Retake

This an interestingly quirky take on a road trip movie. "Jonathan" (Tuc Watkins) retains the services of a much younger hooker and proceeds to attempt to turn him into the partner he has lost. They set off en route to the Grand Canyon and their relationship - despite themselves - starts to flourish. Devon Graye plays the "duplicate" boyfriend ("Adam") really very well and the toing and froing of their relationship encompasses lust, pain, longing, despair and anger as it reaches it's conclusion. There is enough ambiguity throughout to keep this interesting and the writing is taut. It is well worth a watch.

A simple story, full of nuances from its beginning, Hitchcock influence, realistic portrait of hustlers, a nice relation, discovered in its complexity, correct work, good acting, delicate subject, portrait and eulogy of loneliness , bitter , perfect end. A trip of two strangers. The precise purpose of the old one, the temptation to escape from his life circle of the other. And complex relation between them. Not great but, obvious, more than decent, beautiful for melancholia of story and for few inspired scenes. And nice for the courage of end , giving simple, precise message about a pain without cure.

I wasn't sure where this was going, but was pulled in as the story unfolded. As Jonathan's story comes together, you are actually want to know more about the tragic relationship with the real Brendon. Was it a true love or a "project" Jonathan was going to fix. I am glad the story ended as it did,. Anything else would have been pathetic.

This is a good movie, one that holds your interest with some kink and a lot of tension. We never quite know exactly what Jonathon is up to when he hires Brandon. Brandon tells us what he wants and what he intends to do, but we're not exactly sure just how dark his kinkiness will go. Neither is Brandon, which is a sensible of him, IMO, and which only adds to the puzzle. Essentially Retake features a Vertigo-like make-over, though this one is gay and a little more downtown. Like Vertigo, the principal characters seem to be developing an affection for one another, though we're not exactly sure what's genuine and what isn't. All this uncertainty and kinkiness adds up to a picture that has you traveling down the highway to who-knows-where. You just aren't sure of the final destination until it gets there, and that's a very good thing. Well-written, well-crafted, and worth seeing.