Dare

This movie, short as it was, was HOT! The two post-adolescents discovering their sexuality reminded me of those fumbling high school experiences I once had. I remember the awkwardness and newness of youth, and to be honest, seeing this movie made me miss being 18 a bit.

The lead character actors in the film must have been over 18, though, given the material with which they were working, but nevertheless, both were able to adequately portray the fresh faced innocence that the part required. And seriously, these guys were HOT.

I think I'll stop now before I start sounding like an old perv (though I'm only in my 20's!).

Check it out if you have a chance! It's worth the time.

-s-

What to say about a classic of genre ? Maybe to appreciate the details , more than the story, the nice performances, the sweet relation between so different young men, to admire the impecable construction of sensuality and the end. A night, two high school boys, a pool and the first kiss for one of them. Enough for a reasonable story and for fair portrait of emotions.

Sometimes, small is beautiful.

This touching and sexy short film makes the most of its rather traditional set-up (geeky gay fancies straight Adonis) and turns it into something rather wonderful.

The closest high school senior Ben gets to gorgeous jock Johnny is shining a spotlight on him during rehearsals for A Streetcar Named Desire (and there is something of the tremulous fragility of a Tennessee Williams heroine in Adam Fleming's touching portrayal of gay Ben.) On stage, playing Stanley Kowalski, Michael Cassidy's handsome but arrogant Johnny can't remember his lines.

A solution presents itself, as Ben offers to help him rehearse. It doesn't look promising, as it doesn't appear that Johnny's memory even extends as far as remembering Ben's name: "Light Boy" is the best he can do.

The rehearsal takes place poolside at Johnny's home - with refreshments courtesy of abandoned champagne from a recent party of his parents'. It's a bit corny to put the boys next to a pool - gee, I wonder if they'll strip off - but it works.

As they drink, run lines and chat their relationship develops. Saying any more would spoil it, but it is a testament to the skill of the screenwriter and the two young actors that each step along the way is handled with great appreciation for the many nuances and feints of adolescent male sexuality.

As Johnny, Cassidy is spectacularly charismatic - with a megawatt smile that could light up LA. (It's no surprise that he auditioned for Superman, and it's a wonder that Bryan Singer let him get away.)

Taking an age-old story and making it come alive, plaudits all round. Apparently, director Adam Salky hopes to turn Dare into a feature film. Let's hope he does.

The same creative talents expanded this story to involve a love triangle, but I prefer this short-form version for its simplicity. This version is merely about a teen same-sex attraction on Ben's part. The feature presents Johnny as a lonely character seeking acceptance and Ben and his friend as a pair who want to use him for their personal amusement. Stick with the shorter version!

"Light Boy" Ben admires Johnny, the star of the new school play ("A streetcar named desire"). Unbeknownst to Johnny, this admiration will soon turn into lust. What then? Can the two boys remain friends or after certain limits are crossed there is no turning back? When Johnny invites Ben to swim together after having a few drinks, the conversation will become more intimate.

Both actors manage to convey a youthful spark, while at the same time expressing defined personalities in this brief story. It was especially interesting to see Michael Cassidy play a role only too familiar to his character in The OC or Hidden Palms, although here perhaps he is a most riveting seducer, full of sensuality.

There is something very subtle in the way these two boys interact with each other. Not only because of the ambiguous source of desire that ignites a more contact physical exchange between them or Ben's suggestion of practicing a fellatio on Johnny. As they move swiftly in the swimming pool, it's easy to realize that, indeed, something lies beneath the surface.

In the credits, director Adam Salky acknowledges filmmaker Tom Kalin; then it should be easy to understand why the fascination towards ambiguity and the subtlety are paramount guidelines in this short film.