Burning Blue (DVD + UltraViolet)

By: Robert O'Neill
In-House Review - Jun 24 2014

Packed with homoeroticism, Burning Blue tells the story of a close knit group of Navy pilots who find themselves in some pretty hot water during the days of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

Within their small Navy squadron, pilots Dan (Trent Ford) and Will (Morgan Spector) are best buddies. When Will's deteriorating eyesight leads to a series of serious mishaps involving F-18 jets, Dan covers for him. Their tight bond is threatened, however, when hunky Matthew Blackwood (Rob Mayes) enters the scene.

Though they both identify as straight, Dan and Matt have a quick flirtation that soon turns into a cautious romance. One night on leave, Dan and Matt go drinking together and end up at a gay bar with two women. Good sports, they toss their shirts off and grind on the dance floor with the rest of the sweaty, scantly-clad men. When they end up back at their hotel room later with their dates, they seem far more interested in each other than they are in the girls.

After much apprehension, the two men give in to their intense longing and confess their feelings for one another. Their romance is cut short, however, when a government agent (Michael Sirow) arrives to determine what may be at the root of Will's recent accidents and discovers, through the grapevine, that the pilots may be engaging in some sordid homosexual behavior. Queue the ensuing witch-hunt!

Based on writer-director D.M.W. Greer's 1992 play of the same name, Burning Blue sports impressive production values for a low-budget stage-to-screen adaptation. The cast is also uniformly terrific - and very easy on the eyes. With longing, suggestive glances, Trent Ford and Rob Mayes create palpable sexual tension (which builds to an exciting release), while Morgan Spector conveys the right amount of jealously as the antagonistic best friend who feels left behind. William Lee Scott (familiar to gay movie fans from The Opposite of Sex) is also a stand-out, offering comedic relief as the sweet-natured prankster of the group.

Also worth noting, the original stage play was loosely based on D.M.W. Greer's own personal experiences in the Navy. The film reminds us of a time, not long ago, when homophobia ran rampant in our military and gay soldiers were to hide their identities - all while serving up a steamy, touching story about two star-crossed hunks in love.

By: Birdutters

I was hoping for a love scene, but that never showed up. I guess if you're in a gay bar, that mean you had gay sex. That was an awkward scene, two girls, two guys, and the guys never touched but they had sex, right. NCIS agents came across as gay.Two stars.

By: Blane

By: Peter

By: Colorful Kent

By: Amos Lassen

"BURNING BLUE"

A Witch Hunt

Amos Lassen

Daniel and William are both very handsome elite aircraft pilots and they have been the best of friends. Yet their friendship was tested after there were two fatal accidents on their aircraft carrier. A government agent is sent to investigate what happened and the investigation turns to a new direction when a sailor claims that he saw Daniel with Matthew, another pilot, at a gay club. Daniel and three of his squadron mates and their spouses all become the subject of a deadly modern day witch hunt entangling them in a web of jealousy and deceit which tests their concept of love, friendship and honor and changes their lives forever.

Using a novel plot idea, we get a different kind of gay film but I had a bit of a problem when so much time was spent (40 minutes) exploring the nature of the friendship of Daniel and William. Then when we see Daniel and Matthew together, we get no background on the nature of their friendship and this was the main focus of the film. There was also little emphasis on the supporting players in the event. The idea of the film is important and even with that criticism, films like this should be seen. The actors are excellent and the cinematography is crisp and clean. The nature of friendship has been overlooked for two long in gay film and when it is included, it is usually done so in passing.