Jason KingThe Living End - Review
May 1st 2008 23:16
THE LIVING END (1992) $12-
Gregg Araki's third film. It was made on a budget of $20000- and filmed in mono video. Some of the scenes you can tell it's cheap and occasionally comes off as a B grade film. But boy oh boy it's a good one. Dubbed the gay Thelma and Louise the film follows two gay HIV men, Luke is a restless and reckless drifter and Jon is a relatively timid and pessimistic movie critic. After an unconventional meeting, and after Luke kills a homophobic police officer, they go on a road trip with the motto "Fuck everything."
Gregg Araki is one of my favourite directors of all time. He is completely insane and his movies show it. After this film he released "Totally Fucked Up", followed by one of my all time favourite films that I forgot to put in my top ten "The Doom Generation". After this came "Nowhere" a messed up acid trip of a film that manages to lose the plot but keep you into it - Nowhere has been described as 90210 on acid and it's SO true. His most known work is Mysterious Skin that delves into the seedy storyline of pedophilia. He almost always has gay characters and weird storylines but has the most amazing way of telling his stories. His films are starting to go more mainstream which kind of sux. If you ever get a chance to see The Doom Generation or Nowhere DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a classic film of emerging gay cinema and besides the shaky video camera work and the occasional inaudibility of the soundtrack it is one to watch. The dialogue contains more truth than many Hollywood movies I've seen. For instance, at one point, one of the guys goes "Let's go to Washington and inject our blood in the President. Want to bet they'll find a cure in 30 seconds?". Also the closing credit dedication does not hold back. The guys are hot although not the best acting you will ever see, there is quite alot of simulated gay sex although you never see below the belt.The Living End was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 1992. Worth a watch for the study of gay film making in the early 90's when HIV and AIDS was a HUGE topic. It is a HUGE topic still with millions dying each year worldwide but as it's old news no one seems to cover it anymore.
Worth the watch...................$12-
Gregg Araki's third film. It was made on a budget of $20000- and filmed in mono video. Some of the scenes you can tell it's cheap and occasionally comes off as a B grade film. But boy oh boy it's a good one. Dubbed the gay Thelma and Louise the film follows two gay HIV men, Luke is a restless and reckless drifter and Jon is a relatively timid and pessimistic movie critic. After an unconventional meeting, and after Luke kills a homophobic police officer, they go on a road trip with the motto "Fuck everything."
Worth the watch...................$12-
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
It also has James Duvall and Jonathon Sceach - I think I spelt that wrong. Amazing use of colors - the black and white room was awesome!!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I have seen most of Araki's work and IMO Mysterious Skin is his gem so far. If your interested you can read my review HERE
Doom Generation (The first of his films that i saw on tehbig screen) would rank 2nd for me....Totally Fucked up at 3.....The Living End I wasn't as impressed with, but it did have its moments.
I haven't seen Smiley Face yet, have you?
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Comment by Cheryl J
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