In this touching love story set in New York City, a gay painter must decide between dating his fickle best friend. And developing feelings for a middle-aged Lebanese musician outside of his privileged social network.
Hollywood director Joey Kuhn helmed the romance drama Those People in 2015. Which starred Jonathan Gordon, Jason Ralph, and Haaz Sleiman. Britt Lower, Meghann Fahy, Chris Conroy, Allison Mackie, and Max Jenkins all feature in the cast.
Those People debuted in theatres in New York and Los Angeles in May of 2016. At the 2017 GLAAD Media Awards, the film was nominated for Outstanding Film – Limited Release.
Kuhn has said that his own college romance with his closest friend. And his interest in the suicide of Bernie Madoff’s son Mark. Two years after his father’s arrest, were inspirations for the picture.
The film received two Audience Awards during its festival run: one for Outstanding Feature Film at the 2015 NewFest: New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival and another for Best First US Dramatic Feature at the 2015 Outfest Film Festival.
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Plot Of Those People
Those People, starring Jonathan Gordon as Charlie, a 23-year-old painter and the emotional centre of his group of handsome New York City pals, straddles the line between the melodrama of Gossip Girl and the LGBT coming-of-age stories that have established their own genre.
Sebastian (Jason Ralph) is the centre of attraction. But he is also the glue that holds the gang together. Since he is the offspring of a fictional character like Bernie Madoff. The protagonist’s identity issue is a major factor in the story’s progression. As a result, he unconsciously seeks the attention of his peers by making unhealthy choices like drinking excessively and harbouring secret suicide ideas. He needs Charlie’s help in particular because Charlie has had a crush on him ever since they were kids.
But when Charlie starts going out with a much older concert pianist (Haaz Sleiman), the friendships in the group are put to the test as Charlie fights with his love for both Sebastian and Haaz. Like a Gatsby for the twenty-first century. That level of excellence is unfortunately never achieved. I was pleasantly impressed by how the movie developed beyond its concept, which is unfairly reduced to a love triangle. But no amount of deviations from the norm seem to help.
Love triangle in Those People
The film’s patient blossoming of Charlie and Tim’s love is one of its most enjoyable elements, but the film ultimately becomes less about the romantic triangle and more about the two best friends’ delayed trek to emotional adulthood. Visiting his father in prison, who is frigid and unrepentant, was a turning point in Sebastian’s journey toward redemption.
As a result of his obvious affection for them, Kuhn is patient enough to overlook their flaws and give them room to make frustrating decisions. While the picture never loses its energy, there are a few too many glimpses of Charlie pining or attractive screwup Sebastian casting lonely gazes out of car windows for my taste. Many times I wanted to smack them and their narcissistic pals.
Nonetheless, it is a well-made, solidly-acted first feature with an attractive cast, so it should find an audience as a gay-themed VOD entry. There’s a sophisticated aesthetic to it as well, conjuring up images of a New York winter with its use of Lincoln Center Plaza, the opulent City Center auditorium, and the lofty High Line.
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Is Those People Worth Watching?
The viewer of THOSE PEOPLE is thrust into the centre of a melodrama about a group of pals in contemporary New York City. For almost a decade, Charlie (a revelation played by Jonathan Gordon) has been pining away for his closest buddy Sebastian. Despite his undying affection for Sebastian, he has never attempted to develop their connection beyond a casual friendship.
Tim, a pianist (played by the talented Haaz Sleiman), approaches Charlie and begins to flirt with him. Anybody who has ever felt emotionally confined by unrequited love will recognise this situation as all too familiar. Tim longs for a romantic connection with Charlie. But the existence of Sebastian in Charlie’s life prevents any development in that direction. Although a narcissist, Sebastian has issues with abandonment and looks on Charlie for stability.
A major part of the story takes place over the course of three months. A time frame that may seem unnecessary and artificially extends the consequences of certain choices made by the protagonists. This film could have been fantastic with more time spent developing the characters.
All in all, these people are very well off and appear oblivious to the hardships of city life. Because of his charitable fund-stealing, Sebastian Sr. has earned the nickname “the most loathed guy in New York.” Sebastian is the one who has to deal with the wrath of the public and the media whenever he steps foot outside his house.
The dynamic between the characters is what sets THOSE PEOPLE apart from more academic recent gay films. They genuinely care for one another, and the story’s not-so-novel acknowledgment is that we frequently remain in unhealthy relationships out of fear. Gordon’s acting perfectly depicts his reluctance to grow up and go on, despite his superior knowledge.
Conclusion
Joey Kuhn and Grainne Belluomo penned the script for the 2015 drama/romance film Those People, which was shot in English. Joey Kuhn helmed the film, while he, Kimberly Parker, and Sarah Perlman Bremner produced it under their company, Little Big Horn Films.
A young gay painter on New York City’s Upper East Side is divided between his growing feelings for an older. International concert pianist and his undying devotion to his closest friend, a famed socialite. Those People stars Jonathan Gordon, Jason Ralph, Haaz Sleiman, Britt Lower, Meghann Fahy, Chris Conroy, and Max Jenkins, among others.
Adam Crystal scored the film. Leonardo D’Antoni directed the cinematography, and Sara Shaw edited the film. The duration of this film is 89 minutes. On May 6th, 2016, it was made available. Wolfe Video has bought the film’s distribution rights.
