Year of Release: 2020
Director: Joe Mantello
Starring: Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Brian Hutchison, Tuc Watkins, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesus, Michael Benjamin Washington
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
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Synopsis and Review:
Celebrated actor & director Joe Mantello's first feature since "Love, Valour, Compassion!" (from 1997), is a new adaptation of the play "The Boys in the Band" by Mart Crowley, which had already been adapted into a feature film by William Friedkin in 1970. This new version follows the original very closely, taking place in 1968, as a group of gay men come together to celebrate the birthday party of one of the members of the group. The festivities are taking place on Michael's apartment, and the eclectic group of friends includes the unexpected visit of one of Michael's former college friends, Alan, who is in the throws of some marital challenges. Alan doesn't realize the group is comprised solely of gay men, and during the evening some of his inner turmoil surfaces, as does for many of the men in the group. Some of them debate the meaning of love, fidelity, insecurities, self loathing, all topics that are amplified & magnified when Michael suggests playing a daring game. The game forces a lot of the men in the group to expose themselves, their fears, prompting even Michael to come to terms with his own self questioning and sense of identity.
"The Boys in the Band" can't entirely escape the mantle of the theatrical piece which originated it. It's a verbose play, that captures a brief snapshot of the lives of gay men in the late 60s, just as the sexual liberation of the 70s was around the corner. However, for all its tackling of topics such as fidelity, racism, discrimination, it's a very pertinent look at the current reality of what gay life is in the 21st century. All those topics are still very much a reality, and unresolved by society in general not only in America but across the world. The film works best when it focuses on the closer interactions between the characters, whereas in the group settings, the stage driven nature of the narrative comes forward and removes a layer of authenticity to what is taking place. And for all the virtuosity of the writing, at times it's precisely that layer which creates a certain distance between the characters and what they're trying to represent and emote. It's nonetheless a potent narrative worth witnessing. The cast is uniformly great, but Jim Parsons really manages to command the attention, with good support from Brian Hutchison, Matt Bomer and Andrew Rannells. The production design from Judy Becker is fantastic, as is the cinematography from the wonderful Bill Pope. Worth watching.
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