Boy Culture (2007)

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Blistering performances.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

I think the theme is fascinating: How on earth can gay escorts do what they do? And how does it affect them? Apparently many escorts have intimacy and trust issues that stem from the superficial nature of their relationships with their clients.In this movie, our handsome hero is an escort struggling with such interpersonal and relationship issues. His two roommates are both in love with him, but he pushes them away. Not surprisingly, he finds it difficult to open up and have a "real" (i.e. non-pecuniary) relationship with someone appropriate. X had come to think of sex and emotions as having great value, I suppose. Not something to be given away for free.I didn't really get this movie. There were problems with the dialogue, character development and plot. Some aspects of the movie just didn't ring true.Even though he's a highly paid escort, X seemed to be living like a waiter.We're not really shown why X is such a great escort. This movie needed an elegiac sex scene that made clear why X is good at what he does. Why did he love it so much? X falling for Gregory didn't seem right to me. I get it that opening up emotionally to an older man could lead to feelings of intimacy (especially since Gregory was acting like a therapist), but why should that lead to desire? Intimacy and desire are two different things. The sex scenes between them were problematic for me.When Joey offered himself to X both emotionally and physically, it seemed inexplicable to me that X felt nothing. If these scenes were meant to show us X's dysfunction, they worked. X lacks the easy sexuality of most gay men.The movie hinged around X's emotional life, which was in turmoil. Sure, escorts can be prone to self-image problems and depression. Perhaps it's too difficult to show this on film, but we don't really find out why he has such intimacy problems and why he's such an as*hole. Near the end he sobs "I'm a freak", but I didn't really understand why he was feeling this way.By the end of the movie, I was annoyed by X.We were told repeatedly that X was in love with Andrew, and vice versa, but I didn't feel that at all. It didn't seem like real love at all. Maybe lust on Andrew's part. But what was it on X's part? X's emotional turmoil would have been difficult for the most difficult actor to convey on film, especially if the lines weren't right.Perhaps I've not really understood this movie properly, even though I've seen it twice. Maybe this is actually a profound movie with much to say about the emotional life of gay escorts.However, it left me with a disengaged, flat and down feeling afterwards. I wasn't moved at all. I can't say I really enjoyed the film. Worth about 5 or 6 out of 10.

Boy Culture is refreshing, entertaining, unpredictable and addictive. There is so much right about this movie. From the choice of actors, use of the 7 Deadly Sins, the tone of the witty narration, dialog, public service announcement and family oriented dynamic, makes this the best movie I have ever seen.The world from the storyteller's perspective is riveting and insightful. But none more than how he compares with the Virgin Mary.Ten minutes in, I wanted to know who wrote this witty dialog and created such a complex character in such a relaxed style. The genius with how he connects the characters objectives with their role in the dynamic is inspiring.His use of analogies is overflowing with each executed so brilliantly that this becomes more than just superb story telling. It is a uniquely introspective masterpiece of epic proportion.I finally understand how someone can watch a movie over and over, without there being years between viewings. And for the first time I can say I have without question a favorite movie.

I do not think of myself as a prude and having lived in gay neighborhoods in LA and San Francisco I feel I am very aware of the gay scene but I found the story superficial, tiring and not inspiring. I am tired of every gay movie being all about sex and no feelings. I also wish a character could have a real job like a lawyer, doctor or scientist and do they always have to be a male hustler? There are smart gay people who go to Harvard or wherever and change the world you just don't here about it because you don't know their gay because their lives are about more than just their sexuality. The acting was good and "X" was hot but the guy had issues and who would want to be with someone that just uses people. In 2010, it would be nice if gay movies reflected the real diversity of gay culture and not the typical hustler stereotypes. Life is about more than the size of your biceps thank god.

Just saw this movie and felt the need to post my first review ever, for the record English isn't my first language. This movie wasn't at all what I expected it to be, it was more...interesting. The story is about a well payed hustler called "X" who lives with his two roommates; 18-year old Joey whom he has a sort of father-son relationship with and Andrew that he has feelings for but never have acted on. X's career provides him with a very comfortable material lifestyle at the expense of his emotional. A new client, an elderly gentleman, stir up emotions for X and things can no longer stay in status Q. The movie is narrated with X's thoughts, which describes situations in a sarcastic and humorist precise way. The narration is such a smart touch to bring the story forward and makes the otherwise poker-faced X so likable, what he says in his mind isn't always what he speaks out loud. I didn't expect this movie to be clever in the way it was and sweet, the character of young Joey added a touch of "feel good movie" without being too much. The trailer depicted it very differently; hustler with promiscuous roommates was the selling angle. I really want to give the director credit for the lack of uncalled for sex scenes, movies about hustlers/prostitutes tend to use the excuse to add more sex. This is one of those movies that's not exactly gonna make my top-ten list but will stay with me longer than most!