Boy Culture (2007)

Simply A Masterpiece

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Blistering performances.

I think the theme is fascinating: How on earth can gay escorts do what they do? And how does it affect them? Apparently many escorts have intimacy and trust issues that stem from the superficial nature of their relationships with their clients.In this movie, our handsome hero is an escort struggling with such interpersonal and relationship issues. His two roommates are both in love with him, but he pushes them away. Not surprisingly, he finds it difficult to open up and have a "real" (i.e. non-pecuniary) relationship with someone appropriate. X had come to think of sex and emotions as having great value, I suppose. Not something to be given away for free.I didn't really get this movie. There were problems with the dialogue, character development and plot. Some aspects of the movie just didn't ring true.Even though he's a highly paid escort, X seemed to be living like a waiter.We're not really shown why X is such a great escort. This movie needed an elegiac sex scene that made clear why X is good at what he does. Why did he love it so much? X falling for Gregory didn't seem right to me. I get it that opening up emotionally to an older man could lead to feelings of intimacy (especially since Gregory was acting like a therapist), but why should that lead to desire? Intimacy and desire are two different things. The sex scenes between them were problematic for me.When Joey offered himself to X both emotionally and physically, it seemed inexplicable to me that X felt nothing. If these scenes were meant to show us X's dysfunction, they worked. X lacks the easy sexuality of most gay men.The movie hinged around X's emotional life, which was in turmoil. Sure, escorts can be prone to self-image problems and depression. Perhaps it's too difficult to show this on film, but we don't really find out why he has such intimacy problems and why he's such an as*hole. Near the end he sobs "I'm a freak", but I didn't really understand why he was feeling this way.By the end of the movie, I was annoyed by X.We were told repeatedly that X was in love with Andrew, and vice versa, but I didn't feel that at all. It didn't seem like real love at all. Maybe lust on Andrew's part. But what was it on X's part? X's emotional turmoil would have been difficult for the most difficult actor to convey on film, especially if the lines weren't right.Perhaps I've not really understood this movie properly, even though I've seen it twice. Maybe this is actually a profound movie with much to say about the emotional life of gay escorts.However, it left me with a disengaged, flat and down feeling afterwards. I wasn't moved at all. I can't say I really enjoyed the film. Worth about 5 or 6 out of 10.

I do not think of myself as a prude and having lived in gay neighborhoods in LA and San Francisco I feel I am very aware of the gay scene but I found the story superficial, tiring and not inspiring. I am tired of every gay movie being all about sex and no feelings. I also wish a character could have a real job like a lawyer, doctor or scientist and do they always have to be a male hustler? There are smart gay people who go to Harvard or wherever and change the world you just don't here about it because you don't know their gay because their lives are about more than just their sexuality. The acting was good and "X" was hot but the guy had issues and who would want to be with someone that just uses people. In 2010, it would be nice if gay movies reflected the real diversity of gay culture and not the typical hustler stereotypes. Life is about more than the size of your biceps thank god.

Hello,My partner of more than thirty years was taken from me a few years ago by cancer. I loved him more than 'X' loved Andrew. I have not had anyone in my bed since. This movie brings back so many memories of him that I watch it many times. We had many, many good times together including road trips to California and Wyoming. Derek Magyar (beautiful) and Darryl Stephens (very sexy) were perfect together. I would trade places with either of them. The original story was about two white men. I was happy to see a mixed culture especially with Cheyenne. Joey (Jonathon Trent) was too much. I was greatly surprised that Patrick Bauchau played a part in this. I admired him in 'The Prentender' series. BUY THIS, you will not be disappointed.I just wish that I could see a biography on Derek to include his date of birth and future movies, not TV series.

BOY CULTURE looks like it might be trash, but it really is a treasure. The saga of a male prostitute dubbed X and his falling into love with his roomie. First off, the film looks terrific. This is a smart and classy movie. Second, the writing and performances are really quite good. Even the supporting cast is terrific - I only wish there were more time for them in the story. I loved the lesbian waitress and the entire family of the roomie. The story could have easily been trite and the dialogue cliché, but it neatly avoids that most of the time. It reminded me of an upscale episode of QUEER AS FOLK (before it devolved into soap opera hysterics). All in all, this is well worth a look see - gay or straight.