Movies

URBANIA (2000) *** Dan Futterman, Alan Cumming, Matt Keeslar, Josh Hamilton, Lothaire Bluteau, Bill Sage, Barbara Sukowa, Paige Turco. Futterman gives a strong performance as an insomniatic homosexual man trying to come to grips with the loss of a lover during one stressed out evening in New York City with the novelty of daylight savings time giving him an extra hour of redemption as he seeks retribution and only adding fuel to the fire by striking up conversations with urban legends mixed with anomie and angst. Original script by director Jon Shear and Daniel Reitz is crafty in its depiction of the darker side of one's mind and the lengths one can go to in a downward spiral with reminiscent tones to Scorsese's 'After Hours' of Gotham as a limbo to hell.

I saw this movie about 2 years ago and I still recommend it to my friends. I did just that today actually.The whole movie is an emotional ride. What's going on? Why did he leave him? The ending had me in tears. It was so sad seeing a wonderful relationship destroyed. I don't want to give anything away because it was such a moving movie.Some made a comment about this movie being too gay. Yes it involved 2 gay men, but I think straight people should see this movie as well to see that relationships are all the same. Some get destroyed for the wrong reasons. And just think, gay people can say that MOST movies are too straight. But then there wouldn't be many movies to go see. So, gay or straight, just watch it for the storyline and meaning.

I loved this movie. I can't say too much about it, because it is filled with flashbacks, leading to the revelation of the true reason why the lead character (Charlie?) is pursuing a handsome, homophobic cretin, who he eventually picks up at a bar in New York. The movie keeps you guessing, and it treads on the intersection between sex and violence. Charlie is disturbed, but you don't quite know why until the end of the film. The film has a jittery quality, like Pi, with disparate and dissonant music heightening the tension. I found myself quite satisfied when I left the theatre. The movie sticks to your ribs.