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chromo man wrote on 04/22/2013:

This film is far, far better than your typical gay indie flick. The production values are high, and the actors fully bring to life these interesting characters, who, while physically attractive, are not all necessarily likeable. I have read the other reviews, some of which complain that the film does depict some gay characters who behave badly, selfishly. So be it; that makes for a more interesting story, providing the necessary conflict and uncertainty which is the crux of the plot. You won't want to take your eyes off of any of the characters, even as you may cringe at some of their actions. While some may question the writer/director's choices, including some slip-sliding in the narrative stream, there is much to appeal to every viewer. I urge you to crank up the air conditioner, sit back and enjoy this film.

Marty wrote on 08/21/2012:

Hot man dumps BF and moves to Spain. BF finds even hotter BF. Hot man moves back to town and tries to take back BF. Well acted and filmed but pacing was much too slow for my tastes. Too much introspective gazing... Adrian Gonzalez can take off his shirt any time!!

BostonReview wrote on 08/19/2012:

Overall, not a very well acted film. Stereotypical, nd not at all factual, portrayal of gay relationships. Not original at all. Screenplay could have been better well written to include more in depth look at why the character's made the choices they did in the film. I did not understand how a person in a relatioship would risk evrything to have a fling wqith someone who dumped them in the past. I would like to see a more constructive story that had more of a moral undertone.

Doug wrote on 07/21/2012:

Saturday movie night: The 2011 release "August." My verdict? A *** 1/2 of ****. I wanted to like this film more than I did.

Here's why. Of the three main characters, Raul comes across as the most interesting, and sadly the most sympathetic--and the one with the most to lose. Jonathan is torn between a love of the past and his current love and by film's end, we the audience, are not entirely certain if his indecision doesn't destroy everything. Granted, as is pointed out in the film, five years earlier, Jonathan was left heartbroken and his healing process long-lived. And then there is the film's protagonist, Troy. There is no other way to describe him as anything but a self-absorbed, indulgent home wrecker who thinks of little else but his own needs.

One things that struck me about this film was its use of silence. There are a number of scenes with little dialogue that illustrates the director's mastery of this film's subject-matter. At those times of silence, the film's characters--especially Raul, speak volumes.

The film's attractive cast is easy on the eye, almost impossibly so. The film's script is nicely written, the cinematography is top-notch, as is the acting, direction and soundtrack, but the fly in the ointment is this: The film takes a bit too long to arrive at its somewhat inevitable but uncertain conclusion. And it is hard to watch characters make foolish decisions and put themselves in uncomfortable situations that they should have known would only cause grief and heartbreak, but then don't we all sometimes make decisions that puts the heart and the head in conflict?

This is that kind of film. Honest, yet painful to watch. I recommend it.

Grady Harp wrote on 07/06/2012:

Now and then along comes a film that is far more adventuresome than the PR suggests and such is the case of the very well constructed AUGUST. Written and directed by Eldar Rapaport (with Brian Sloan) this is a hard look at love relationships and how the test of time influences the success or failure of commitment. The choice of title reflects the generated heat of contentious relationships and just happens to be set in the time of the infamous Station Fire in Southern California in 2009, the largest and deadliest of the multiple wildfires, burning 160,577 acres (or 251 square miles), destroying countless homes, and killing two firefighters - a time when the Los Angeles basin was without electricity, full of smoke and ashes, and all nerves were on edge regarding the carnage.

Jonathan (Daniel Dugan) and Raul (Adrian Gonzalez) are a contented couple: though they live separately (Raul has married Jonathan's best friend Nina - Hilary Banks - for immigration purposes so they must maintain separate homes) they are devoted to each other and Raul is in the process of planning Jonathan's 30th birthday party. As an unexpected development Troy (Murray Bartlett), Jonathan's ex-boyfriend who has been living in Spain for several years after a painful breakup, arrives in Los Angeles at the height of the heat wave and moves in with his married brother Sean (Bernhard Forcher) and family. Troy calls Jonathan, arranges a meeting for coffee but is sure that Raul will enter the coffee shop to demonstrate the Jonathan is in a committed relationship. But old flames simmer and soon Troy is convincing the not unwilling Jonathan to rekindle their old passion, a liaison that becomes apparent to Raul. At Jonathan's 30th birthday party Nina and her chef boyfriend Nick (Mike Vaughn) invite Troy and Troy's good friend Devon (Brad Standley), and by the end of the evening the group hits the bars to smoke pot and drink. Raul then invites Troy to their home to join Jonathan and him in a physical liaison that results in Troy's `wakeup call' about commitment as he sees the degree of passion between Raul and Jonathan: Troy as an outsider steps away and eventually returns to Spain - but we never know what will occur next.

AUGUST is blessed with a very fine cast of excellent actors who are able to pull off the intimacy of the story with decorum. There are some problems with the film: the director loses the audience with what feels like inadvertent non-linear storyline that disrupts the flow of the story, and the editor of the film David Au has cut and spliced the film in a disturbing and distracting manner. The musical score by Yuval Ron is heated Middle Eastern in flavor and at times covers the dialogue. But the story works in large part because of the exceptional acting and appeal of Murray Bartlett, Daniel Dugan, and Adrian Gonzalez. As the PR states, ` It is an irresistible gay romantic drama!

Grady Harp