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 CIRCUIT:
THE FIRST MUST-SEE GAY MOVIE OF 2002
by Jed Ryan
Almost one half of the way into the year, Circuit
has come to the rescue as the first gay "event" movie of 2002.
It premiered on Wednesday, April 24 in Chelsea, at a benefit
showing for Manhattan's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Community Center where attendees received free copies of the
soundtrack. Circuit will undoubtedly draw comparisons
to another film dealing with a specific gay male subculture,
The
Fluffer. But while The
Fluffer, a movie about gay male porn, merely let
us stand in the doorway and gawk at its subject matter from
a distance, Circuit takes us right into the
middle of the action-- on the dance floor, and into the minds
of the hot boyz on that dance floor Director Dirk Shafer does
this through believable, fully-fleshed characters (No stereotypes
here!) and vivid depictions of the parties themselves-- the
music, the clothes, the pageantry, and of course, the hot
men. The climax of Circuit, takes place at the
White Party in Fort Lauderdale, and the scene was actually
filmed at the Party. Of course, despite all the glamour and
drama, there's the downside. Some guys get too sucked into
the negative aspects of the subculture: excessive vanity,
drug abuse, and careless sex.
 The
world of circuit parties is a way of life for many gay men,
as well as a constant target by critics (including some members
of the gay community) who condemn the rampant drug use and
sex that often accompanies those parties. Circuit
shows the alluring aspects of the lifestyle, showing us why
these nationwide parties are so addicting. Yet, without preaching,
director Dirk Shafer also shows us the negative side of the
world of those buff, perpetually shirtless party boys through
the film's main character, John (Jonathan Wade Drahos). John,
a blandly attractive, all-American type, decides to leave
his conservative small town for a more open-minded environment.
He finds it-- big time-- in West Hollywood. Slowly, he becomes
attracted to the sexually liberated attitude and obsessive
body-consciousness, starting out as a door man at the parties
and progressing to full-fledged circuit party addict, not
above shooting steroids to compete with his muscular neighbors
or indulging in a night of recreational drugs (Ecstasy and
GBH, to be specific). One of the first friends he meets is
Hector (Andre Khabazzi), an obsessively vain, Hispanic hustler
who resembles a thirty-something, cosmetically enhanced Freddie
Prinze Jr. Hector represents the unfortunate accumulation
of drug abuse and joyless sex for money; as a result, he's
got no emotions left. Will John follow that same unfortunate
pathway?
Director Dirk Shafer was Playgirl magazine's Man of
the Year in 1992. Showing that he was more than just a pretty
face (and hot body), Shafer who's openly gay-- co-wrote and
directed a 1995 "mockumentary" (a la This
is Spinal Tap) called Man
of the Year, which blended fiction and his own
true-life experiences. In this film, Shafer satirized his
title as favorite Playgirl pinup and object of lust of millions
of women by playing a famous gay model who comes out, thus
grappling with his image as All-American heterosexual hunk.
In Circuit, Shafer does more than just ogle
us with hot male flesh or bombard us with the throbbing soundtrack.
He displays a very keen eye for the world of the circuit party
scene as well as the West Hollywood gay community. The stunning
cast includes Paul Lekakis (Yes, the one behind the 1986 classic
"Boom Boom [Let's Go Back to My Room"]) as a blond,
well-endowed erotic performer; Brian Lane Green as John's
well-meaning, sensible boyfriend (who looks at the circuit
scene with a "been there, done that" attitude); and Kiersten
Warren, as John's sarcastically funny female friend who transcends
the stereotypical, demeaning "fag hag" role. Comedy writer
Bruce Villianch and Jim J. Bullock (Too Close for Comfort
and Queer Duck) pop up in cameos, and the most interesting
casting has to be William Katt (The Greatest American Hero)
and Nancy Allen (Dressed
to Kill), who are very effective as a malevolent
club promoter and his long suffering girlfriend. (TRIVIA:
What cult classic did William Katt and Nancy Allen appear
in together? The answer's at the end of the article.)
 After
the movie, there was a celebrity VIP party, where we got to
meet Dirk Shafer himself (and yes, he's just as handsome in
real life), as well as the producers of Circuit
and a few of the other men behind the movie. Also present
was Tony-Award winning (for Cabaret)
actor Alan Cumming (Eyes
Wide Shut, The
Anniversary Party,Urbania),
who was not only strikingly handsome but a real sweetheart
as well, posing for pictures and sharing anecdotes (When I
told him that I was rebelling from "the Chelsea look" that
night, he responded, "I rebel by not working out!")
Circuit
is must-see gay cinema, the perfect for a night out with a
group of friends. It's currently playing at Manhattan's Quad
Cinema. Check out Moviefone.com
or call 777-FILM for show times, and check out the official
Circuit web site, www.CircuitMovie.com.
The soundtrack, which features songs by Kevin Aviance, China
Cat, Taylor Dayne, Paul Lekakis, and Lonnie Gordon, is also
highly recommended
(Answer
to trivia: William Katt and Nancy Allen both appeared in
1976's horror classic Carrie.)
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