URBANIA
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Sound format: Dolby Digital
Haunted by recent tragedy, a young gay man (Dan Futterman) encounters various wild characters whilst pursuing a stranger (Samuel Ball) whose life is inextricably bound with his own.
Aside from a fragmented opening montage which annoys more than it informs, there's much to admire in Jon Shear's study of sadness, alienation and urban mythology, based on the stageplay 'Urban Folk Tales' by Daniel Reitz (who co-wrote the film's screenplay). Futterman is terrific as a man torn apart by grief, seeking closure through his pursuit of a rough stranger (Ball), though the reason for his odd behavior is kept back from the audience until the climax, when quarry and prey are brought together by a series of dramatic revelations. The gorgeous Matt Keeslar (SPLENDOR) plays Futterman's boyfriend with loving grace - their scenes together are warm, tender and more than a little sexy - and Shear makes the most of a fine supporting cast, including Alan Cumming (as a former party animal, now dying from an AIDS-related illness), Lothaire Bluteau (JESUS OF MONTREAL), Josh Hamilton (ALIVE), Paige Turco (TV's "The Agency") and Christopher Bradley (hunky co-star of David DeCoteau's LEATHER JACKET LOVE STORY). Quirky, dramatic and heartfelt, URBANIA is an unusual entry in recent gay cinema, and worth a look.
NB. Samuel Ball plays the mugger whose life takes a radical turn for the worst following a late night encounter with Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) in 'Downtown Crossing', a memorable stand-alone episode of TV's "Dawson's Creek" which first aired in 2002.
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Sound format: Dolby Digital
Haunted by recent tragedy, a young gay man (Dan Futterman) encounters various wild characters whilst pursuing a stranger (Samuel Ball) whose life is inextricably bound with his own.
Aside from a fragmented opening montage which annoys more than it informs, there's much to admire in Jon Shear's study of sadness, alienation and urban mythology, based on the stageplay 'Urban Folk Tales' by Daniel Reitz (who co-wrote the film's screenplay). Futterman is terrific as a man torn apart by grief, seeking closure through his pursuit of a rough stranger (Ball), though the reason for his odd behavior is kept back from the audience until the climax, when quarry and prey are brought together by a series of dramatic revelations. The gorgeous Matt Keeslar (SPLENDOR) plays Futterman's boyfriend with loving grace - their scenes together are warm, tender and more than a little sexy - and Shear makes the most of a fine supporting cast, including Alan Cumming (as a former party animal, now dying from an AIDS-related illness), Lothaire Bluteau (JESUS OF MONTREAL), Josh Hamilton (ALIVE), Paige Turco (TV's "The Agency") and Christopher Bradley (hunky co-star of David DeCoteau's LEATHER JACKET LOVE STORY). Quirky, dramatic and heartfelt, URBANIA is an unusual entry in recent gay cinema, and worth a look.
NB. Samuel Ball plays the mugger whose life takes a radical turn for the worst following a late night encounter with Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) in 'Downtown Crossing', a memorable stand-alone episode of TV's "Dawson's Creek" which first aired in 2002.