Writer: Lee Galea
Stars: Tristan Barr, Lucas Linehan, Rohana Hayes, Jeremy Kewley, Nicola Eveleigh, Marlene Magee, Marcel Reluctant, Katrina Maree
Monster Pies isn't a very well made film, but it's terribly moving. Once it gets more exposure, there's no doubt in my mind that it will be seen as an LGBT cinematic treasure. It's an important film for Australia too, a country that has only had brief exposure to gay themes on television and in film (Priscilla being the most notable film). It took me a while to get into the movie, because it was hard to get past the shabby production value. As the leading actors took their stride and developed an infectious chemistry, the romance took off and led me on yet another incredibly moving experience. Isn't it weird though, that a film like this (which is far from great) is one that I'll never forget. It does pack a punch, and it will stay with you.
We follow the life of Mike (Tristan Barr), who is an awkward teenager that works in a video store, and also gets teased about his sexuality. In his English class, Mike gets paired with an attractive new student, Will (Lucas Linehan), who has a manly exterior, but hidden sensitivity. They have to create a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, which forces them to spend lots of time together. As they work on their project, they start having loads of fun and establish a unique connection. It's a coming of age story (which is prevalent in LGBT films), but it's more realistic and moving than most.
From the get-go, it’s obvious that this is an extremely
low-budget film. The font of the opening credits, and the horrendously
performed opening exchange by Mike and his teacher just left me nervous
about how the rest of the film would unfold. In the first 5 minutes alone,
we’re exposed to some of the most frequent romance movie clichés in the movie
business. The long first glance, helping each other pick up dropped papers,
having to share a book in class, being unintentionally over-enthusiastic about
seeing him… trust me, this list goes on.
There are some really off-putting things in this movie. One
of them being that Mike works in a Video-tape renting store. No, not DVDs, but
videos. I haven’t seen a DVD store sell VHS tapes since I was in 5th
Grade, so it’s a curious sight to behold. Another thing that put me off was the
unoriginal comedy clichés, such as the classic “see anything you like” gag. I don’t know what director Lee Galea was
going for, but this film is so aware of itself. Many of the actors don’t know
the meaning of the word ‘subtle,’ the script is filled with moments straight
out of other movies, and the choppy and amateur style bugged me. I want to have
mercy on this film, but then I just wouldn't be honest to myself and my
readers. While this grained on me in the beginning, I really got into the film as it focused more on Will.
Lucas Linehan is an actor to look out for. |
On this sea of bad acting and shabby film craftsmanship,
floated the revelation that is Lucas Linehan. His performance is the sunshine that
turned the film into a really enjoyable one. There are some pretty great
moments in the film, and they ALL include him. One of my favourites being when
he looks back at Mike in the side-view mirror of the car. It was quick and
subtle, but it showed us that Mike is on his mind. All of the moments where they
rehearsed their Romeo and Juliet assignment were… extremely heart-warming. I just
felt overjoyed at the ‘wolfman kiss’ scene. They did that really well, and Tristan Barr’s
facial expression afterwards was his greatest moment in the film.
As time goes on and the story progresses, everything feels
so much smoother and more entertaining. The romance develops nicely, due to the
chemistry the leads share out of the blue. After the ‘wolfman kiss’ scene, I
really started to get into the character’s and their story. The swimming pool
scene, which was also cliché to the max, was done exquisitely. I really liked
the metaphor they used to describe the two, and the LGBT community. Mike is
Frankenstein, who is feared and misunderstood. Will is the Wolfman, who is
trying to cope with his change into a monster. The monsters are the LGBT
community, who are hunted by the villagers (ignorant and stubborn people: the real monsters). They used this
metaphor as a way to recreate Romeo and Juliet, and I just loved it. I’d give it
an 'A' if I was an English teacher. The music really impressed me too, ranging
from classical scores like Fur Elise to beautiful love ballads by the school
dance band. The second half just took flight and became a really solid film. Well, up until the mother exploded at Mike. When it comes to melodrama,
it either has to be done perfectly, or not at all.
I felt really moved by the end of the film because of a lot
of things. I absolutely adore the message this film sends to LGBT teens, which
is to not be afraid any more. It's so important that kids know to come out and be who they are, because this world will never change unless people are honest with themselves. There was a really touching song that played too,
which almost moved me to tears. Most importantly, it was because of the moving
performance by Lucas Linehan, who was
the heart and soul of the film. This isn’t a refined film, but its message and
emotional impact managed to make me like it a lot.
Um, it's set in the 90s which is why there's a video store. The low budget look is a throwback to the quality of film back in the day as well.
ReplyDeleteTypical dumb ASS movie by a typical dumb ASS hetero who has no clue whatsoever about the topic he's trying to convey!! This movie is a stereotypical bullshit trash movie following the same old tried and true boring formula: gay relationships will leave you with nothing but heartache because ALL homosexuals are of course by our very nature either 1) Violent 2) depressed 3) Suicidal and of course 4) ALL OF THE ABOVE!! Moral of the story here: stay in the closet and be "normal" or your going to be FUCKED! This fucking so called dumb ass hetero "director" needs to be shot in the head and used for fertilizer. I give this fuckin' movie a ONE star because I'm not sure if I can give it anything less. fucking hour and a half of my life I'll never get back again!
ReplyDeleteCalm down.
DeleteI feel your pain but why perpetuate the cliché of violence by gays! If you didn't like the movie - carry on! No one needs to get shot and the world remains peaceful.
Delete