BoardChiri Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

randy-377 Apparently, gay sex only occurred in New York City and while this erstwhile look at a particular era may inflame the testosterone of those born after 1980, it seems to do so at a cost. It makes clear, both visually and narratively that sex was ubiquitous, unfettered and rampant, it scarcely makes the point that there was a cost, a huge human cost. In one brief scene there is a man with AIDS, who resembles the Elephant Man, and it is the only moment of contrast to the lean, athletic and handsome good looks of the gay men in the 70s. Otherwise, with a not particularly emotional scene where a man accounts for the tragic vast loss of most of his friends, the emphasis seems to be, gee, it was such a great time. And that is troubling. This seems a nostalgic and waxing look at an era with little remorse, and more dangerously, it seems to barely speak to the lessons of that era. In fact, one individual predicts that within twenty years, everything should be back to so-called normal and we can indulge our every whim and pleasure. Many, many young people have aired the opinion that this era seemed like so much fun, a celebration of the sexual and with some envy are sorry they missed it. In all likelihood if you did, you would be writing from the grave. Documentaries are by nature personal. They cannot help but suggest an opinion about the subject. Nostalgia rather than fact can be a great artistic license, but it shields the truth,and when it seems to glorify that era, much like Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph of Will, it borders on irresponsible.

MarkDcomic This is a film that suffers from the same malady that so many gay films suffer from. It's all about New Yorkers, and only eighteen of them. (Count the cast yourself.) Like Longtime Companion, and even Angels in America, it assumes that homosexuals only live and love in NYC.Considering the title I guess I expected a broader more enlightening documentary. In the opening segment it promises to cover 69-81, Stonewall till AIDS. Then it goes on to cover AIDS anyway, in a tact-on perfunctory manner. "See how the consequences played out?" it seems to say. The film is not particularly enlightening in any way and nothing that hasn't' been said before. It would certainly be nice to see a film someday that could encompass the gay experience of all of America instead of a tiny group of New Yorkers. The fact that San Francisco is not even mentioned should tell you that this film does not live up to it's title.If you want to see a film about gay sexuality, you would be better off looking up "SEX IS," or even renting some classic gay porn.

jayme381 loved it! As a young female living in New York City, Joseph Lovett's film is incredibly eye opening and significant. The documentary will both shock and delight you as it takes the viewer on a journey back to a decade that was both decadent and destructive. This doc can be appreciated by all, as it successfully recaptures a time of exploration and surprise which was briefly situated between the centuries of repression that characterized the pre 1969/Stonewall years and before the AIDS crisis which devastated the gay community. This decade was a watershed momentin the history of the evolution of the gay identity. Beyond the tantalizing subject matter, the technical aspects of the film were impressive to say the least. Specifically, the archival work, which was extensive and entirely relevant All in all, an incredibly significant and fascination doc and an incredibly significant and fascinating era.

haridam0 For those unfamiliar with the topic, this documentary offers good information. For those already familiar with, or who lived through or participated in it, the film's a trip down memory lane.Joseph Lovett has assembled some period footage and photo stills to help depict his subject. But the film mostly consists of "talking heads": men in their 60s, sharing personal experiences on the atmosphere, attitudes and action from the 70s. A couple of women in their 30s also offer reflective remarks.What a rare opportunity for people in the Northeast area of the country to be able to see this film locally, at Cleveland's unique Cinematheque. Not yet available on video or DVD, and rarely shown outside of New York, these Ohio screenings are all the more valuable.The diverse and appreciative audience was very interested in the subject, and reacted to the humor audibly. While all this is now history, the 70s represents for many a time of liberation, experimentation, exploration and fulfillment. --h/76