Boys In Love

ACHILLES
Review appeared in Complicated Shadows 
Ten-minute retelling of Achilles' relationship with Patroclus during the Trojan War, done in excellent claymation. Achilles works primarily because Purves respects the Greek legend, yet convincingly tells the tale in a unique way. The gist of his tale is that Achilles' wartime deeds were tied to his affections for his companion/servant. The most interesting twist is the possibility that the other Greek commanders exploited their relationship to get Achilles back into battle -- they appeal to Patroclus to masquerade as Achilles figuring that he'll be killed and Achilles will be motivated back into battle to avenge him. The reliance on voice-over to tell the story isn't always successful, and the story isn't always as clear as it should be, but Achilles is a unique work, and certainly worth watching. 

DIRTY BABY DOES FIRE ISLAND 
Review appeared in Articulate 
Downing's first film, Dirty Baby Does Fire Island is visually intoxicating with its rich colors and highly stylized shots. This eight minute stop-motion animated film holds the audience captive in the strange world of Fire Island where inhabitants engage in sport, substance abuse, and gay sex. Audience reaction to the sex seemed too polite, too quiet compared to the laughter evoked from the film's lighter scenes. The images are complimented by the film's richly layered audio constructions which commands your heartbeat to the same pitter patter pulse of Dirty Baby's own excited rhythms. Through the observations of Dirty Baby, a doll washed ashore, we learn that unless you're a seasoned team player, the rituals of Fire Island will have you reeling through the vast blue sky. 

KAREN BLACK LIKE ME
Review appeared in ETC 
Karen Black Like Me is a queerly hilarious take-off on the most famous segment of that classic Karen Black TV movie "Trilogy of Terror". Everyone knows that one - it's about a mousy housewife terrorized by a murderous cursed Devil Doll bent on her destruction. In this short film, a repressed and prudish gay man matching Black's eye-popping hysteria scream for scream, is trapped in his sterile apartment by a menacing object with a different, 'uh, thrust. The sexual humor is a bit obvious but quite funny. Featuring veteran actor Anita Gillette as the man's smothering mama. 

Source : Obtained from Movie Homepage