Lonesome (2023) - Movie Review

Pornography is art. As a form of artistic expression, it is as valid as any other, and within the racier realms of independent cinema across the world, that level of explicitness can add genuine thematic texture to a story. However, for every filmmaker able to wield it well as a source of inspiration (Bruce LaBruce, Derek Jarman, John Cameron Mitchell), there are just as many, if not more, that seem to operate under the impression that gratuity on its own inherently makes a work of art deeper and more meaningful; think art films that show up on late-night SBS lineups. And the sophomore feature from writer/director Craig Boreham (Teenage Kicks) falls unfortunately into that category.

Drown (2016) - Movie Review

There isn’t a day that goes by where I’m not grateful for the environments that I was raised in. A supportive family that I could literally tell anything to, the right friends (mostly) who are willing to lend an ear if I need to vent or vice versa, a country that’s a mongrel patchwork of pretty much every civilization that has existed in the last two centuries; not gonna lie, I lucked out in that regard. And in no other regard am I more thankful than when it comes to LGBT issues.

My own place within that spectrum is still being sorted out, mainly out of trying to understand its various nuances to find my exact place within it (if there even is one), but I grew up around people who were more than willing to accept it. Hell, when I came out at my Year 12 formal (in response to a gay joke, no less), there was a mixture of silence, giggles and relieving smiles that showed me that there is a place for me in this world with that in mind. However, there is a part of me that feels somewhat guilty of my own gratitude, as I know for a fact that not everyone is as fortunate when it comes to what people understand. Sheltered childhood for the win, I guess? Anyway, I bring all this up to bring my own perspective to the forefront because… wow, this is a bit of a tough one to dissect.