In The Rundown, Dwayne (“The Rock”) Johnson is Beck, a bounty hunter (sorta), working for a mobster who’s son Travis (Sean William Scott) has run off to South America. Travis is searching for an ancient idol of gold that’ll make him rich. Beck just wants to bring Travis back, collect his money, and open the restaurant he’s always dreamed of. An action flick that gives good mindless entertainment. Christopher Walkin puts in an appearance as a bad man enslaving people in the jungle. And Sean William Scott ends up in handcuffs a couple of times.
Hit and Runway
Alex (Michael Parducci) is a wanna be screenwriter working in his family’s restaurant and living in the basement. He finally gets a break when his cousin hooks him up with a great opportunity. The only problem is that Alex has ideas, but isn’t much of a writer. Enter Elliot (Peter Jacobson) a gay playwrite with a crush on Joey (Kerr Smith) the waiter in Alex’s restaurant. Alex promises to get Elliot a date with Joey if only he’ll help write the action / adventure screenplay for “Hit and Runway.”
Cut Sleeve Boys
Mel (Steven Lim) and Ash (Chowee Leow) are two ever so slightly aging gay British Chinese men who start to come to grips with getting older after the sudden death of an old friend. Mel by fighting to not settle down with Todd (Gareth Rhys Davis) the young man who worships him and continuing his sexual adventures. And Ash by trying to become a transvestite to attract the macho man of his dreams. Both end up not quite getting what they want in Cut Sleeve Boys.
Back Soon
In Back Soon, Logan (Windham Beacham) is a young widower selling his house. Gil (Matthew Montgomery), a stranger, shows up and buys it and the two straight men develop a friendship. When Logan’s car won’t start he stays on Gil’s couch. Dreaming about his dead wife, Logan sleepwalks and ends up in Gil’s bed. Is their relationship just two straight guys coming to a realization about themselves, or is there something more supernatural at work? Great movie.
Endgame
Tom (Daniel Newman) is a young London rent boy being kept by Norris (Mark McGann), a drug dealer, who is into treating him rough. During one session, Tom pushes Norris off him and accidentally kills him. Tom turns to the American couple who live in the apartment downstairs to help him flee the police and the mobster. Endgame is an OK movie but with a few things that don’t add up. Like why the couple, Max and Nikke, help Tom go on the run after only one dinner with him (although it seems Max is a little attracted to him).
Lies & Alibis
This 2006 movie tells the story of a “reformed” con man (Steve Coogan) whose business is now covering up the infidelities of his clients. As a favor to a long time client, he agrees to cover for a last fling for his son (James Marsden) who’s about to get married. It all goes wrong when covering up infidelity turns to covering up a killing and a host of oddball characters get involved. All in all a fun movie.
Jerry O’Connell also puts in a “brief” appearance in the opening scene.
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Bowser Makes a Movie
In Bowser Makes a Movie, a young man named Bowser (Nick Lewis) has been fired from job after job. He finally tells his parents of his dream to become a porn director. As you can imagine, that went well. With only the support of his best friend (Kevin Viol) who’s secretly in love with him, Bowser impersonates his father to get a loan to make his movie, then loses the money, has to take financing to a pervert who wants to take over, then a loan shark somehow gets involved. Made by an actual porn director, it’s like a porn movie without the plot and without the porn. Not a good combination. Some eye candy, but not enough.