It is the clear intention of writer/director Joseph Graham to subvert the multi-character fuck fest trope. Early in the film, his primary protagonist, Brian, an inspiration-blocked poet played by Brian Sheppard, finds an eyelash and optimistically initiates pre-prowl wish-making. Someone's not after the traditional "pump and dump". He even outs himself as a sappy song lover as he's propped up at his local.
I'll admit upfront that this resonated and that Graham and Sheppard had the deftness of touch to make it fly. Unfortunately this chemistry is fleeting and their ability to wrangle everything in service of this romantic/sexual alchemy is erratic. In between the surprisingly arousing and expectedly frequent sex scenes, the connection concepts rear their heads (a cry out for a cuddle after a shag, assertive spooning requests, stuff like that) only to duck away awkwardly. The film just can't hold its course.
Even less successful is Graham's efforts in examining the link between art, desire and inspiration. Whenever this gets a look-in the film veers towards either open mawkishness or unbridled lunacy. Thankfully, the protagonist at the centre of all that, a young actor/muse named Jim (played by Zack Ryan), is a certified hottie.
When Beautiful Something works, it has an impressive ability to wipe away the bad. It is such a shame that the bad repeatedly returns with such ferocity. If Graham had nailed this, his film could have been a powerful comment on modern gay love and our difficulty in balancing physical and emotional connection in a world where sex is increasingly disposable.
Instead we only get it in spurts.
Fitting really.
★★★
Trailer:
Beautiful Something screened as part of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2016.
You can check out other films from the festival here.
You can check out other films from the festival here.
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