Review by Scott Cranin
By: Scott Cranin
In-House Review - Aug 06 2007
You know who they are - it's those guys with the close-cropped haircuts, buff shaved bodies, piercings and tribal tattoos in all the right places. It's those hunks who are into the circuit party scene... it's a brotherhood... it's a total roving part...
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You know who they are - it's those guys with the close-cropped haircuts, buff shaved bodies, piercings and tribal tattoos in all the right places. It's those hunks who are into the circuit party scene... it's a brotherhood... it's a total roving party from one city to the next. The White Party, The Black & Blue Party, The Blue Ball... it's websites, magazines, and promotions everywhere. The scene, as most of us know, has a darker, dirtier side and both parallel elements of the circuit are explored in the sexy documentary When Boys Fly. In what is essentially a profile of four men who go to the White Party in Miami, 2000, the film shines a light on the glorious puddles of men on the dance floor. The shirtless boys are wrapped around each other - ecstasy love radiating from their bodies onto your screen. And we get a glimpse of the nasty morning after of staggering and men, jealousy, depression and anxiety. Tone is 21, he's studying biology, and he has a substance abuse problem. He has OD'd twice, coming near death. His roommate Scott has given him this one last chance to not get high at a party. Brandon is 23, he's a runner, he's extremely close to his Mom, he doesn't do and doesn't want to. Todd is 35 and he's a circuit regular for years. He's attracted to twinkies and brings both his former and present boyfriends to this party. This is a disparate group of guys - they share two things: they are all magazine style gorgeous and they are at The White Party. While When Boys Fly is ostensibly about circuit parties, it manages to explore global issues such as jealousy, neuroses and self-esteem. The film gives us the glorious moments of the hunks on the floor, the nasty problems and it also attempts to go behind the curtain of the gay scene.
Review by Janorm
By: Janorm
This has to be one of the most provocative docudrama, true-to-life films, to come out, depicting the live-for-today-only, circuit party, generation of young men and the utter depths of usage, that has taken place. Current usage even at rec...
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This has to be one of the most provocative docudrama, true-to-life films, to come out, depicting the live-for-today-only, circuit party, generation of young men and the utter depths of usage, that has taken place. Current usage even at recreational levels, will decrease life expectancy by fifty to sixty percent at a minimum! What utter foolishness!! This film should be shown to all High Schools with large Disclaimers at the beginning and at the end of the film. IS TWELVE HOURS OF ESTASCY WORTH YOUR LIFE?!?!?!?!?!?
Review by screenjims
By: screenjims
I will never see a circuit party in this lifetime, but this movie (or documentary) as well as the movie Circuit gave me the full feeling of what it would be like to go to one. I'm gay, open but at 54 yrs old I don't think I should take my shirt off i...
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I will never see a circuit party in this lifetime, but this movie (or documentary) as well as the movie Circuit gave me the full feeling of what it would be like to go to one. I'm gay, open but at 54 yrs old I don't think I should take my shirt off in public or wear spandex shorts (although I really could), but I feel I've been there because of these two films. Get this DVD, (and Circuit), the men are HOT and the emotions are real. I loved it!
Review by Mamas Boy
By: Mamas Boy
I guess I am bias......I watched this film recently and saw what I thoughgt was a really good film. Being one of the people in it, it is very hard to watch it for what it is. I really do think that they have captured an amazing look into circut lif...
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I guess I am bias......I watched this film recently and saw what I thoughgt was a really good film. Being one of the people in it, it is very hard to watch it for what it is. I really do think that they have captured an amazing look into circut life. Many people have said that the film did not include all angles from the circuit world and that it only made a negative impression of it. I say those people are right! If the director was to capture every aspect of a circuit party I would still be in the theatre watching the damn thing for the first time! And as far as exuding a negative "vibe" I think the subjects and people at the party are to blame for that one, not the director. All in all I think it's a good film and I hope you all enjoy it! I gotta run. I hear my mother calling HAHAHAHAHAHA! (now that can be blamed on the editors!)
