Victimization/self-victimization in Matthew Wollin's puzzle movie, THE SKIN OF THE TEETH

The most interesting and weighty dialog exchange in THE SKIN OF THE TEETH, a new what-the-fuck's-going-on-here movie from writer/director Matthew Wollin, occurs when a would-be police officer refers to her charge as "you people." What do you mean by that? he responds: Gays, Blacks, or what? "I mean 'suspects'," she answers. And all of a sudden this very oddball movie is about victimhood. Or maybe self-victimization, since our non-hero, a black man by the name of Josef, seems to have pretty much brought this trauma upon himself.

Mr. Wollin, shown at left, is intent on mystifying us as much as he mystifies poor Josef, a fellow who goes on a Grindr-like date, immediately combs the bathroom of said date for possible drugs, finds some upstairs and takes a dose (even though he has no idea what it might contain) and then, after experiencing some woozy-making side effects, takes another dose for good measure.

He gets a whole lot more than he bargained for.

Josef is played by Pascal Arquimedes (above, left, on poster and below), while his seemingly wealthy/ gourmet chef/spying-on-his-neighbors-with-their-consent hook-up is essayed by Donal Brophy, who is shown at bottom, right.

The movie is being compared to a combination of Get Out and the aforementioned Grindr, neither of which really computes. Get Out was more entertaining and even, oddly enough, more believable. Grinder usually results in some sex, while this film has no nudity, let alone a sex scene.

What it does have is puzzlement, a certain amount of which is enticing and fun. One character will become another, simply by wearing a mask (as above), or by being played by an entirely different actor, as though maybe no one will notice. In this sense, the movie is more in-your-face transgressive than anything else.

But what is it really about? You got me. It's short enough (79 minutes) that you may go along for the ride in any case, especially if you're given to films that prove intentional puzzles with no easy (or even difficult) answer.

TrustMovies enjoys a good puzzle, and while he doesn't always require answers, he does expect a bit more actual content than this movie -- which seems mostly interested in provoking us (and Josef) -- provides. And please, people: don't think for a moment that you are getting here a remake of that great Thornton Wilder play, The Skin of Our Teeth. That will result in major disappointment.

From TLA Releasing, The Skin of the Teeth opens theatrically in New York City this Friday, May 10, at the Cinema Village. Elsewhere? Don't know of any other playdates, but the DVD for the film will be available come next Tuesday, May 14.

Vanity, thy name is James Fanizza, who writes, directs and stars in new GLBT film, SEBASTIAN

Yes, SEBASTIAN does indeed smack of what we used to call a "vanity" production -- having been written, directed, starred in and co-produced by one, James Fanizza. Mr. Fanizza (shown on poster at left, top, and at bottom, right) is an attractive blond fellow and not a bad actor if only a so-so writer and director. His co-star, the chunky/hunky Alex House, who plays the eponymous secondary character, comes off a bit better because he has been given less "acting" to do and does what he has with a certain appealing reticence.

Adequately shot on video by Kalen Artinian, this Toronto-set tale is basically the same-old/same-old so far as way too many gay movies are concerned. Coincidence-prone and featuring a "hero" who is pretty much a shallow, lying asshole (who seems totally unaware of this fact), the movie does finally provide some sort of an explanation of why this guy is the way he is. Trouble is, that explanation seems every bit as manufactured as the rest of the movie.

In its way, Sebastian represents a side of gay life that's all too present and is, I suppose, a kind of reaction to the past hundred or so years of repression, transgression and adjustment to being "different." Even so, the movie remains a bit of a bore, especially when set against so many other, better GLBT films of recent times. One of its supporting actors is Katya Zamolodchikova (aka Brian McCook, below), who starred as Katya on RuPaul'sDrag Race.

