johns (sic) (1996)

Scott Silver's film has a subtle verisimilitude to it. It looks real. You believe you are hanging out on the strip with his teen male hustlers for a day. That's pretty cool, even if the filming of it is way too slick. The film looks to sharp.

Another problem with the film is how it begins. It seems to want to begin where Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho" ends, with a teen hustler getting his shoes stolen while he sleeps. This seeming similarity starts the film off in a bad way and the film works continuously throughout to gain any momentum. What really works about the film is Silver's two main stars. David Arquette jumps out of the gate running and never stops. He creates a character here that is both seedy and likable. Having been on the street for several years, his "John" (is this supposed to be irony?) is starting to become a little "off." Silver shows us the three stages of hustler in this film with Arquette's character being the midway point. If there is anyone who has any doubts Arquette's ability, they only need look at his scenes with Elliot Gould and Richard Kind. Although Gould is called upon to be a bit simple, his kissing scene with Arquette is quite sweet and likable. Meanwhile, Kind creates a wonderful contrast to all the insanity we witness with a character that is both, well, kind and sympathetic. He becomes a beacon of light in the seediness and bleakness we see here.

While the latter stages of homeless "hustler" dementia is played by Christopher Gartin as Eli. The other end of the spectrum is represented by the other main character of the film. This part is played by the fawn-like Lukas Haas as the neophyte prostitute Arquette has taken under his wing. Haas, as Donner, has developed quite a crush on his somewhat older mentor. Haas' whispy frame and his flowing hair make for a character that is soft and desirable. It's hard to resist him.

The real problem with "johns" is that all of the titular "customers" are completely dysfunctional. There is not one normal guy in the bunch. It seems like a bit of a put-down to gay people, but then again, how many gay guys go out and pick up hustlers? I would hope it's a minority.

"johns" has a bit of realism on it's side as well as two teenage actors who really work hard at making the material a success. But the film is much too sleek and the plot is much too dramatic to ever work successfully.

Note:

Also with Wilson Cruz (the gay kid in "My So-called Life" in a worthless role), Keith David, and Arliss Howard.

(Review written in 1998)

Report Card

Script: D

Acting: A

Cinematography\Lighting: D

Special Effects\Make Up: A

Music: A

Final Grade: C