straightman

SYNOPSIS - STRAIGHTMAN

An unusually well-written and
performed low-budget film that focuses
on the coming out and subsequent
love/sex life of a working-class guy.

REVIEW
This independent film from Chicago
delves into themes of coming out, the
life of working-class gay men and the
complex relationship between gay and
straight men. Done on an extremely
low budget, this gritty comedy-drama
follows the lives of David (Ben
Berkowitz), a comedy club worker who
is a loud, opinionated, overweight lout
and womanizer (yet strangely
sympathetic and likable) and his best
friend and neighbor Jack, a quietly
thoughtful construction worker involved
in a long relationship with Maxine.
When Maxine leaves suddenly, the
despondent Jack moves in with his
buddy. The character-driven tale looks
at the men’s difficulties in their sexual
lives and in maintaining their often-
strained relationship with insight and
wit.

But when Jack comes out as gay, a
whole new wrinkle unfolds. With some
unusually sexy scenes and a real
different approach to gay love and
coming out, Straightman appeals to
the "regular guy" in all of us. A
wonderfully understated and knowing
film – refreshingly distant from the gay-
friendly but overly familiar gym bunny
world of West Hollywood and Chelsea.

Ray Murray