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Amos Lassen wrote on 02/10/2011:

“CIRCUIT”
Drugs, Drugs, Drugs and Bois
Amos Lassen
We know that drug addiction is a problem in the gay community and especially at circuit parties, but “Circuit” (TLA Releasing) goes a bit to far with its assumption that everyone at a circuit party is a druggie. The film does say what the drug laden circuit party syndrome does to its victims but it presents a picture that is not true for anyone. But have no feat, there is a happy ending.
Dirk Shafer (former Playgirl man of the year and subject of a film of that name) directed this expose of the circuit party scene. It is an interesting look at the gay dance marathons that travel the United States. Let me start with the good points. The characters are beautiful specimens of masculinity and can even act. The story is compelling and interesting and the costumes are fantastic. The characters are such that they make you care for them. The idea of a movie within a movie is wonderful and it allowed the characters to express their points of view and showed them at their most vulnerable even though they saw themselves as invincible. The deterioration of the characters is real but hard to watch because it is real. There are some excellent performances and by and large the movie is well done. It also makes those that disagree with it angry. It is a picture of the way some live but it does not represent all of us. It is about circuit boys and not about the gays that live a regular life. It is not just about circuit parties as it explores the characters in detail.
It all begins with a cop in the Midwest who leaves it behind to move to West Hollywood and opens up his repressed past and learns to accept it. He experiences everything about circuit life—the drugs, the sex, the emphasis on physical appearance and beauty and he falls from grace and has to deal with the results of his drug use and the changes in his lifestyle.
We get to know other characters too and the viewer gains a sense of who they are and why they behave the way they do. Some of the issues dealt with in the movie are the fear of aging and the perpetual party, perfect body toning, and of course drug usage. It has something to say and if you can get through the shallowness that hits you in the face at first, there is something to see and absorb. It is a good depiction of the subject matter. The bodies are amazing, the guys are handsome. It presents a very deductive atmosphere.
What failed in the movie? For one the sound is horrible although the soundtrack is great. It is very hard to understand some of what is said. Production value is sorely lacking and although some of the characters deliver fine performances there are some really weak ones as well.
Overall, I enjoyed the film but I did see its shortcomings. It is a move toward helping us establish a genre of our own so it is welcome. Even if it is not perfect, it has something to say.

Ric wrote on 06/21/2004:

This movie was a very well acted and true account of circuit parties. This movie is very disturbing on many levels. All the acting was very good. Sexy men to look at, but not after you scratch the surface.

cris (marcus_feng@yahoo.com.cn) wrote on 03/22/2004:

Nice film. twisted plots, beautiful actors. Sad truth.
A hustler find his true love before his 30 birthday, under the beautiful body, he got no friend and no thought. and he died on his 30 birthday. He choose to die, without explanation.

A former cop, came from a small town to LA, experienced what he had dreamed of--completely free life, he lost quickly, party filled all his life, together with drug and sex. He finally drew out.

A film maker, honestly record the party life of circuit boys with his DV, is he also a circuit boy, he dont know either.

King of the party, a dancer supposed to die find he will live much longer than he had thought, but how about the insurance his boss bought for him?

Temptation is all around, you have to learn to control yourself, maybe this is the only one point that clearly showed up in this film. Never play with your own life.

Finally question, Why
hector must die? I dont think this is a unavoidable result, after he found his love, he found his friend, he realized his life has been wasted for so long, how could he choose to die without even try to rebuild his life? Mayeb a sad ending normally will make the whole film more touching to viewer, but its not necessarily true.

Average Movie Fan wrote on 01/25/2004:

This movie plays like a "very special episode" of Queer As Folk, it's that vapid. While I don't doubt there are guys as attractive as the lead who have self esteem problems, credible actors who could have pulled it off would've helped. There are probably two things folks will find entertaining about this movie, and they aren't the acting or the writing.

One is the assortment of unusual "blasts from the past" filling small roles, like William Katt, Nancy Allen, Jim J. Bullock, heck even Bruce Villanch is in this thing (what, was Paul Reubens busy?) I'm not counting Paul "Boom Boom Let's Go Back To My Room" Lekakis because he has a fairly large role, and will be remembered for shooting up in a way that makes "Requiem For A Dream" seem like "The Man With The Golden Arm".

The other thing is the amount of hot guys shown will little to no clothes on, but you can catch that on the aforementioned QAF. On second thought, fans of that show should love this flick. Run, don't walk.

Hector wrote on 12/11/2003:

The scene is HOT! the actors are HOT! and the story line is HOT! Oh and Hector and Bobby are HOT! I love Hector performance. He is so convincing. TLA please please make a sequel of this movie. I'm looking forward to see more circuit movies in the future.