This Movie is Not Rated
Love the opening sequence with the camera turned on it’s side. Makes for some interesting shots of the city. By the way this was filmed entirely in Seattle, note the Space Needle in several shots.
The movie is about “X” (Derek Magyar), in the spirit of anonymity he is choosing to not use his name. He is a high price prostitute, with twelve steady clients that pay him enough to live well. He has not had sex with anyone since he was twelve (other than his clients), because he is saving himself for someone he loves. X also serves as the narrator of the story. His accountant has suggested that he get some roommates to help keep the IRS off his back (since his money is made illegally).
Which brings us to the roommates; Joey (Jonathon Trent) and Andrew (Darryl Stephens). They both moved in with X about a year ago. When Joey moved in he was only 17, a high school dropout (although he did get his GED) and had been living on the streets. He convinced X to let him live there rent free. Joey totally has the hots for X and has been hitting on him every day since he moved in. Andrew is in his mid-twenties and is working at a video store. He recently broke off his engagement to his long-term girlfriend. However, he has yet to tell his family that he is gay. X is very attracted to Andrew but isn’t sure if he should pursue it.
The three guys couldn’t be more different from each other. X is pretty anti-social and doesn’t really have any friends outside of his two roommates and a girl (Lucy) that works at the coffee shop across the street from his condo. Joey is very outgoing and loves to hit the clubs and is constantly picking up guys. Andrew’s personality kind of falls in between the other two. He is still pretty new to the gay scene and has only just started playing the field.
X has an opening when one of his clients suddenly dies. Lucy recommends someone to him, Gregory (Patrick Bauchau), who is an older gentleman that never leaves his condo. X meets with him and finds he is different from his other clients. He is not interested in having sex yet; he wants them to get to know each other and just chat at first. Usually X would steer clear of a client like that, because they tend to get too clingy. However, something about Gregory intrigues him, so he agrees to the arrangement.
His appointments with Gregory end up being an eye opening experience for X. He gets to hear stories about Gregory’s life, which he finds very interesting. Plus he has someone to talk to about the complicated triangle of attraction going on between him and his roommates. He ends up serving as a sort of counselor for X.
I thought this was a well-told story, with interesting characters and very good actors. The heart of story is, what do you want from life and what are you willing to do and/or give up to get it. Is love worth the risk? Do you need to change your lifestyle for it or is there a possibility of a compromise?
My favorite character was Joey. He is bubbly, full of life and will blurt out just about anything that comes to mind, but there is also has a sadness about him that he tries to keep hidden. He is desperate to be loved and cared for. Jonathon did a fabulous job with the character. If you watch the extras, there is an interview with him and you can see just how different he is from the character he portrayed.
Some of my favorite quotes:
X – “If you’re smart you’ve guessed I’m a hustler. If you haven’t, here are two clues, I’m gay and they’ve made a movie about me.”
Gregory – “Thanks for saving me from an afternoon of Judge Judy.”
X – “Only accept drinks that are factory sealed.”
X – “Andrew’s like boyfriend material, not for me of course, but for someone else.”
X – “And therein lies my problem folks, a hustler with morals. A whore who is not a slut.”
Joey – “If you guys don’t f*ck soon I’m gonna slit my wrists.”
Joey – “I’ve always been slutty and you don’t hold it against me.”
X – “That’s because I have different standards for you.”
X – “So you’ve met my nuclear reactor family, three hot studs, horny for each other, living in one apartment. Like a bad porno, only without the sex.”
X – “As you may have gathered I’m a touch anti-social.”
X – “Finally you get laid and never hear from the f*cker again.”
X – “If gay guys stopped spending so much time hooking up, we’d have f*ckin’ DaVinci’s everywhere.”
Zelma – “Don’t mind Cheyenne, she watches too much Showtime.”
X – “I’m not even sure I love myself. I’d dump me the second something better came along.”
Jan
Following is additional information about the movie that contains spoilers. If you don’t want to be spoiled don’t read any further.
I liked how X’s favorite movies have always been about prostitutes, even when he was a kid. He even asked his mother if he could be one when he grew up, of course she said no.
Poor Joey, he is head over heels for X and tries so hard to get him to have sex with him. I was proud of X for resisting the temptation. He knows that it could never result in a long-term relationship and doesn’t want to take advantage of Joey or ruin what they have.
Love how X and Andrew end up being like Joey’s parental figures. How they look out for him and even ground him from going to club’s by himself after his drug incident. He desperately needed someone who cared about his well being and he was lucky enough to find two that do.
Yes, towards the end of the movie you finally learn X’s name.
