Flick Night In The City: Strapped

“What, do you imagine that I would take so much trouble and so much pleasure in writing, do you think that I would keep so persistently to my task, if I were not preparing - with a rather shaky hand - a labyrinth into which I can venture, in which I can move my discourse, opening up underground passages, forcing it to go far from itself, finding overhangs that reduce and deform its itinerary, in which I can lose myself and appear at last to eyes that I will never have to meet again. I am no doubt not the only one who writes in order to have no face. Do not ask who I am and do not ask me to remain the same: leave it to our bureaucrats and our police to see that our papers are in order. At least spare us their morality when we write.” -Michel Foucault, The Archaeology of Knowledge (1969)

After having seen the previews for some time on all my recent DVD rentals I decided to finally rent the movie “Strapped” which I thought would be some sort of soft-porn gay hustler movie as it’s title was suggesting. To my surprise the Bay Area writer/director Joseph Graham had a completely different, oddly intellectual and unsettling odyssey planned for me to take than what I was expecting. The title infered strapped for identity, for sure it was not lack of money, which our protagonist finds during one dark and stormy night of apartment hopping while seeking a way out of the labyrinthine (or was that a maze-like) apartment building of his first trick of the night. 

The boyish gay hustler (played by the strikingly handsome newcomer Ben Bonenfant) pleasurably morphs from encounter to encounter into whoever the man in front of him needs/desires him to be for them. Voyeuristically watching but never actually seeing any real "action" on screen we follow the hustler’s eclectic liaisons with -- a bearded Russian unfamiliar with gay sex (Artem Mishin); a coked-up queen who vividly remembers knowing him (Carlo D'Amore) and his sexily-intellectual coke buddy (Raphael Barker, yes from ShortBus, who’s myspace says is 60 but I don’t believe it… I want proof! or some of whatever he's having); a good-looking "straight" guy with sociopathic tendencies (Michael Klinger); an aged gay-rights activist tucked away in a vintage leaky attic apartment (expertly played by former Colt model icon Paul Gerrior aka Ledermeister those into classic Colt should Google him… this hot Daddy has turned out to be a hot Grand Daddy...WOOF!); and a lonely young writer who wants nothing more than a real intimate connection with someone (Nick Frangione).

BEAR-ssential: Joseph Graham did a great job of giving this drama a Hitchcock-esque feel throughout the film that keeps you guessing where the Foucault/Shakespeare-sprinkled penetrating dialogue and seductive performances by the whole cast will climax. This unforgettable film of introspection and revelation arrives at its gratifying ending and lingers with you for days. All this makes “Strapped” a must see. Only the inclusion of a chub character could have rounded off the familiar gay stereotypes in this film making it complete, which is the only reason I gave it 4.75 of 5 Bear Claws. 



Some "In The City" Fun Extras:
Memorable quotes and moments:

"WOW... I came without touching myself... How'd you do it?..."

"I feel free... Yeah... Yeah... (sighs) Yeah."

"What? You have school tomorrow, bitch? Oh. I get it. Gotta get your beauty sleep for teacher, huh? Like those nerds with big cocks, don't you, you whore. No, seriously. Come inside. I've missed you. Come on. Come on."

"And all Deep Troat here has to do is, you know, end this life of depraved godless buttfucking, right?"

"Oh no! My little Eddy's all growed up! I think I'm gonna cry. It's hard to see them go. No, sir! Not a dancing slut no more, not a drugged out devil, but a real, bona fide whore! Cash only, please!"

"I'm an agent of desiree... Do not ask who I am, and do not ask me to remain the same."

"I'm not gonna ask your name. Doesn't matter. Names. Probably make one up, anyway. But you are beautiful... Oh, you're too smart to be one of Leon's boys. And you don't do drugs. Naw. You're no River Phoenix. You know who you are? Brad Davis. Dying in your own arms. Have you seen 'Querelle?'"

"Random. Anonymous. I like adventures."

"No it's hot. I like it. Think I got some in my eye though, might've blinded me a little bit. Gonna have to check my insurance plan on that."

"I can smell my cock in your mouth."

"Ask me how do gay men say goodbye... I'll call you."

"Oh. Hey. Hi. I'm sorry. I know you... Don't I know you?"

"It's an apartment building, It isn’t Purgatory."

“A maze is a trap, a labyrinth goes somewhere.”

Okay this wasn't in the movie but I had to share Paul Gerrior aka Ledermeister...WOOF!
From Hot Dady to Hot GrandDaddy.

“I don’t know. I’m sure there are a few straight guys walking around here somewhere. But, this is the gayest building on the gayest street in town. Is that a problem?”

"Saint Sebastian" by Guido Reni c. 1616

"No. No, son. You're much older than those. You're body may be young but, there. You see that picture? That's how old you are. (as they look at the painting "Saint Sebastian" by Guido Reni c. 1616).

“No. I don't wanna fuck. I want to kiss you. I want to kiss you. I want to kiss you deep. For like days… Because. If you kiss me, I won’t be alone. You know? Like, alone alone. For five fucking minutes. And then you’ll leave, and you’ll go. And I can have that. I can have that kiss, I can remember that kiss. Because that kiss will be mine. ‘Cause I know that you’re gonna touch my soul. And that’s, that’s really where I really need to be touched right now. Okay? Not my cock. Not my hole”



"STRAPPED" Movie Artwork