Cheers,
Brandon
Review by CircuitPup
By: CircuitPup
Please create another sequel. This time please make it a really bad a$$ gay circuit party.
Review by CaFun
By: CaFun
This documentary has a very interesting story. It engages the viewers' attentions from the beginning until the end. I hope the producers will create a sequence but this time it will be "a much more naughtier circuit party". Too bad Fire Island Mor...
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This documentary has a very interesting story. It engages the viewers' attentions from the beginning until the end. I hope the producers will create a sequence but this time it will be "a much more naughtier circuit party". Too bad Fire Island Morning Party (FIMP) has been discontinued. I can't wait to see more of this kind of documentaries. Maybe they should try out the Black & Blue Party in Montreal or the "other" White Party in South Beach.
Review by Provoloney
By: Provoloney
WBF is a sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing, but always engrossing docu of the annual Circuit Party held in Miami Beach. The film does an excellent job of using the Circuit scene as a microcosm of contemporary gay culture. It's subjects are so int...
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WBF is a sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing, but always engrossing docu of the annual Circuit Party held in Miami Beach. The film does an excellent job of using the Circuit scene as a microcosm of contemporary gay culture. It's subjects are so intriguing that you wish this film had future installments, a la the "Up!" series by Michel Apted, so that the viewer can keep tabs on the participants.
Review by Netguy
By: Netguy
What happens when you take a handful of guys, mix them with thousands of well built, extremely attractive men, throw in some glamour , sex and add a pulsating soundtrack? "When Boys Fly".
In this latest release to dvd, "When Boys Fly"...
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What happens when you take a handful of guys, mix them with thousands of well built, extremely attractive men, throw in some glamour , sex and add a pulsating soundtrack? "When Boys Fly".
In this latest release to dvd, "When Boys Fly", takes you along a journey into the underground world of the circuit party and follows a group of guys ala " MTV's Real World" into this scene of buff bods, heavy duty , and all night partying. It's probably a world many of us have never seen and after watching this I'm really not sure I want to. It's captivating and saddening watching all these gorgeous men party the night away reaching for something most of them will never find. Escaping from their problems and or lives most resort to like ecstacy, "g", and alcohol. And we get to see it all.
Directors Stewart Halpern and Lenid Rolov began the project by posting a website called www.GayRealWorld.com requesting applicants. After receiving thousands of entries they handpicked a select group to be filmed while attending the "White Party" in Miami. And thus the adventure begins.
Meet Tone. Tone is a regular to the circuit world, who against the wishes of his roommate Scott, decides to attend even after he is told he would be kicked out of the house if he gets into trouble with . Tone is a frenzied party animal and has a and alcohol addiction.
Brandon is a straight laced, only child from a Republican family and has never been to a circuit party or seems to have much in the way of a "gay" life and takes this opportunity to see what it's all about. He's out to his mom and seems to have a very close relationship with her and even at one point calls her from the party! A well mannered, cute, adorable guy. The film somewhat centers around him as he's the "guy next door" type and I did find myself relating more to him then the rest.
With a bit of soap opera thrown in, we have Todd, a well built, handsome guy in his mid thirties who is dating a much younger cutie named Jon, 19 at the time. The two of them have also brought along Jason, another young guy who had dated Todd in the past and now all three are friends. Jon seemed a bit hesitant at attending and all three have their own issues to deal with. A disaster just waiting to happen.
Finally, although not an integral character we are introduced to Johnnie another buff, single guy from New York City who is just looking for love. But in all the wrong places.
