Movie review: Bent

[puszysty]

Just watched the movie Bent. If you enjoy movies that are heavy on imagery, I think you'll like it. I didn't so much. I'm more into character development, and I felt that was missing here, particularly at the beginning of the movie.
I'm told this started as a play, and having watched the movie, I can see it working very well on stage. I think I'd rather enjoy it as a play, actually.

Don't let the NC-17 rating fool you, it really deserves little more than PG-13. A bit of racy dialouge perhaps, but no moreso than a standard porny fic. I was thinking the rating was for Holocaust nastiness, but there's really nothing in that regard.
It's definitely not a Holocaust movie in the same way that Schindler's List and The Pianist are. Nothing really stomach churning. Think of it more as a gay man figuring himself out in the midst of tragedy.

On an aside, Mick Jagger should not look this good in drag:

Comments

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

Mick is alarmingly attractive in drag, it's quite disturbing. I sort of loved and loathed this movie. A common feeling for me and war films. I think it's very much about the Holocaust but not in a big picture sense. The scene with the two prisoners is .... moving and devestating in turn. I'd agree that it would be very effective as a play though.

[trovia.livejournal.com]

I've always felt that AJ should be cast for Bent (the play) and play the part of Greta. I really want to see that.

So is the movie not set in a camp? Because the play is. It's set in Dachau. A big ditch in which dead bodies are dumped plays an important part.

[puszysty.livejournal.com]

It is set in Dachau (or what's supposedly Dachau, anyway). I'm not saying it's not a Holocaust movie, it's just not along the same lines as the others I've seen.

There is not a big ditch with dead bodies anywhere in the movie though. They're moving rocks back and forth for most of the second part of the film.

[trovia.livejournal.com]

Ah. Curious. Yeah, they do that thing with the rocks in the play, as well. That's actually one of the few authentic things to happen in the play. Most of the rest is nonsense (not that you can blame Martin Sherman, since he barely had any source material to draw on), but that thing with the stones might as well have happened.

[safenthecity.livejournal.com]

I can't handle holocaust movies lately. I used to be really into the holocaust when I was a kid, but recently, since I've gotten older and really realized that I have family this stuff happened to, I had a harder time with it.

But you're right- some men look ridiculously good in drag, and if I didn't already know that I were attracted to androgeny and trans people, this would confirm it.

[trovia.livejournal.com]

You know, if any of your family ever develop a late wish to talk about their experiences? Or write it down and hand it over to research? I'm all ears. I'm about to start a big researching offense in search of survivors interested in that. Though I'm mostly looking for input on gay victims, naturally. (Not to nag you about something you or your family have no interest in. Though I know some people like to take the opportunity. In that case, there's me. :))

[safenthecity.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I'm not even sure if they're still alive. That side of the family doesn't live anywhere near me, and it was really only spending time with my great-aunt (whose family got out of Poland in time, but who was close to her family who didn't make it) that it really sunk in how close to home this is. My dad might know- I can ask him, anyway.

[trovia.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see. Well, I'd owe you big time if you did. :)

[prophetkristy.livejournal.com]

O_O

I CAN'T UNSEE THAT PIC. AHHHHHHHH