Movie Review: Prick Up Your Ears

Oh gee, everyone, look another dead gay man movie. I am beginning to think that the only way gay men die is via violent reaction.

Oh wait, this is from the eighties. I suppose that has something to do with it. You would have thought better...I mean, look at the pedigree--Stephen Frears from Dangerous Laisons, Gary Oldman actually being nice and good-looking (I usually recall him from Dracula, back in 92, a personal fave) and our current Spiderman 2 villian, Doctor Octopus himself, Alfred Molina. You would think they could have ended the movie without violence.

Still, I had heard about the title from some friends and decided to take a look at it.

I have to say, as I watched this movie, even tho the gay guy bites it, I kept thinking--it's not out of spite. It's not because the society at large wants him to die--something modern Hollywood still attests to. In the end of this movie, it's because the act of murder was a natural outpouring of the conflict of the tale. You see, this was a true story of the very bizarre relationship between famed playwright Joe Morton and his frequent collaborator. I dare not say lover, even tho they were. Their relationship was as unique as this drama. They were together, yes, but it was different from monogomous, but apart from swingers. Their relationship was borderline a muse and his artist, but even that would put boundaries on something that defied description.

I began to become impressed with the title as the movie, like so many English flicks, played too long. The uniqueness of their relationship drew me in and kept me wondering what was exactly happening. I already knew one was going to die in the end..but who and why eluded me. Especially that why part.

I applaud the audacity of the movie-it is far from humourous and also distanced by the time period (the 80's) that is was released in. But still, I felt it was expertly constructed and the actor's didn't shy away from their flings and loves. Straight actors tend to come off as being straight playing gay. Here, it was not a factor.

Surely, above average and the reason I have netflix. To see movies with enough polish that they should not be forgotten.