Themes: Love Triangles, Twentysomething Life, Living With AIDS
Main Cast: Ethan Hawke, Tzi Ma, Salma Hayek, Vincent D'Onofrio, Thomas Jane, Olivia D'Abo, Chad Lindberg
Release Year: 1998
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Dan Ireland directed this romantic comedy-drama (adapted by James Still from his own play) about a romantic triangle. Doughnut shop waitress Mary Carmen (Salma Hayek) is the girlfriend of bisexual porn star Valentino (Vincent D'Onofrio), but she's frozen out after Valentino gets a look at Midwestern hunk Gary (Thomas Jane). Rivalries end, and the three become close after Valentino succumbs to the AIDS virus. Shown at the 1998 San Sebastian Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
Lucky Luciano - The King; Shawn Michael Howard - Coco; Khalil Kain - Venus; Elizabeth D'Onofrio - Dorothy; Ethan Hawke; Tzi Ma
Credit
Rachel Kamerman - Art Director, Laurel Smith - Casting, Tim Chappel - Costume Designer, Sholto Roeg - First Assistant Director, Dan Ireland - Director, Luis Colina - Editor, Vincent D'Onofrio - Executive Producer, Dan Ireland - Executive Producer, Carl-Jan Colpaert - Executive Producer, Kathryn Arnold - Executive Producer, Ellen Wonder - Executive Producer, Joe Simon - Executive Producer, Diane Conn - Line Producer, Amy B. Ancona - Production Designer, Claudio Rocha - Cinematographer, Dan Lupovitz - Producer, Melissa Levander - Set Designer, David Chornow - Sound/Sound Designer, James Still - Screenwriter, James Still - Play Author
Opening with the character of "Gary" (that is not his real name, nor is it ever revealed), walking through the streets of New York City, clearly in the mood to pick up a guy or two. On the way, he saves a deaf drag queen from getting killed by a group of gay bashers, but regrets it when he follows him everywhere. In comes Maricarmen, the lusty yet snappy Latina who is in love with Valentino, played by Vincent D'Onofrio. We soon learn two things: Gary is also in love with Valentino, and Valentino is dying of AIDS from his work as a porn star. Throughout the course of the movie, Maricarmen and Gary argue over what kind of care he should be receiving, and who is going to supply that care. The real waves of emotion come when the time for Valentino's impending death becomes very short, and the three of them begin to take stock of themselves as well as their relationship with one another.
Common criticisms among viewers are the lack of character development as well as how overplayed the film portrays a New York life style. Certain plot holes, such as "Gary" sending the deaf character to a pay phone (obviously a deaf character cannot speak) across the street to get help, after an accident. While "Gary" could have sent any of the other characters who are not handicapped standing behind him, he did not. In the process of this, the deaf character loses his life getting hit by a bus. Equally implausible is a scene in which the deaf character impersonates country singer Patsy Cline, dancing and miming in sync with the rhythms of the music he could not hear.
