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The Velocity of Gary

The Velocity of Gary

List Price: $19.94
Your Price: $17.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Movie Art
Review: I've waited for some time to see this movie and it was well worth the wait. The movement, the angles, the lighting, the soundtrack, and the performances of D'onofrio, Jane, and Hayek displayed a landscape of surreal imagery that intrigued, delighted, and inspired me. The jagged ebb and flow depicted with smoothe elegance a mastery of film editing and movie sculpting. Just like a shooting star this film comes out of nowhere, catches the eye as it burns bright with immediacy and interest and then, fades into the distance and out of sight leaving behind a satisfying feeling of warmth, like a new birth.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A quality homoerotic drama
Review: If men kissing men makes you uncomfortable, you're probably going to want to skip this movie. Otherwise, if you want to look at beautiful people (men and women, such as the lovely Salma Hayek) and have a taste of the extreme fast lane and the village lifestyle, you'll love this movie. Actions speak as loud as words in this low dialog film, the actors manage to be subtle yet readable and understandable. The otherness of their world and their lifestyle was utterly enviable. Also a movie whose viewers would benefit from the use of some, shall we say, mind expanding drugs, as surely as wearing 3D goggles enhances the viewing of 3D movies. Enjoy!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: As bad as it gets.
Review: It took a long time for me to see this movie because I was misled by inaccurate and unfair reviews. When I was very young and living in New York, I more than rubbed up against the milieu presented in this movie (although the use of drugs is kept to a minimum here). Based on my own experiences, the relationships among the various characters -- ranging from those who are callous and heartless to those who are passionate and intense -- was right on the mark. It's a courageous movie, and an honest one. Mainly, it concerns an ex-porn star, his male lover, and his fag hag, as well as the odd assortment of street people who weave in and out of their lives. The three principals love and fight among themselves as they cope with an ever approaching grim reaper. The movie's ultimate accomplishment is to show us the great beauty and humanity that exists, even sparkles, in the souls of a group of outcasts written off by just about everyone else. It is also a hopeful movie in which the power of love overcomes even death. Unfortunately, it is NOT a movie for "straight" people -- and I use that term in a far wider context than sexually straight. Let's just say that the arthritic-minded will be too repelled or too fearful to open themselves up to this highly positive cinematic experience. Additionally, the movie is sensitively directed, and superbly acted by all.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Accurate Portrayal of New York Underbelly
Review: It took a long time for me to see this movie because I was misled by inaccurate and unfair reviews. When I was very young and living in New York, I more than rubbed up against the milieu presented in this movie (although the use of drugs is kept to a minimum here). Based on my own experiences, the relationships among the various characters -- ranging from those who are callous and heartless to those who are passionate and intense -- was right on the mark. It's a courageous movie, and an honest one. Mainly, it concerns an ex-porn star, his male lover, and his fag hag, as well as the odd assortment of street people who weave in and out of their lives. The three principals love and fight among themselves as they cope with an ever approaching grim reaper. The movie's ultimate accomplishment is to show us the great beauty and humanity that exists, even sparkles, in the souls of a group of outcasts written off by just about everyone else. It is also a hopeful movie in which the power of love overcomes even death. Unfortunately, it is NOT a movie for "straight" people -- and I use that term in a far wider context than sexually straight. Let's just say that the arthritic-minded will be too repelled or too fearful to open themselves up to this highly positive cinematic experience. Additionally, the movie is sensitively directed, and superbly acted by all.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The one that got away
Review: It's a travesty that this film is not available on DVD. Travesty.

This is the kind of movie that is not what it seems. From the cover jacket, you expect it to be about the harshness of city living, full of darkness and anger and seedy characters, but it's not. It's about three people and a world that most of us (thankfully) haven't experienced in our lives. The three lead characters are: Valentino, a bisexual ex-porn star dying of HIV; Gary* (not his real name), a gay hustler who falls hard for Valentino; and Mary Carmen, Valentino's spitfire girlfriend who is jealous of her lover's relationship with Gary but who has no choice but to share him. The world they inhabit is the underbelly of NYC, but director Dan Ireland never looks down on the characters, nor does he put them on a pedestal. It's a fine balance, but one that is achieved. The result is that it is impossible to watch this film and not feel the affection that Ireland has for the characters and their world, and that transfers to the viewer. It's reminiscent of Boogie Nights, another film set in the world of porn,drugs and hustlers, and a film that also makes you care for its characters and the alternative family they create.

The three leads did amazing work. Vincent D'Onofrio is mesmerizing as the center of the love triangle, a character so full of life even as he's dying that he can't be contained. This was a brave role for the respected character actor, and it deserves to be seen. Salma Hayek turns in another great performance, and one scene in particular, breaks your heart. Valentino is dancing in a club with Gary and Mary Carmen, and when he turns his back on Mary Carmen for a second to bump and grind with Gary, the slow-motion shot of the pain, longing and jealousy in Hayek's eyes will rip your heart out. And Thomas Jane has never been better. For anyone who's only seen his work in Deep Blue Sea and that raunchy Cameron Diaz "comedy", brace yourself for an actor whose potential hasn't been tapped in his subsequent projects.

This film has more than enough heart to spare, and that is what is truly so great about it. It defies expectations and cliches, yet it leaves you feeling renewed and hopeful. I only saw this film this past week, and I can't believe it escaped me before. Don't make the same mistake I did. See Velocity of Gary. It will haunt you, but in a good way.

D'Onofrio also produced the picture with Ireland, along with a previous collaboration called The Whole Wide World, and these two should continue their work together. They've created two wonderfully different films about passion and love and the human condition. And that's something that's sorely lacking in today's cinema.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: SLIGHTLY ODD & THAT MAKES IT GREAT
Review: It's not your run of the mill movie with tons of special effects and no story line. This movie has a story, and if you can get past the oddness of it a very touching one. Good performances, cheers to Vincent D-Onofrio. This man is not afraid of any movie role that comes his way, and if you watch this movie you'll see what I mean. He tackled this role all the way!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: SLIGHTLY ODD & THAT MAKES IT GREAT
Review: It's not your run of the mill movie with tons of special effects and no story line. This movie has a story, and if you can get past the oddness of it a very touching one. Good performances, cheers to Vincent D-Onofrio. This man is not afraid of any movie role that comes his way, and if you watch this movie you'll see what I mean. He tackled this role all the way!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Different
Review: Not a bad Movie but definetly different. Salma Hayek is Hot as usual and does a really great laundrymat scene. This Movie will not fit all tastes. The story line is hard and gritty and cuts no corners making it's point. Life in the big city is tough and in order to make it sometimes you need to sell more than your virtue.

I've just one question... What about the Soundtrack? The music was great it should have one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: MÁS DE LO MISMO, PERO DISTINTO
Review: Realmente, esta película trata un viejo tema: el triángulo amoroso. Pero lo hace con una altura, con una calidad y con esa novedad que sólo una buena lectura puede otorgarle a un tema ya gastado una nueva oportunidad. Recomendable. Para ver abrazado a tu pareja.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Awful acting, awful story - don't waste your money
Review: The acting performances of D'Onofrio and Hayek were simply miserable. I found myself laughing numerous times because the acting was so pathetic. I still cannot figure out why a bedraggled, greasy D'Onofrio was cast as Valentino, and why he had two lovers tormenting over his illness. Neither his appearance or personality were desirable, leaving the character of Valentino completely unbelievable. The constant bickering of Hayek and "Gary" became annoying and predictable. This movie had potential, but terrible acting, terrible casting and cumbersome plot makes this movie virtually unwatchable. Easily the worst movie I have ever seen.


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