(2000, USA) 
Director: Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave 
Producer: Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave
Starring: Ben Redgrave ; Ben Berkowitz ; Rachel Tomlinson 

Straightman, a new feature written and produced by its stars Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave, offers up a gritty, unvarnished portrait of two men at a crossroads. David (Berkowitz) is a crude, overweight lothario, managing a bleak Chicago comedy club. His best friend Jack (Redgrave) is a clumsily-dressed blue-collar guy with careless grooming habits. 

The set-up: As the movie begins, David and Jack are dumped by their respective girlfriends and the two bachelors move in together. The punchline: Jack confesses to David that he is gay! 

At this point Straightman could have become yet another variation on The Odd Couple, but Ben and Ben (the filmmakers) had higher ambitions and instead serve up a gritty rambling tale with an improvisational feel that explores the delicate parameters of male friendship. Both the womanizing David and the gay slacker Jack stumble though the rest of the film in search of the slender plot, while we enjoy their interaction and angst. Jack quickly finds a boyfriend to bring to bed. His corpulent straight buddy David has a series of one night stands culminating in a graphic shag on the shag carpet, producing both rug burns and remorse. 

As a rule, real life sex never looks as good as it does in the movies. This is not the case in Straightman. But after the carefully lighted, sleekly choreographed couplings that climax higher budget films, the presentation of realistic body types grunting about under fluorescent bulbs is almost refreshing. Almost. 

Straightman also offers one of the most non-stereotypical portrayals of a gay man yet brought to screen. The very handsome Ben Redgrave is almost unrecognizable onscreen as the stumbling, sloppy Jack in his dirty T-shirt and workpants. Forget Abs of Steel -- his only six-pack is in the refrigerator. 

Stylistically Straightman is uneven and, depending on the scene, begs comparison to the best of Mike Leigh and the worst of Paul Morrissey. The low budget film boasts few visual delights, and the story "line" is more of a "squiggle." But ultimately Straightman succeeds on the strength of its acting and brilliant down-to-earth dialogue. It isn't fluff. It isn't eye-candy. This is a must-see, take-a-friend, form-discussion-groups-in-the-lobby sort of flick. 

--Steve Pride 


Source : Obtained from PlanetOut.Com