afterwards.
Sean P Hayes is in the tile role, a midwestern boy who knew early
he that he was a "homo." He escaped the midwest with a
toy from his childhood, a polaroid camera given by his mother.
Now in LA, he is an photographer-artist, stuck in a casual affair
with Fernando (Armando Valdes-Kennedy) who is actually in a
relationship with a younger man.
Told by friends that sexual and financial frustration would make
him a sharper artist, Billy plans to re-create romantic kissing
scenes from older movies. These photographs will include a
favorite drag queen and a hunky, just got to LA coffee shop
waiter named Gabriel (Brad Rowe) -- oh, and boys, he's smarter
than the other Brad.
But Billy falls in love with Gabriel. And Gabriel gives off
enough signals to send pulses of hope through Billy's
movie-clogged romantic heart.
This is a movie about boy desiring boy, and told as innocently
and romantically as possible, with several references thrown in
as tributes to older movies, and some wonderful movie dream
effects. The famous Burt Lancaster-Debra (sp) Kerr kiss on the
beach in "From Here to Eternity becomes the touchstone of
the desparate Billy's need for romantic love.
Hayes is charming and probably too cute to be such a regular guy.
Rowe is indeed quite easy on the eyes and plays the pretty boy
with just enough self-awareness to give hope to Billy.
There is one scene where the two boys innocently find themselves
in bed that is excruciating and funny at the same time, a
possibility of Billy's biggest dreams or just two friends passing
in the middle of the night.
Paul Bartel plays a Bruce Weber type photographer, no acting but
just being Paul Bartel. Richard Ganoung, last seen by me years
ago in the lovely "Parting Glances," plays Perry, a man
who mentors Billy while dealing with his own requited feelings.
There's a not so fabulous drag queen greek chorus -- at one point
they lip-sync on a stage with greek statues. The film is mostly
shot on sets, with the color and wide screen look no longer used.
Looking backwards to movie defined romance, O'Haver gives young
gay men a screen reference of their own about the aching heart
and the love sick stomach.
