The Skinny - Jennia Fredrique

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

directed by Patrik-Ian Polk
USA 2012

Although it features an all-black cast (even more of a minority in a gay film), THE SKINNY has elements familiar to comedy/dramas in general (particularly indie ones) since the eighties, mainly the group of reuniting school friends whose lives have become more complicated (one of the lessons being that the insulated group no longer provides the needed comfort zone it once did). A San Francisco Gay Pride Parade serves as a turning point in the lives of five Brown University graduates: trust-fund med student Magnus (Jussie Smollett, THE MIGHTY DUCKS), tramp-stamped manwhore Kyle (Anthony Burrell, SEMI-PRO), naive Sebastian (Blake Young-Fountain, CHASING THE GREEN) - who managed to not get laid on his graduation trip to Paris - too-picky Joey (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, GRAVE ENCOUNTERS 2), and hot-yet-shy brainy lesbian Langston (Shanika Warren-Markland, DEMONS NEVER DIE). Magnus is looking forward to spending the next few days with his friends, even though that means time away from boyfriend Ryan (Dustin Ross) as well as the temptation to take the edge off (the two are five months into their six month period of getting to know each other without sex). Virginal Sebastian has his eye on Kyle, who has his eye on everyone else. Joey hides his shyness behind the perception of being too picky, but perpetual student Langston has spent more time around gay guys than lesbians to know how to talk to them. Magnus, Joey, and Langston all have misgivings about Sebastian's attraction to Kyle and try to dissuade him in various ways (mainly with clinical discussions of STD's, but also showing him that there are more fish in the sea), but they have their own difficulties. Magnus is devastated when his friend discover Ryan's internet ad for a sex party (inviting guests to "sign" his "genetic guestbook") and represses his anger as he breaks up with him, but may just hit the roof when he discovers the depths of his betrayal. Meanwhile, frustrated Langston and Joey are respectively fixated on a go-go boy and a down-to-earth bartender (Jennia Fredrique, RAGDOLL). This unfortunately leaves Sebastian in the none-too-responsible hands of Kyle, resulting in an alcohol and Ecstasy-filled night that has devastating consequences for Sebastian.

Eric Cotenas

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Theatrical Release: 10 February 2012 (USA)

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

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Breaking Glass Pictures/QC Cinema Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:39:42
Video	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.7 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/QC Cinema Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by • Deleted Scenes (16:9; 13:47) • Extra Web Videos: • - Dallas UBE Interview (4:3; 7:07) • - Atlanta Premiere (4:3; 4:02) • - Stew & Friends (4:3; 9:40) • - BFI Q&A (4:3; 7:15) • Auditions: Magnus & Sebastian (16:9; 18:41) • Skinny Cast Greater Than AIDS Join the Movement (16:9; 0:13) • Publicity and Behind the Scenes Gallery • LA World Premiere Gallery • Movie Soundtrack (LPCM 2.0; 12 tracks; 43:18) • Trailers for HOLLYWOOD TO DOLLYWOOD, THE FALLS, and OUT IN THE OPEN DVD Release Date: 18 December 2012 Amaray Chapters 12

Comments

Breaking Glass' dual-layer DVD nicely represents this attractively-lensed (courtesy of Korean cinematographer Eun-ah Lee) HD production. The 5.1 track is well-mixed and English closed-captioning is also available. The audio commentary and assorted extras deliver some interesting background about the production. The director originally intended it as an all-black variation on the raunchy EATING OUT series - apparently the AMERICAN PIE of gay sex comedies - but the project took on a more dramatic tone. He wrote and performed several of the songs on the soundtrack (in addition to writing, producing, and editing the film) because of music rights issues that delayed the distribution of a previous project for a year.

The deleted scenes not only include some extensions, but also an unused ending (a text card says it was dropped because it seemed out of character) and an exterior scene with sound recorded on an iPhone when the sound recordist did not show up (thus showing the limitations of smart phones for movie makers). The web videos include a number of promotional appearances. Quality is generally poor because of the amateurish videography and sound recording with the exception of the professionally shot BFI Q&A segment. Five audition videos, behind the scenes and promotional galleries, twelve soundtrack cues (in LPCM 2.0 stereo), and trailers round out the package.

- Eric Cotenas

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