Those People (Little Big Horn),the feature film debut by out director and co-screenwriter Joey Kuhn, feels like one of those LGBT film festival flicks that could easily have crossover appeal for a wider ranging audience. That's mainly because almost everyone, gay or straight, can relate to the story of one person being in love with someone who is too self-absorbed to notice or care.
Spanning a three month period, from September through December, the people in Those People include Charlie (Jonathan Gordon), a gay MFA student in painting with "Jewish stomach" issues, and his childhood best friend Sebastian (Jason Ralph), a spoiled gay Upper East Side rich kid, whose family name has been destroyed by his imprisoned financial swindler father. There is also Ursula (Britt Lower), who is an underling at Vogue and a part-time waitress, straight bartender Wyatt (Chris Conroy) and London (Meghann Fahey), who used to be employed by Sebastian's father.
A night out at a piano bar for Charlie's birthday results in a flirtation between Charlie and experienced piano man Tim (Haaz Sleiman), who also happens to be an accomplished chamber musician. A street confrontation with paparazzi also hastens Sebastian's downward spiral. Caught between his unrequited love for Sebastian and the promise of a new and thrilling romance with Tim, Charlie is forced to make difficult decisions about himself and his future.
Those People has a lot going for it, including strong performances from lead actors Gordon, Ralph and Sleiman and a solid supporting cast. Kuhn also proves his mettle as a writer and director, one who shows great promise. [Sept. 19, 7:15 p.m. at Landmark Century.]
As irreverent and inappropriate as gay comedy can get, Guidance (Edyson) will have you laughing out loud, while looking around you to make sure you aren't the only one doing it. Pathologically immature David (Pat Mills, who also wrote and directed) had a modicum of fame as a child actor on a kids' TV show. Now an irresponsible adult with a serious drinking problem, a cancerous growth on his shoulder and the inability to keep a job, pay bills and make rent, he stumbles upon an opening as an interim high school guidance counselor, a position for which he is ill equipped.
David, the kind of guy who blacks out the faces of his relatives in a family portrait, assumes the identity of Roland, a high school guidance counselor he saw on YouTube. While on campus, he taunts resident discipline problem Desmond (David A. Wontner), insults the staff, including gay gym teacher Scott (David Tompa), makes friendless shy girl Rhonda (Eleanor Zichy) a personal project, does shots in his office with student Jabrielle (Zahra Bentham), bonds with goth girl Alexondria (Emily Piggford) and gets high with the newly expelled pot dealer Brent, aka Ghost (Alex Ozerov).
However, it doesn't take long for everything to unravel, beginning with Scott's discovery of David/Roland's true identity while they are on a date, courtesy of a waitress who was a fan of David's show. Then Guidance abruptly shifts gears to become a campy Bonnie and Clyde tale.
Guidance makes some interesting observations, including that there is "nothing more repulsive to a teenager than taking life advice from someone who went to school to help teenagers." David, who "exists in the space between caring too much and not giving a fuck," must eventually face his problems. His jailhouse finale rocks. [Sept. 19, 9:15 p.m. at Landmark Century.]