From Deseret News archives:
Love! Valour! Compassion!
Film review
It's doubtful that independent filmmaker John Sayles thought his 1980 reunion drama "Return of the Secaucus 7" would spawn quite so many imitations.
First up was Lawrence Kasdan's "The Big Chill," the 1983 hit that launched the careers of some of its stars (including William Hurt, Jeff Goldblum and Glenn Close). Film academicians continue to debate which film is better (though I would probably lean toward the former, which has slightly better writing and structure).
The trend has now spread to gay playwrights and filmmakers, who seem to be stuck in a similar formulaic rut. An argument could be made that this group of creators is actually copying the 1970 film "The Boys in the Band" if not for the fact that they swipe key story elements from the Sayles and Kasdan films, without so much as a thank-you (especially the amateurish "Everything Relative").
The latest of this group is "Love! Valour! Compassion!" based on Terrence McNally's hit Broadway play. And while it, too, borrows heavily from Sayles and contains way too much in the way of beefcake full male nudity, it has a few things in its favor that the others didn't a keen sense of humor and a terrific cast, led by Jason Alexander (from TV's "Seinfeld") and John Glover.
In it, eight gay men spend three separate summer holiday weekends at a Victorian home owned by Gregory (Stephen Bogardus), a 40ish choreographer. Joining him are Bobby (Justin Kirk), his younger, and blind, lover; gay yuppies Arthur (John Benjamin Hickey) and Perry (Stephen Spinella); John (John Glover), an overbearing English composer; John's new lover, Ramon (Randy Becker); and Buzz (Alexander), a fan of Broadway musicals whose body has begun feeling the ravages of AIDS.
Over the course of the holidays, several situations come to a head Ramon tempts Bobby into several near-trysts, Arthur and Perry fight but stay together and John reconciles with his estranged twin, James (also played by Glover), who is also suffering from AIDS and who charms the whole house full of guests.
To be honest, there's not much here that we haven't seen before especially the confrontational dinner discussion scene although the athletic competition scene has an interesting twist, thanks to Alexander's preening performance.
As mentioned, the other performers are very good as well, especially Glover, whose "confrontation" between the twins is certainly the film's best scene.
But Joe Mantello, who also directed the play, gives things a static feel with his unimaginative style. Also, the midnight skinny-dipping scene at the end is a copout and seems like a concession to give audiences a "happy ending."
"Love! Valour! Compassion!" is rated R for considerable profanity and full male nudity, a few vulgar gags and references, some discreet sex, violence and a couple of racial epithets.
Comments
Cast: Jason Alexander, Randy Becker, Stephen Bogardus, John Glover, John Benjamin Hickey, Justin Kirk, Stephen Spinella
Find a Movie Theater
- Wildcats pounded by the Tribe 5:40 p.m.
- Cougars lead Utes 10-6 at halftime 4:56 p.m.
- TSA gets Grinchy with snow globes 4:34 p.m.
- Luxury resort in depressed Rhode Is. 4:34 p.m.
- Jones' joy for life remembered 4:09 p.m.
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor 4:05 p.m.
- 'A Christmas Story' opens this week 4:05 p.m.
- Art gallery exhibitions this week 4:05 p.m.
- Special exhibits and programs 4:05 p.m.
- Utah concert calendar 4:05 p.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Running game key to BYU offense
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
272 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
134 - Boys basketball rankings
134 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
113 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
111 - Letters: Trump card for believers
98 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
76
Has anyone heard about the Bottle Hollow Resort on the Ute reservation?
Re Crazy: People arbitrarily decide how much a teacher should make, so it...
No question everything is going BYU's way: the calls, the bounces, the...
This woman speaks the truth....your butt really does look big in those...
Well, sir, I believe there is hope yet for the X, Y and Z generatiosn of...
Modern medicine didn't even exist when this country was founded. Health...
I want to comment on a XM show you did on subliminal suggestions. I recently...
Yes, we Latter-day Saints do indeed celebrate Christmas, in fact, the...
Yes, LDS are fully commissioned officers in the US Armed Forces, and they all...
The police routinely cycle in and out of military units now in the national...




You can be the first to comment on this story.