- Actors: Michael Saucedo, Justin Urich, Travis Sher, Milo Ventimiglia, Vincent D'Onofrio
- Directors: Mark Christopher, Nickolas Perry, Peggy Rajski, Tom DeCerchio
- Writers: Mark Christopher, Nickolas Perry, Tom DeCerchio, James Lecesne
- Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
- Language: English
- Region: All Regions
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Vid Canada
- Release Date: Oct 1 2002
- Run Time: 74 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00000JWWE
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #86,655 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
After the comparative success of Boys Life, four more budding filmmakers were invited to share their talents in a quartet of unorthodox--and very different--20-minute stories about being a gay male in the four corners of America. Boys Life 2 isn't as affecting as the original, maybe because the stories are less personal, have less time to develop character and narrative, and focus more on surface effect--they're rather like going cruising instead of looking for true love. In fact, only one of the shorts--"Alkali, Iowa," by Mark Christopher (who later directed 54)--has real resonance and depth. The rest are tainted by stereotypes and buffed-up eye candy ("Must Be the Music" by Nickolas Perry); oddball black humor ("Nunzio's Second Cousin" by Tom DeCerchio, which stars Vincent D'Onofrio doing that ranting and raving thing he does so well); and enigmatic wisp ("The Dadshuttle" by Tom Donaghy). Boys Life dealt with freshman themes--first crush, first love, and first realization of one's sexual identity--while Boys Life 2 is a second glance, older and a little bit wiser, and more jaded. Like many second efforts it suffers from that thing called "sophomore curse" and doesn't live up to the early promise and the more soulful impact of its predecessor. --Paula Nechak
Video Details
Another anthology with four powerful films from gay filmmakers. In "Must Be the Music" (1997, 20 min.), four teenage friends out on the town in L.A. explore basic emotions in this vibrantly honest portrayal of urban gay youth. "Nunzio's Second Cousin" (1997, featuring Eileen Brennan & Vincent D'Onofrio) finds a young, gay Chicago police detective exacting his own brand of darkly comic justice from a gay-bashing attacker. "Alkali, Iowa" (1995, 17 min., featuring Mary Beth Hurt) follows a young farmer who discovers his father's long-hidden secret, which gives him the strength to confront his own sexuality. "The Dadshuttle" is a vivid and poignant short film about a father and son who thought they couldn't be more different, until the son delivers news that will forever alter the course of their lives.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Two great ones; two so-so,
By
This review is from: Boys Life 2 (DVD)
Well-done compilation of four short films about growing up gay. The first one "Must Be the Music" is fun. It's about a group of gay teenage boys going to a disco. The refreshing thing about it is that the characters are gay...and could care less. Also it's very sweet and has a happy ending. Lots of fun. "Nunzio's Second Cousin" is not so good. It's a very dark film about a very disturbed cop inviting a teenager home after he tried to rob him and his lover. Eileen Brennan overacts as the cop's mother. Dark, depressing. Still, it is interesting. "Atali, Iowa" was dull dull dull. I'm not going to describe it...just avoid it. The closing one "Trevor" is just superb. It actually won an Academy Award as best live short subject. It's about a very young kid coming to grips with the fact that he's gay. It's funny, moving and has a very uplifting ending. A real winner. So, the first and last are the best segments. The second is good but dark. And the third should be avoided. Pretty good batting average I'd say
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not half as good as its predecessor,
By
This review is from: Boys Life 2 (DVD)
Of the four shorts on this DVD, only one Alkali, Iowa, is worth seeing. The other three have none of the emotional resonance of the three short stories of the first Boys Life trilogy. The acting in Must Be The Music was pathetic and the story almost non-existent. Nunzio's Second Cousin also lacked a purpose, and The DadShuttle was simply annoying. Rent this to see Alkali, Iowa but I wouldn't recommend wasting money buying it. I was disappointed.
4.0 out of 5 stars
My father, was he one of us?,
By Yngvar Myrvold (Tønsberg, Norway) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Boys Life 2 (DVD)
None of the 4 shorts on display are bad, but MUST BE THE MUSIC isn't very inspired, just 4 teenagers out clubbing and that's it. THE DADSHUTTLE is OK, featuring a conversation about mundane things between a father and son. Lots of words left unspoken there. Too long, though.The standouts are ALKALI, IOWA, a novelettish subject worthy of Checkov given subtle treatment by Mark Christopher. NUNZIO'S SECOND COUSIN is an actor's dream, Vincent D'Onofrio hamming it up something wonderful as a gay Chicago cop out cruising, being harassed by gaybashers. Eileen Brennan as his chatty Italian mama This is worth buying, for ALKALI, IOWA alone.
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