Leather - Chris Graham

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

directed by Patrick McGuinn
USA 2013

Uneven performances and a rather simplistic script undermine this gay family drama with a novel backdrop and atypically (but attractively) photographed in 16mm. When his estranged father dies, grad student Andrew (Andrew Glaszek) and his "5% superficial" walking cliche of a fashion editor boyfriend Kyle (Jeremy Neal) head up to the Catskill Mountains to the family cabin. Andrew is stunned to discover that childhood friend Birch (Chris Graham, FOREVER DEAD) has been living with and working for his father for the last several years, and served as his caregiver while his pancreatic cancer was being treated holistically. While Andrew can't bring himself to believe Kyle's suggestions that Birch might have knocked off his father for the house and money, he also finds Birch's story of his homophobic father's complete personality transformation after he ran away (which leads to the nagging suspicion planted in his head by Kyle that the two men might have been lovers). A bit of humiliating psychodrama - provided by eccentric, inebriated healer/puppeteer May (Glenda Lauten) and a hallucinogenic-assisted night in the woods with Birch help Andrew to face some suppressed truths and work through his resentment.

Eric Cotenas

Poster

Theatrical Release: 21 July 2013 (USA)

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DVD Review: QC Cinema/Breaking Glass Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	QC Cinema/Breaking Glass Pictures Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:35:33
Video	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.76 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 2.0 stereo
Subtitles
Features	Release Information: Studio: QC Cinema/Breaking Glass Pictures Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Deleted Scenes (16:9; 30:50) • Party Scene Outtakes (16:9; 4:09) • Actor Camera Screen Tests (16:9; 1:30) • 'Making Leather Sandals' featurette (16:9; 5:50) • Trailer (1:48) • Alternate Trailer (4:05) • Photo Gallery • Trailers for 'The Falls: Testament of Love', 'Geography Club', 'Peyote', and 'Out in the Dark' DVD Release Date: December 3rd, 2013 Amaray Chapters 12

Comments

Breaking Glass' progressive, anamorphic transfer nicely renders this Super 16mm-lensed production with all of its variegation of forest colors, lovely film grain as well as some shutter flickering (both refreshing compared to that produced by "film look" digital filters), deliberately warm look which includes skin tones, and handling of low-light scenes. The audio track is Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo only, but the sound design also seems intentionally sparse.

Extras include a selection of deleted scenes, but they are shown in context to there really isn't thirty minutes of excised material represented here. One shortened scene includes substantial screen-time for a character that leaves the film early, another lends context to the effects of the "wonder tonic", while the others are less illuminating. The "Making Leather Sandals" featurette is prefaced by a statement about actor Graham learning how to do leatherwork for the role. Also included are silent actor screen tests (with a few actors not cast in the film) shot in black and white 16mm and looking quite vintage, two different trailers for the film, a photo gallery, and other Breaking Glass trailers.

- Eric Cotenas

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