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Alan Cumming, Barbara Sukowa, Dan Futterman, Gabriel Olds, Josh Hamilton ... see more see more... , Lothaire Bluteau , Matt Keeslar , Megan Dodds , Paige Turco , Samuel Ball , Scott Denny , William Sage

Charlie takes an odyssey through grief during a fall weekend in New York City. His encounters are planned and chance: with a homeless man who sleeps by his building, with a friend who's dying, with th... read more read more...e couple who lives (and noisily loves) in the flat above him, with a bartender and a one-night-stand he follows home, and with a tattooed stranger whom he seeks out and befriends. Along the way, Charlie inhabits a city full of moments of violence and of stories and legends: a kidney thief, a microwaved poodle, a rat in a hot dog bun, a baby left on a car top, a tourist's toothbrush, needles in public-phone change slots. Charlie lives and tells his own stories. What caused his melancholy?

Flixster Users

71% liked it

1,569 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

27 critics

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Jon Shear

Release Date: September 15, 2000

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DVD Release Date: March 13, 2001

Stats: 118 reviews

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Dan Futterman
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Flixster Reviews (118)

  • danieljparsons
    February 7, 2007
    danieljparsons
    Extremely twisty, well acted and shot movie that takes a similar plot device to "Urban Legend", only uses it to make a gritty drama about a lost love. Dan Futterman (who scripted Capote and had a guest role in Will & Grace) is a revelation.
  • RicC
    July 4, 2009
    RicC
    Gay urban (You never woulda guessed) tale that's quite interesting in parts, too obvious in others. The director really tries to communicate unfairness for GLBT people, how when compared to straights that have things for granted, life really sucks and it's difficult to enjoy bein... read moreg. I think the beginning is supposed to bring in or attract hetero-thinking people because it seems to be a normal "straight" story with a wicked taste. It's deceiving and ambiguous until the terms "boyfriend" and "him" pop up. I think even the lead actor is straight in real life, he was the only one butch among the gay characters, thus the only attractive one.

    I don't like the thought of "your side must be disrespected in order for ours to gain equality" - it was difficult taking the moral seriously and not as just bitching. But characters were interesting, some of what's covered in the Flixster synopsis is only heard of and not really seen; there's a lot of storytelling.
  • dredzag
    September 13, 2008
    dredzag
    Heart wrenching and hauntingly beautiful, Dan Futterman in a sense lives in an alternate reality trying to cope with what has transpired.
  • msvertigo
    April 24, 2008
    msvertigo
    haunting, romantic and thrilling. This strange art-house film is captivating. Great acting and story.
  • homogayman7227
    February 8, 2008
    homogayman7227
    The scene where he is attemtpting to masturbate is hot! He's hot and hairy and Dan does a pretty good job at convey anguish over the loss of his lover!
  • randomaddress4u
    August 4, 2007
    randomaddress4u
    Good premise with impressive performance by Dan Futterman. The movie is based on a play, though it sounds like there were a lot of liberties taken in the translation. And, it works for the most part. You can't help but chuckle at some of the 'reality' of the gay life being dep... read moreicted and cringe during the painful moments. A lot of reviewers had difficulty warming up to the main character. But, I liked the guy. Definitely attractive. Definitely a charmer. But, besides that, regardless of how uncool he might have behaved towards some of the other characters, when all was said and done, he was trying to get somewhere. And, in his uncool, somewhat jerky way, he was trying to get them to get somewhere too. I don't know that he succeeded in teaching his targets any lessons. But, I'd like to delude myself into thinking he did. Cuz, if you can't be deluded by charming, attractive guys, what the hell is this world coming to? ;-)

    I enjoyed seeing a film with gay characters that wasn't one of the standard 'confused homo comes out' or 'painstaking yearning for love' or 'discovery of identity through excessive usage of partying, random sex, and bitchy interactions'.
  • garbagefanawesome
    June 27, 2007
    garbagefanawesome
    Interesting little flick about revenge and gay bashing. Dan Futterman gives it all in his performance in this film. A finely crafted film that should not be ignored.
  • dant1999
    February 24, 2007
    dant1999
    How do you move on with your life when the one that you loved was brutally and senselessly taken from you? This film goes through dreamlike sequences to a climax of self-realization...

View All Urbania Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
September 1, 2006
Emanuel Levy, Variety

One of the boldest entries in 2000 Sundance Fest, Shear's impressive debut is a darkly intriguing drama that probes the nature of love and lasting effects of loss, beautifully played by Dan Futterman ... Full Review

Michael Dequina
September 17, 2005
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

A provocative and cathartic story about the impossibility of retribution and the challenge of redemption. Full Review

Brandon Judell
April 2, 2001
Brandon Judell, PopcornQ

Superb parts and a muddled whole is one way you can describe this eventually incisive look into one man's homosexuality. Full Review

Steve Rhodes
January 30, 2001
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews

The disorienting film takes devious delight in layering various versions of the stories so that we feel like we're jurors looking into a courtroom lined with funhouse mirrors. Full Review

Arthur Lazere
January 1, 2000
Arthur Lazere, culturevulture.net

Shear skillfully captures [a] steamy atmosphere and takes his time to develop Charlie into a rounded character. Full Review

David Noh
January 1, 2000
David Noh, Film Journal International

It's dark! It's edgy! It's all pretty trite and tiresome! Full Review

July 21, 2005
Houston Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

April 25, 2003
Globe and Mail

Click to read the article Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Click to read the article Full Review

Mick LaSalle
January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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