Circuit (2001)

i must have seen a different film!!

Captivating movie !

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

*SPOILERS* This movie is the most dreadful, horrid, wretched, awful piece of trash I've ever seen. The acting is pathetic (unless you enjoy soap operas & children films), the directing is horrible and the writing is appalling. It is actually so bad that my friends and I have created a 'way to get through the circuit' by inventing a drinking game for this garbage.The film manages to hit just about every stereotypical gay male fantasy possible in the first half of the film (pre-Red Party) i.e. cowboys & indians, slutty football player, mysterious hooker, frolicking naked in a pool & the list goes on...mysteriously they start to fade half-way through (did they run out of ideas?). The drug use is actually done in a somewhat decent manner, however there should be more of it if they wish to remain accurate to 'the scene'. The dialog is what I enjoyed the most about Circuit (guilty pleasure, because I'm a cynical kind of guy). As a result of the writing, this film has become the BEST comedy (intended to be a drama) of all time. Best line of the film: "because *dramatic pause* we are killing ourselves" (as I wonder, did he forget his line? oh wait no, it's going to empower the audience to understand the directors/writers vision --what a joke!) Do yourself a favor and avoid this film at all costs --unless of course you enjoyed watching the world trade center crashing to the ground (this film leaves a similar taste in your mouth).

This is not a bad film at all and even though I have no clue I presume that it gives a pretty accurate picture of what the "circuit" is like.The problem, though, is that you never really start to care for the anyone, except - maybe - towards the end for Hector Ray when he finally realizes that he loves John and that his life is really pretty empty. We never seem to get to know any of the characters well enough to care for them and thus the film becomes longish and at times boring.

I was very anxious about seeing this movie for all the wrong reasons--the excitement of the circuit scene, incredibly good-looking guys, a film about my community, and a chance to experience something unique. But after I got into the first 30 minutes of Circuit, I began to realize what an incredibly brilliant film I was watching.The artistic-design is amazing; and the camera-work and cinematography incredible--especially remembering that the filming was completed with a digital camcorder. But the heart of this movie is the story. The main characters John and Hector have a dangerous love for one-another and both yearn to experience the true intimacy between them; but the shallow and tumultuous world of the Circuit keeps them tragically separated.The film begins with an all-too familar example of intolerance and ignorance that forces John to relocate to LA, where he meets hustler Hector and is seduced into the provocative world of the Circuit. Serving as both Co-Writer and Director of the film, Shafer displays the rise and fall of the main characters flawlessly and the audience quickly grows emotionally-attached. With one heart-wrenching scene after another, we are drawn to these characters and as we watch their demise, we feel the pain in our hearts as if we were experiencing the heartbreaking events ourselves.Overall, this movie is a definite A with plot twists and turns, excellent characterization, and a portrayal of a world seldom experienced by most. This film will not only impress you, it will pull your heartstrings and force you to appreciate film-making and the entire cinematic experience at its finest.Those who criticize Circuit for its raw, edgy approach and glitz and glamor with sexy actors playing men without care have missed its salient point. At its heart, Circuit is a tragic love-story intertwined with a glimpse that examines the harsh reality of a world filled with seductive life-endangering drugs and anonymous sex presented in a way only a filmmaker with true talent could present. Circuit won't be recognized for awards and praise because of its low budget and independent release. But after seeing it, you will realize it truly is worthy of many...

I just saw a screening of this recently. I went with a large group of friends and we discussed it afterward over coffee.We all agreed that it was an erotic pleasure and that it was very intriguing the way the gay lifestyle was manifested in circuit parties. On a personal note, I would say that the essence of the movie was the one brief scene where Hector attempted to make love to himself in the mirror. He keeps snorting drugs and keeps masturbating and eventually gets off, but he hasn't achieved his main goal of loving himself more fully, he has only made a big mess and has to look at himself in the mirror. His lifestyle has left him in shambles and there is a boundary he has created with the drugs that keeps his soul trapped and locks others out.Hector can only redeem himself by sacrificing himself in the end. His soul is finally unleashed when he overdoses in place of Bobby. He is the favorite, beating out the naive John. The friendship between them is the epitome of the clash between two ideals in the gay community: simple innocent beauty vs. the penultimate indulgent behavior. The film style was grainy and pasty, like an old style porn film, which makes it easily dismissable. However, I felt that the film quality was representative of the hazy nebulous reality of the drug-crazed world of the parties.It was a two hour long Public Service Announcement against drugs, which is probably what some people need. The director essentially beats the audience over the head with the evils and dangers of drugs, mixing humor and romance. Wholly depressing, but with a surprising sense of depth.tommie