A number of good things (one not so) have been said by 11 commenters preceding me, particularly about acting levels and the "realness' achieved in picturing a gay teen's environment at the beginning of the 1990's. I can't disagree with those points in the least, but do feel the need to express the following less than positive observations.
No notable bettering in this film of 1998's very well done "Edge of Seventeen." One would think, seven or so years after that earlier production, the bar would have crept higher.
While "Dorian Blues" does have lots of what I'll call 'cutesy' (the lead, himself, being particularly so), elsewhere there's definitely an 'OVERmuch' amount (film's first half) of:
--A Dad who could be best described as A 'Mean Ole' one & A Mom who could essentially be labeled as 'Mummified' (Mom only comes into her own at film's end........as does Dad, for that matter / LOL).
--A L'il Brother who enjoys the position of the 'Better-than' son (even if he is presented as generally supportive of Dorian and possibly his best ally).
Sadly, what there's an 'UNDERmuch' amount of is time spent on Dorian's New York City escapades (and I don't mean those with visiting brother-from-home.........well, this movie is supposed to be gay, for Pete's sake).
At bout's end, "Edge of Seventeen" remains the winner.
PS: Not much 7-years-progress evident to us in the on-screen romance department either: one very timid kiss. (Oh, I see, you don't look for 'that kind' of scene in any romance film, gay or straight. Interesting.)
****
No notable bettering in this film of 1998's very well done "Edge of Seventeen." One would think, seven or so years after that earlier production, the bar would have crept higher.
While "Dorian Blues" does have lots of what I'll call 'cutesy' (the lead, himself, being particularly so), elsewhere there's definitely an 'OVERmuch' amount (film's first half) of:
--A Dad who could be best described as A 'Mean Ole' one & A Mom who could essentially be labeled as 'Mummified' (Mom only comes into her own at film's end........as does Dad, for that matter / LOL).
--A L'il Brother who enjoys the position of the 'Better-than' son (even if he is presented as generally supportive of Dorian and possibly his best ally).
Sadly, what there's an 'UNDERmuch' amount of is time spent on Dorian's New York City escapades (and I don't mean those with visiting brother-from-home.........well, this movie is supposed to be gay, for Pete's sake).
At bout's end, "Edge of Seventeen" remains the winner.
PS: Not much 7-years-progress evident to us in the on-screen romance department either: one very timid kiss. (Oh, I see, you don't look for 'that kind' of scene in any romance film, gay or straight. Interesting.)
****