Beautiful Something *** (2015, Brian Sheppard, Zack Ryan, Colman Domingo, John Lescault, Grant Lancaster) – Classic Movie Review 12,635

The engrossingly offbeat and lusty 2015 film Beautiful Something is all about the need for connection and commitment, unravelling in one night when four diverse gay men try to navigate their desire for art, sex and love.

Writer/ director Joseph Graham’s engrossingly offbeat and lusty 2015 film Beautiful Something is all about connection, commitment and coming-to-terms versus abandonment, alienation, separation and rejection. The twisting plot with short intertwining scenes and interconnected characters runs like a sexy sitcom without jokes, as it unravels in one night when four diverse gay men try to navigate their desire for art, sex and love, combing the streets looking for connection.

Brian Sheppard stars as troubled 22-year-old writer Brian.

Brian Sheppard stars as troubled 22-year-old writer Brian who crashes and burns each time he meets a guy. He has real abandonment issues.

He picks up a straight guy in a bar, takes him home, and has enthusiastic sex, but then the guy walks out angrily just when Brian wants him to stay. Still, the devastated Brian carries on looking, in a desperate search that even takes him to check out his former straight boyfriend (Grant Lancaster), who rejected him. Brian has written a well-received book of poems about this old boyfriend, and hasn’t really got over him, or understood why he’s been rejected. He climbs through the ex’s window, wakes him up and starts reading his poems!

Zack Ryan plays photogenic young wannabe actor Jim.

Zack Ryan plays photogenic young wannabe actor Jim, in trouble with his live-in relationship with older lover Drew (Colman Domingo), a work-fixated world-renowned metal sculptor. Drew sees Jim simply as a beautiful object to photograph and make love to. The duo haven’t really connected on a deep level. Jim is lost, going to pack in the relationship and move to NY. Meanwhile he hits the bars and streets.

John Lescault plays Bob, a much older talent agent from LA, sugar daddy to his pick-ups. Bob combs the streets in his white stretch limo just looking for connection, and picks up Jim, who quickly has to change his occupation when Bob says if he’s actor he can get out of the car right now. Bob reveals the love of his life was a serviceman, killed in Vietnam.

Joseph Graham films confidently and stylishly. It is a well-made, beautifully shot film. His script is honest, thoughtful and intelligent, as well as carefully organised. The acting is all good, though Brian Sheppard takes the acting honours, though he does have the main, most interesting role. Even so, Zack Ryan shows he is more than a pretty face.

It is from the maker of the similar minded Strapped (2010). Joseph Graham plans a third part of his loose trilogy of films. He teaches film production at California College of the Arts in San Francisco.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,635

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