Although there is some witty dialog on display, too much of the talk sounds like it came from a self-help manual. At time the film appears to be counting down every last gay cliché in the book, coupled to a bunch of self-improvement tropes and (as even its own characters point out) a tele-novela -- but without any of the latter's high gloss. Toward the finale, which provides enough angst to fill a dozen films, Fanizza's film descends into full-out melodrama.

At best Sebastian is a adequate time-waster. At worst, it's yet another reason some of us gays often avoid "gay" movies. Oh, yes, and about that quote atop the DVD box art, "And it does get steamy", don't get your hopes up. This one's about as "steamy" as that pasta from yesterday that you've just taken out of the fridge. From Wolfe Video, the movie hits the street on DVD tomorrow, Tuesday, February 6 -- for both purchase and rental.

New rom-com royalty: Miles Teller & Analeigh Tipton in Max Nichols' TWO NIGHT STAND

Regenerative as all hell, that's the rom-com for you. After making a surprise comeback via last month's oddball The One I Love, here it is again in an utterly beguiling delight that makes you feel as if the genre were brand new. TWO NIGHT STAND is the work of first-time, full-length director Max Nichols (who I'm told is the son of Mike), from a screenplay by first-time screenwriter Mark Hammer. The two have struck movie gold. This is as much due to Hammer's clever writing and Nichols' deft direction (the apple has not fallen far, it seems) as to the two actors cast in the leading roles: Miles Teller (of The Spectacular Now) and Analeigh Tipton (of Damsels in Distress). It is difficult to imagine two performers with better chemistry, charm and smarts to bring these roles to life.

Mr. Nichols, shown at left, has kept this sweet and funny tale of a one-night-stand, set up via Internet, rolling along with almost indecent speed and grace. It all feels very au courant, as well, dealing with the mores of today's dating crowd -- hook-ups, easy fucks and condoms at the ever-ready. For his part, Mr. Hammer sees to it that the dialog does not simply sparkle, it's also quite in-your-face funny and real. It doesn't mince. (The movie's R-rated, though I think it's a shame that middle teens can't see it.) The two actors are able to handle that dialog with ease, while moving from anger to humor and back again (often both simultane-ously), while making inter-mediate stops, too.

There is no young actor currently working who comes close to filling Mr. Teller's shoes. This guy, above, right, and below, is really special: beefy rather than buffed  but so comfortable with his body and brain that he comes across as utterly natural and very sexy, to boot. Every moment and movement seems effortless, but then, suddenly, when effort is called for, Teller rises mightily to the occasion.

Ms Tipton, below, bounces off Teller's disposition with remarkable agility. She's cute and sexy in her own way, but her character is needier (or so it initially seems) and not nearly as secure in herself. Yet the rapport the two eventually reach is so real and earned that it keeps the audience at one with the pair every step of their journey.

The relatively simple story involves a hook-up that, due to very inclement weather, must go on, and far beyond the "thanks for the nice night" note that the Tipton character plans to leave behind. That's basically it -- for the first two-thirds of the film.

In fact, the movie seems like it might simply play as a two-hander exercise, once the characters have met -- which we wouldn't mind, given the talent of this twosome. But Hammer has a surprise or two up his screenplay's sleeve and so there's more.

Fortunately, and again, thanks to the actors involved, the movie does not degenerate. Instead it plays out to become a genuine and quite lovely rom-com -- with all that this genre requires.

In the good supporting case are Jessica Szohr (above, left) as Tipton's roommate/friend, Scott Mescudi (above, right) as their other friend, and Leven Rambin (below, right) as a special someone. I don't want to overpraise what is simply a very fine example of a popular genre movie. So just go, relax, laugh and enjoy.

Two Night Stand -- from Entertainment One and running a sleek 86 minutes -- opens this Friday, September 26, theatrically in a limited release and then hits VOD the following Friday, October 3. At which theaters in which cities? Don't know, and the film's web site page has yet to give us any of this info. Keep clicking here in the days or hours to come, and perhaps it will let us know. And even if we don't find the theater listing, we all know how to access VOD, right?