Hit and Runway (1999)

Creative, cool, funny, sweet, open, happy and full of wonderful moments, "Hit and Runway" is the one of the greatest gay movie ever made in which the main character is straight. Why? Because we get a new kind of gay film here, the 90's straight guy in a gay world, trying to come to terms with himself. Plus it mixes in filmmaking and Hollywood jabs and a bit of religion too. It's a beautiful idea.

The film concerns a young Italian-American in New York who dreams of being a screenwriter while working in his family's restaurant. His cousin is a bigwig in the film industry and he has a shot at making his mark, but he has to hurry. Through a situation that is only slightly contrived, the Italian guy hooks up with a gay Jewish screenwriter to collaborate and their relationship becomes a wonderful story.

Letting us know that a writing partnership is "like a marriage," the film is able to couple a gay and straight man in a relationship that includes almost everything except sex. In the beginning, we think the film is going to get to that point where the Italian guy realizes he's gay and then the duo up walk off in the sunset together. Instead, something much more magical and wondrous occurs: The Italian becomes a man, a whole person, realizes that he has worth, realizes he has truly does have something to offer (other than his false bravado) and comes to terms with himself; emotionally, sexually, physically and mentally. It's a great thing.

The film's creative writing team, Christopher Livingston and Jaffe Cohen (note that Jaffe is a gay Jewish man), do a wonderful job of twisting and turning the story around and finding avenues that it can veer off into which continually delight and surprise us. We never see most of the stuff that is coming on it's way. The films ability to show us this interesting and diverse picture, which includes a gay man and a straight man coping with life, work, relationships and friendships, is truly unique. Never before have I seen a film where a man kisses a man and (then later) another man kisses a woman and I wanted to cheer for both of them. Here you see a world where the diverse sexual orientation of two friends can co-exist in harmony. But it goes so much deeper than that. The script they write together, which they ache over, is a metaphor for so many other things at times, their friendship, their diverse world views, their sexuality... and on and on and on. It's a smart and ingenious script.

The actors in the piece do wonderful jobs. Michael Parducci seems a newcomer to films, but his work is consummate. As Alex, he wavers so wonderfully between sexuality, confusion, mild homophobia, innocence, sweetness, flawed hero... It's a very multi-textural character and Parducci brings it to a full bodied and robust life. (Plus he's got an ass that would choke a horse!). Yes, he's wonderful to look at, sure, but his performance here is almost taintless. Peter Jacobson, meanwhile, very quickly overcomes his physicality to engrave himself on our hearts. Surely most well-known as a Woody Allen impersonator, Jacobson moves past this quick recognition factor to bring to life one of the greatest cinematic gay men (and Jewish men) of all time. We grow to adore him. We pin all our hopes on him. And when his conclusion is realized and only slightly forced, we love him and the film all the more for it. These guys bring forth two friends of desperate lives who we simply cannot take our attention from. We get involved here. We want to see them succeed. And, dammit, we don't care that their friendship never turns sexual. They are able to turn every stereotype, gay and Italian, every cliche and every tired cinematic moment into something fresh and new. The script helps, without a doubt, but these guys make the script breathe. It's fine, fine work.

I can't say enough good things about this film. Sure, there are some problems. It's not a perfect film. But (like my neighbor responded when I told him this after the screening), "It's not supposed to be."

Report Card

Script: A+

Acting: A+

Cinematography\Lighting: C

Special Effects\Make Up: B

Music: A-

Final Grade: A