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August
No Rating Reuniting
Amos Lassen wrote:
I have decided to return to have another look at Eldar Rapoport’s “August” mainly because I have learned more about and I really want people to be aware of this very special movie, “August” grew out of a short film, “Postmortem” with the same characters but here it is more finely developed. (There is a short review of “Postmortem: here at my site). I suppose that one o the things that brought me back to the film is realizing that the director is Israeli and since I spend much of my life in Israel, anything that comes from there is interesting to me. “August” is the story of two men who once were lovers who went through a long and painful breakup. Troy (Murray Bartlett) has been is Spain for several years and has now returned to Los Angeles and calls Jonathan (Daniel Dugan), his ex, and invites him to meet for coffee. What began as a simple and innocent meeting becomes an attempt to revive what was. It is not so easy though. Jonathan has a new partner, Raul (Adrian Gonzalez) and he tries to do the right thing. Jonathan and Raul have been very happy and even though Jonathan has his own apartment, they practically live together. The situation is a bit complicated in that Raul married Jonathan’s best friend so that he can stay in this country. With Troy’s return to America, things begin to change, Jonathan loved Troy but when his heart was broken by him, he moved on and Troy left for Spain. It was not easy for Jonathan to get over the affair and we see as we look in that Troy is trouble but he wants Jonathan back and he knows that Jonathan is still not over him. For some reason after they have coffee, Jonathan goes home with Troy and when they met for a second they had sex. Raul is a bit suspicious but says nothing because he trusts and respects Jonathan but it seems that Jonathan does not really know what he is doing or what he wants. It is obvious that Troy wants him back. Raul encourages the three of them to come together to celebrate Jonathan’s birthday and they get a little too drunk and into a ménage a trios. Troy finally sees what is happening and he decides to go back to Spain and leave Jonathan and Raul to each other. What is it about this film that has hooked me so? I certainly have not had a similar experience so I am not sure. The character development is fascinating and the three characters are each interesting in his own way. Raul is, of course, the most complicated because he is the third wheel and he does not know how to react to what Jonathan is doing. Most of his feelings were reflected in his eyes which said more than any line of dialogue. Jonathan had a certain charm that obviously both Raul and Troy felt and he was in a position that he had to make a decision which could not have been easy for him. Certainly the idea for the story is not new. All of us have felt something for an ex. Is it perhaps the sex that is missed? Troy is a playboy and seems like he would have no trouble finding a man when he wants one so it is hard for us to see what the attraction of Jonathan is. Could it perhaps be that Troy is hurt to see Jonathan in a relationship? While the scenes seem disconnected, we realize at the end that everything was connected. The dialogue between the characters was also strange in that some of them just ended or wound down. I found that there is a certain sensuality and sensitivity in the film which makes the sexual tension very real. The film is a visual feast with beautiful cinematography that sweeps the viewer into the film and the actors portray their characters realistically. This is a movie of the senses that relies upon nonverbal communication to give us sexual tension. There are many different layers to the film which allow for as many different ways of understanding what we see. We know the characters only superficially and in reference to what is happening at present and we do not need to know more than that.
No Rating Sometimes a Re-Tread just doesn't take......
just a reviewer wrote:
2.5 STARS are awarded (( BACKGROUND FOR VIEWERS: This Feature Length film is a reworking of Director Eldar Rapaport's 2005, well received Short, "Postmortem" )) "August"....whatever is meant by that, you might ask? Well, rather than looking at the title as being merely a play on words, let's just assume what's meant is the "simmering"..."sweat-drenched"..."torridness"...of that particular time in the yearly weather cycle. In fact, this is what becomes visually and audibly obvious to us, as our actors/characters experience sometimes uncomfortably high temperatures---a condition reinforced by repeated soundtrack use of Los Angeles area weathercasts. So, indeed, this film does have "Heat"! But, it's not just that sort of "Hotness" which involves us....because "Lovemaking Action" makes up a significant part of what's being shown in this film. Still and all, IF a film director is going to expand an earlier released 16 minute Short into a 100 minute, Feature Length work....and essentially retain the same storyline and same 2 lead characters (tho now 6 years older)....there has GOT to be more provided than "Heat"....more than "Hotness". Admittedly, a much lessor role in the short film's "triangle of 3 guys" has notably (and most SIZZLINGLY) been expanded in this 2011 production. For now we see the character of "Raul" being torridly played by relative newcomer, Adrian Gonzalez (giving us something not weather-related which IS HOT). Oh, and we also have added a female role in the form of B(Girl)FF (and Green Card facilitator) "Nina", played by Hillary Banks. Now, allow this Reviewer to give just a few closing thoughts involving the "old and new" productions, as coming from someone who's lived with the former for years...and with the latter for a couple of viewings: - In the Short's early scene...involving former lovers meeting up again at an outdoor coffee house...there was an intimacy, a "Heat" between the 2, which burned off the screen and into the viewer. That is pretty much missing in today's re-tread scene and, for me, is due to one actor in particular. - Adding several extraneous scenery and street-related shots may add minutes to a feature's length....but it does not add interest. - I was sometimes left wondering which way writing and direction were heading with the sex shots. There is an anal sex scene, with virtually a full length, nude shot of the 2 going at it. Yet, at another point we're given an after-sex scene---our leads still together in bed---BUT wearing underwear (even tho the camera is, obviously, avoiding any "crotch shots"). Are we advertising boxer briefs? Is this CBS or NBC network TV, or what? Does our director expect this is ever going to be shown as a K-Thru-12 afternoon school special? - What I would consider a production glitch involves occasional sound problems, with music and background conversations drowning out conversation between lead characters (this is even with earphone listening). There is no captioning provided...at least in my Region 2 DVD release. FINALLY -- Perhaps the best thing I can draw from this comparison of Short vs. Feature Length film, is that the feature definitely gives us a FINAL Ending...one which cannot be misconstrued or that is left up in the air. And even better than that....everyone gets what they deserve. PS -- Writer/Director Rapaport strikes me as being particularly capable of developing intense and interesting storylines; he should stick to doing that...in all-new works. (I do acknowledge it is not easy for anyone to expand a short story into an acclaimed full-length novel...let alone achieve fully successful refilming.)