I Do - Jamie-Lynn Sigler

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Glenn Gaylord
USA 2012

A gay man and a lesbian getting married is not a new film scenario - in fact, it harkens back to 1978 with A DIFFERENT STORY starring Perry King and Meg Foster - fortunately, I DO sidesteps the usual cliches of a growing attraction between two such characters living in close quarters and sharing a secret. These days, however, such a "marriage of convenience" is no longer such an amenable arrangement when gay men and women are struggling to have their unions recognized on all levels. Indeed, the film's characters are just as concerned about the legal ramifications of their arrangement as they are with being true to themselves and the people they love.

Jack (David W. Ross, 200 AMERICAN), a young gay British man working as a photographer's assistant in New York, just learns that he's about to become an uncle when his brother (Grant Bowler, TV's TRUE BLOOD) is tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident. Seven years later, he is more of a father than an uncle to his niece Tara (Jessica Tyler Brown, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3) and there to be taken for granted by his harried sister-in-law Mya (Alicia Witt, LIEBESTRAUM) who is studying to become a nurse. When his latest work visa is denied, Jack is determined to stay in the states rather than abandon his niece, so his lawyer (Patricia Belcher, TV's BONES) to marry his "girlfriend" (at this point, it's not clear if she knows he's gay or if she actually means his girlfriend). Fortunately, his "bestie" Ali (Jamie-Lynn Sigler, TV's THE SOPRANOS) is game, and they wed quickly and move in together. Only then, of course, does he meet the man of his dreams: American-born Spanish architect Mano (Maurice Compte, END OF WATCH). Things seem to be going smoothly for Jack with a boyfriend who is accepting of his complicated family life until immigration services' investigation rattles Ali who feels that Jack is taking her for granted. When Ali announces that she wants a divorce, Jack must come up with a new plan since immigration at the federal level does not recognize gay marriage. When Mano's father falls ill and he must return to Spain, he asks Jack to choose between familial devotion - which basically amounts to living his brother's life for him - and his own happiness. Prolific independent film publicist Mickey Cottrell plays the film's wise older gay man who provides some historical significance with reference to the Stonewall riots (leaving the more recent context of gay marriage laws and bans hanging in the background).

Eric Cotenas

Theatrical Release: 20 October 2012 (USA)

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DVD Review: Breaking Glass Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Breaking Glass Pictures Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:30:18
Video	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.55 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles	English (CC), none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Breaking Glass Pictures Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by director Glenn Gaylord, producer/star David W. Ross, producer Stephen Israel, and cinematographer David Maurice Gil • Kitchen Confessionals (with 'Play All' option): • - director Glenn Gaylord (16:9;19:31) • - cinematographer David M. Gil (16:9; 12:38) • - producer Stephen Israel (16:9; 14:55) • - film editor James Cude (16:9; 8:25) • Extended Missing Scenes (16:9; 6:24) • Original Kickstarter Video (16:9; 3:12) • LA for NYC (16:9; 11:36) • DeVote Campaign, The DOMA Project (16:9; 29:38) • Photo Gallery • Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 1:42) • Trailers for 'Laurence Anyways' and 'Aleksandr's Price' DVD Release Date: 3 September 2013 Amaray Chapters 12

Comments

No complaints about Breaking Glass' progressive, anamorphic rendering of this attractively-shot HD-lensed production or the Dolby Digital 5.1 track (English closed captioning is also available). The commentary track features director Glenn Gaylord, writer/star David W. Ross, producer Stephen Israel, and cinematographer David Maurice Gil. Gaylord discusses the shoot, recreating New York in Los Angeles (with only a few days of location shooting in NYC) and how cinematographer Gil and the editor digitally augmented some shots (very convincingly). Ross discusses some of the challenges of playing a character you've written (including doing a nude scene) while Gil gives some nice explanations about the lighting looks for each location (and how they recreate in Los Angeles the ambiance of various New York locations). There is also featurette called "LA for NYC" that visits the various Los Angeles locations meant to stand in for New York (many of them are interiors, but they also visit a few exteriors where they had to frame to block out palm trees).

The disc also includes a series of brief interviews with crew members during the shoot. The deleted scenes are a compilation of extra bits including some shots of characters running around the streets of New York to establish the setting and brief extensions to existing scenes, while the short video for the film's Kickstarter campaign has writer/star Ross addressing the camera and pitching the film. The DOMA Project video is one of a series, with this one appropriately focusing on gay marriage and immigration. A photo gallery and trailer (as well as other Breaking Glass trailers) are also included.

- Eric Cotenas

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