Christopher Carter I had high hopes that this wasn't as bad as I was reading. Sadly it's as bad as I was reading. I had to read the plot summary to find out what the film was about and as the movie was acted out I only got two aspects of the summary, one that Erik was a documentary film maker and Paul and Erik were in a relationship. This is a film I would not recommend to anyone for any reason for there is nothing to learn from it. The premise is supposed to be the ups and downs of a relationship but for me the premise was more like two strangers that meet, fall into heavy "like" with one another and never quite stop being strangers to one another. Erik is clingy and cloying and annoying and Paul is cold and standoffish and, according to the plot summary, closeted but I didn't get any of that aspect. For them to fall into a relationship after meeting once off a telephone sex line, even though I know it can happen and has for many, this love at first sight thing between these two diverse and disparate characters is more than unbelievable.The purported good times between the couple really never materialized for me and so why they were a couple for as long as they were a couple just never made any sense to me.I felt no connection with these characters, actually none of the characters.All in all it is just not a film that I want to view again.

Irishchatter Technically I put this film on my watch list because it said it is meant to be a good movie. Oh no, they were totally wrong with that point a lot!The character Eric had such a bad story plot behind him like it kept going on and on that he had sex with many guys who already had boyfriends of their own! Also, his voice was horrible, I couldn't hear what was coming out of his mouth, it made my head explode! They really should've hired a better and less scruffy actor who you can really understand and give a better impression on killing the film. I honestly wish I had that fantasy so this movie wouldn't become car crash to me!

zif ofoz What a trip this flick is! Director/writer: Ira Sachs really brings to the screen a story about obsession and pernicious behavior between the emotionally needy Erik and the psychologically baleful Paul. In this story you will go through three stages in what you think of Erik - impatience, because Erik can't see the obvious before him with Paul, - sympathy, because Erik is obsessed with Paul and Erik is truly a nice guy while Paul is nefarious, - relief, when Erik finally get beyond his hang-up with Paul.This movie is all about Erik! You the viewer are taken through about eight years in Eriks life and his undefinable infatuation with Paul. We are never shown why Erik cannot break free of his emotional need for Paul and Erik is lost without him. But Paul, on the other hand, can live his self loathing life perfectly well without Erik. So I believe Mr. Sachs is asking us which character is the more needy of the two. Erik because he is empty without Paul or Paul because he needs his drug habit and to hurt those who care for him.Whatever! This is quite a good film if you concentrate on Erik due to the fact he is the central figure and we see his life only. The story opens and closes about him.

TheLurkingFox Honestly this movie was one of the worst gay movies I've ever seen.The audience was fidgeting for the whole length, I saw a few people go out in the middle of the movie and not come back. I personally stayed the whole time and I couldn't believe the abyssal emptiness of it.2 main problems: 1/ The movie is supposed to cover 8 years (from 1998 to 2006) but everyone is wearing 2012 clothes and 2012 haircuts. Not just the people on the street - all the actors too. And in 8 years, they don't change clothes or haircuts or anything not even once. The guy starts and ends with the exact same shaggy beard. I know they probably shot the movie under 2 weeks but it would be nice if they made an effort to at least pretend they didn't. I'm not saying that just to be anal about it - but because it's one of the main things that kill the movie because even with the title cards warning you we've changed years their whole story seems to last 1 month, certainly not 8 years. Difficult to get emotionally involved.2/ The drug. I didn't know it was a drug movie, but it is. It's closer to Trainspotting than to a gay romance. And I hated the casual way it's shown, as if all gay men smoked crack and it was normal. I've been around, and I've never seen ANYBODY smoke crack, ever. Not saying it doesn't exist but to play it like it's a normal occurrence is just stupid.Then there are many other things: A guy who's in the closet, with a girlfriend... and 1 month later he's kissing his boyfriend in the street? And of course we saw nothing that showed his evolution. The problem just disappeared. There were definite pacing problems as well (the first 25 minutes, everything is happy-in-wonderland, and you're just shifting on your seat waiting for the movie to start).The only saving point is that the actor playing the drug addict is incredibly good looking. Apart from that, you'd tell me the movie was sponsored by the American Family Association and the FRC, I wouldn't be surprised. it just plays into every single negative stereotype about gay people (save for the child molesting, I guess they didn't have the time).