These are real guys, with real problems and they never hesitate at sharing their thoughts and emotions. The cameras follow these guys from their homes, to Miami, the pool party and into the evening at this infamous world that not everyone has or will experience. But "When Boys Fly" takes you there you really become immersed in the event and I found myself completely drawn in. At times I felt like I wanted to be there and at others sad and sickened by what these guys were doing to themselves. Jeffrey Sanker, a promoter of such events, says at one point, "these guys work hard, and they deserve to play hard". You be the judge. "When Boys Fly" is an excellent, intimate and intriguing look into the world of the underground party circuit.
The dvd runs also includes interviews with Tone and Brandon two years later, audition tapes, over 20 minutes of deleted scenes, interview with director Kevin Weiler, running commentary with the director and Brandon, biographies and four trailers for other TLA releases.
[url=http://www.whenboysfly.com]When Boys Fly[/url]
[url=http://www.tlavideo.com]TLA Releasing[/url]
Review by Jody
By: Jody
Surprisingly engaging and fascinating, candid, shocking and sometimes sad peek through the looking glass to see what really goes on at "gay raves," aka circuit parties. The filmmakers did a great job in showing us the world in which this segment of ...
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Surprisingly engaging and fascinating, candid, shocking and sometimes sad peek through the looking glass to see what really goes on at "gay raves," aka circuit parties. The filmmakers did a great job in showing us the world in which this segment of so-called "A-listers" live and party, and how some newcomers and White Party Veterans are drawn into the circle of rave party life and its immediate results...good and bad. The quick editing makes for a fast-paced viewing and humor is where you might not always expect it in this honest and non-judgemental portrayal of this subculture within a subculture that I believe can be enjoyed by gay and straight young audiences alike.
Review by SankerLover
By: SankerLover
I am an avid DVD collector and having seen this film in two different film festivals I can't wait to own it. There were so many of my friends who couldn't get tickets to see it in the festivals, now we can have a little party and watch it. We were ...
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I am an avid DVD collector and having seen this film in two different film festivals I can't wait to own it. There were so many of my friends who couldn't get tickets to see it in the festivals, now we can have a little party and watch it. We were thinking every time someone says GHB we have to do a bump of K! Ha ha ha just kidding.
Review by fee
By: fee
This documentary is brilliantly shot and edited. The subjects are naturally entertaining. Both funny and sad, and truly enjoyable to watch, this is definitely worth staying in for!
Review by Sun
By: Sun
The unfiltered truth about what can and does go on at Circuit events. I like how the movie told each of the guy's stories from before the events, during parties and the aftermath. Solid production values, edgy camera work and clever editing makes "...
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The unfiltered truth about what can and does go on at Circuit events. I like how the movie told each of the guy's stories from before the events, during parties and the aftermath. Solid production values, edgy camera work and clever editing makes "WBF" an entertaining and insightful film.
Review by getalife
By: getalife
Great filmmaking
Review by greg
By: greg
As a straight man moving to LA, I learned a lot about the gay culture very quickly. After 10 years, "When Boys Fly" let me know in detail exactly how much i didn't know! Powerful stuff
Review by burgess747
By: burgess747
Rolov and Halpern have made a beautiful and powerful film with "When Boys Fly." I had never thought of the world of gay circuit parties as something I would find particularly intriguing, yet this film answered questions I didn't even know I had. A m...
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Rolov and Halpern have made a beautiful and powerful film with "When Boys Fly." I had never thought of the world of gay circuit parties as something I would find particularly intriguing, yet this film answered questions I didn't even know I had. A must see!
Review by wende
By: wende
This is an amazing documentary and well worth the price of admission. It's a riveting and fascinating look into the gay circuit party scene and abuse. The film makers did an excellent job taking you right to the center of it...you feel like you'...
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This is an amazing documentary and well worth the price of admission. It's a riveting and fascinating look into the gay circuit party scene and abuse. The film makers did an excellent job taking you right to the center of it...you feel like you're there! You will not be disapointed!
Review by J.A.
By: J.A.
front to back one of the best documentaries and one of the best productions ever done on gay men... my only complaint: too short. Every gay man must see to understand themselves.