Play Dead (2001)

Overrated

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Coming-out themed movies have always been difficult to write and this one doesn't even come close to that! This quickly turned into a screaming match between the "in the closet" gay and lesbian characters of the movie - which sadly takes you on a journey to dulls-ville USA! The child in this movie has some funny background action when it comes to having a "dead" corpse in the house - even while her drunk step mother is making a frail attempt at caring for the child.the step mother - should have been a male role - that would have made "his" drunken come-on to the lead gay boy awkward and hysterical.Necrophelia alert as well - we know the boy is obsessed with the town jock - but did he have to have anal sex with him when he knew the guy was dead? Didn't need that scene! And at the end - when the little girl raises the dead make jock - no explanation is given as to his resurrection and what he meant by the line "welcome to the party - about time!" As usual - the writer of this show didn't ask a gay audience first about where to end the movie - so naked into the street the jock goes - into the arms of the drunk mother who almost runs him down...they make out, and then over breakfast the next morning he asks "what happened to my truck?" Again - the little girl takes center stage - a sequel is needed just to tie up the very loose ends of this so-so coming out movie! The lead is cute, but the jock has the nice butt - even after he gets it in the end (bad pun laughter inserted here please)

This is the kind of movie you rent for your overnight slumber party. It will make you laugh but it will also make you squirm. Jessica Stone steals the movie as the precocious 8 year old. Diva Zappa reminds me of a young Liza Minelli ala Sterile Cukoo era. The musical soundtrack is off beat and the direction is efficient and gutsy. Superior editing job.

I've seen worse films but this was a waste of time and money. It was screened at the Gay and Lesbian festival here and there were some funny parts but not enough to make it worth seeing. The acting wasn't very good and the script made people wince.

When I see something like this it makes me wonder how it gets made while so many superior scripts languish unmade for eons. The actors try to breathe life into the ridiculous paces they're put through by screenwriter/director Jenkins but he is so obviously inexperienced and not up to the challenge of guiding them in a creative way. I've probably seen worse films but nothing immediately comes to mind. It's not even interesting in a prurient way cause Jenkins doesn't throw all caution to the wind and shock the audience out of its sleep-induced coma. He seems to think he's making an important statement about obsessive love but unfortunately all this film is is a sedative.