The Reception
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Feature: C+
The issues of race and sexuality are still somewhat taboo
in mainstream Hollywood productions, even when characters are thrown in and
mixed into mainstream plots to give the appearance of some phony kind of
progress. When independent productions
try to do the same, they sometimes get caught up in boutique production
stereotypes that hold back their ambitions.
John G. Young’s The Reception (2005) is an interesting example
how this happens despite ambition.
A man/woman couple lives together, not only of mixed race,
but both interested in men. Faster that
you can say three’s company, Her mother shows up and other friends and
associates come out of the woodwork, with conflict ensuing. The chaos that could have been interesting
is undermined by tired shaky camerawork, which makes bad moments worse, and
acting that has a false ring to it too often.
Add title cards that remind one of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining
(1980) more than anything else (no stupid comments about baggage on this
critics part; we don’t do Forest Gumping around here) and you too will wish
Scatman Crothers would show up with an ax and end this exercise in eventual
pretension. Too bad, because this is a
missed opportunity that could have worked, especially when the actors have
their moments.
The letterboxed, videotaped 1.78 X 1 image is soft, with
color and depth substandard throughout.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is simple stereo at best, with fidelity just
a step above an on location taping.
Extras include an audio commentary by director Young and five trailers
for Strand releases, including one for this one. One final problem with the film like so many in the Gay New Wave
is its surprising inability to deal with sexuality better.
- Nicholas Sheffo
