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How entertaining? ★★★★☆
Thought provoking? ★★☆☆☆ 4 November 2011
This article is a review of WEEKEND. |
“You broke our unwritten rule,” Glen (Chris New) to Russell (Tom Cullen).
On paper this may alienate the majority of the cinema-going public, who are uninterested in a gay romance set over a couple of days; but the more enlightened among the audience will easily be able to forget about the genders and just concentrate on what the film is showing us and talking about – a modern relationship that can’t seem to go anywhere (as Glen is moving from the UK to America), but the chemistry between the leads is so palpable that you want burgeoning attraction and companionship to find a way.
On paper this may alienate the majority of the cinema-going public, who are uninterested in a gay romance set over a couple of days; but the more enlightened among the audience will easily be able to forget about the genders and just concentrate on what the film is showing us and talking about – a modern relationship that can’t seem to go anywhere (as Glen is moving from the UK to America), but the chemistry between the leads is so palpable that you want burgeoning attraction and companionship to find a way.
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I’m a straight guy, but that doesn’t stop me being interested in the portrayal of a bond between two people regardless of their sexual orientation. I didn’t buy into BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, even though I’m a huge fan of director Ang Lee, because the protagonists got together too quickly and unbelievably; whereas Tom Ford’s A SINGLE MAN was heartbreakingly convincing of love tragically cut short. And Andrew Haigh’s writing and directorial effort joins the latter.
Russell and Glen meet in a club on a Friday, and they prove intriguingly different – the former is shy and acutely aware of society’s homophobia, while the latter is outwardly very confident. Russell doesn’t seem happy, or happy in himself. Glen says he doesn’t do boyfriends. It is interesting how they both record their sexual encounters, as well as how charismatic they are. Not only are the performances effortless, the dialogue is snappy, making the pace breezy without actually much happening – well, if you discount burgeoning love. The look goes beyond grimy Brit flicks, and is quite cinematic, and I particularly like the choices of occasional long shots where the drama looks to be captured guerrilla-stylee.
A date movie then, for everyone.
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