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 Mirage
Though there's nothing particularly gay-themed in Mirage,
Svetozar Ristovski's somber tale of a young boy's brutal
coming-of-age, many gays and lesbians will easily relate
to the brutality and victimization that the film's central
character, Marko (Marko Kovacevic), must endure. Frequently
bullied by a group of violent thugs at school and all
but forgotten by an alcoholic father too busy protesting
the American occupation of Macedonia, Marko tries to
heed the advice of his probably-gay teacher (Mustafa
Nadarevic), who encourages the young boy to write himself
a ticket out of Macedonia. But as the brutality continues,
Marko escapes into a world of his own creation—including
a dangerous character named Paris (Nikola Djuricko)—to
cope with his pathetic life, and eventually acts out
in a violent, shocking manner in the film's grisly finale.
It's heavy stuff, but Ristovski's distinctly cinematic
flair-and Vladimir Samoilovski's stunning cinematography-ensure
that the tragedy is beautifully rendered. Bonus features:
trailer. —Ken Knox
Noah’s Arc—The Complete First Season
Screenwriter Noah (Darryl Stephens) worries that the burgeoning
success of his career will take its toll on his new relationship
with his boyfriend, who’s on the DL. Flamboyant HIV
counselor Alex (Rodney Chester) is in command at his office
but a mess at home with his longtime partner. College professor
Chance (Doug Spearman) gets an instant family when he marries
his lover, while Melrose clothing store owner Ricky (Christian
Vincent) can’t control his libido, even while working.
The lives and loves of these four close friends in L.A.
are chronicled in Logo’s hit series Noah's Arc. If
this sounds like a gay(er) West Coast take on Sex and the
City, in many ways it is. Still, creator Patrik-Ian Polk
demonstrates a knowing ear for realistic dialogue, witty
banter, and relatable situations, even if the characters
seem like familiar archetypes at times. And I defy you
to name a more charismatic couple on the small screen than
Stephens and Jensen Atwood. All nine episodes of the first
season are available on this three-disc boxed set. Bonus
features: audio commentaries, auditions, deleted scenes,
and extended episodes. —Jeremy Kinser
WTC View
In Brian Sloan's emotionally devastating film adaptation
of his Sept. 11-themed play WTC View (which is being
released on DVD a month before its debut on Logo), the
writer-director-producer attempts to examine the effects
of terrorism on those who survive. Eric (Michael Urie)
is a gay man who places a roommate ad online on Sept.
10, 2001. After the attacks on the World Trade Center,
he begins to interview several candidates for a new roomie,
even though he is beginning to crumble beneath the weight
of his own sadness, fear and outrage. Shot on hi-def
DV, the film looks pretty good, even if D.P. Sean Morrison
has a tendency to overdue it with the too-close close-ups.
It's a rather stagey film—its origins on the New
York stage are painfully evident through a series of
talky conversations and actors who are obviously trained
for the stage as opposed to film—but at its heart
is a story of grief and fear that still rings true almost
five years after Sept. 11. Bonus features: none. —KK
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