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Dorian Blues

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Synopsis

Witty, knowing, and immensely entertaining, Dorian Blues is a delightfully off-kilter coming-of-age tale from debut writer-director Tennyson Bardwell. Adolescence is proving a pain for Dorian (Michael McMillian). He’s an outcast and the butt of classmates’ fag jokes at high school and his football hero brother (Lea Coco) is constantly rescuing him. But everything finally begins to make sense when he realizes that he’s gay.

Before his arch-conservative dad (Steven C. Fletcher, in a hilarious role) can throw him out of the house, he’s off to NYU where he encounters a new world of cafes, sophisticates and handsome men, but this life proves just as frustrating as his world back home. From the hysterical dinner table political discussions to the serious family moments and less-than-perfect life in college, the writing and acting is directly from the heart and always rings true. Prepare to laugh out loud with this first-rate gay comedy.

Review

A delightful surprise for us and audiences, is Dorian Blues, a witty, knowing, and immensely entertaining coming-of-age tale from writer-director Tennyson Bardwell. Dorian (Michael McMillian) is a misfit teen living in a small upstate New York town with his conservative father (Steven C. Fletcher), Stepford Wives-like mother (Mo Quigley) and football hero brother (Lea Coco). Adolescence is proving a pain for the always-thinking Dorian. He’s an outcast and the butt of classmates’ fag jokes at high school. He’s different and understands why when he reaches the conclusion that he’s a “stereotypical gay.” He soon announces this discovery to his boozing social worker, his less-than-understanding parish priest, his brother and, against his brother's warnings, eventually his homophobic, Nixon-loving dad. Before dad can throw him out of the house, he’s off to NYU where our hero encounters a new world of cafes, sophisticates and handsome men, but this life proves just as frustrating and treacherous as back home. From the hysterical dinner table political discussions to the serious family moments and less-than-homo-heaven life in college, the writing and acting is directly from the heart and rings true. Prepare to laugh out loud and maybe even think a tad at this first-rate gay comedy.

-- Scott Cranin

Customer Reviews

Coming Out

Amos Lassen wrote on 02/12/2011:

“DORIAN BLUES”
Coming Out
Amos Lassen
“Dorian Blues” (TLA Releasing) is a poignant little movie of a teenager discovering his sexual identity and the reaction of his conservative family. I thought to myself “oh no, another coming-out story” but I was surprised that this is really a good movie. Everything about it is good—the story line the acting, characters, the situations. It is a very funny look at adolescence. Most interesting is that the director is a straight man and he managed to get it all right.
Capturing Dorian’s struggle with his homosexuality in a way that is easy to relate to, the movie sets up laugh after laugh. Dorian has a well rounded coming out experience and this is shown through denial, bargaining and ultimately acceptance.
Dorian Lagatos (Michael McMillian—a guy to watch) is upset and sour that the world does not understand him. His own family is a microcosm of society. His father is a right wing radical, his mother is subservient to her husband and his brother is everything that Dorian is not—a jock, a carefree high schooler and a ladies man. Dorian suddenly realizes that the reason he does not fit in is because he is gay and with this epiphany, he finds solace and comfort with a gay fried, Spooky. Dorian feels that he must stay in the closet but does confide his feelings to his brother who has no problem with the issue. The two brothers are separated by college; Dorian goes to New York to study and finds gay life, fits in and falls in love, watches the games that people play and confronts his own rejection when his love affair falls apart. Dejected and despondent, his brother comes to visit him, they receive a call that their father has died. Dorian must now face his father (even though he is dead) and his mother who is much more sensitive than Dorian had known. Dorian learns that the philosop0hy of life is neither bound nor dependent upon sexual identity.
Everything in the film is handled with intelligence and free of the usual coming out clichés. It captures some of the experiences that we have when coming out, especially the arrival at the decision where one doesn’t care anymore about what people think. I especially liked the way the movie shows how Dorian falls for the first person that shows him any attention and how after losing him goes back into the closet. We get a glimpse of his own internalized homophobia of purposely trying to appear straight. There is also the experience of having sex with someone who you do not feel attractive but is available. I especially liked the way honesty forces one person to come out interacts with another kid of honesty we must use to fit in. There is also the case of family members thinking gayness is only a phase to be outgrown and wanting one to hide and not to take the sexuality seriously and then how after being alarmed become accepting. Coming out is a process that seems to never end and is not really a confession but a way of life.
The movie also deals with the idea of looking different and being gay. The movie is not just Dorian’s coming out story; it is our collective coming out story. It shows how harmful the rules of how men should be are. Gender roles, as seen by society, not only women but hurt everyone equally.
This is not a new story but Dorian’s tale seems fresher than most. It looks at the inner struggles other have as a family member comes out.
We have become used to the idea that low budget films are usually mediocre but “Dorian Blues” shows that to be an incorrect assumption. It is a simple story and the actors are unknowns but that only adds to the charm. Here we have a warm and sensitive film that deserves to be seen. It accurately shows the feelings and situations that we experience when coming out. It is a funny look at a young and awkward boy’s life after he realizes that he is gay and you can’t help but love this tender film.

Good but not Great

DirkJT wrote on 09/01/2006:

This is a good movie to watch but not to make a night of it. It's more like if your bored and don't know what to watch, this is okay to pop in. It's kind of funny with the overly cynical and sometimes funny lead and the "Lil' Brother" is a total hunk to watch but other than that it doesn't really go anywhere or make you feel anything or be better as a person. It's just a fun little thing to watch but not get anything from it.

A Movie Worthy of it's Price

Derek wrote on 03/11/2006:

If there is one reason to get this film, is for the scene between Michael McMillan (Dorian) and Ryan Berkowitz (Tiffany). In my opinion, the best part of the movie.

Not very edgy but...

Scott wrote on 03/09/2006:

still sweet nonetheless. I love lower-budget gay indies, and I don't expect every film to be groundbreaking like the previous reviewer. I think DORIAN BLUES has a lot of heart and I respect that. If you're looking for something fun and romantic but edgier, more irreverent and more explicit try BEVERLY KILLS or even ADAM AND STEVE (a great comedy from the festival circuit last year with some very sexy shots of its stars).

Hasn't the bar been raised?

just a reviewer wrote on 03/08/2006:

PROBABLY SPOILERS++++++++++PROBABLY SPOILERS

((1)) A number of good things have been said by the TLA reviewer (many of which I can agree with), but everything is not "4-Star great", and I do feel the need to express the following less than positive observations.

((2)) No notable betterment here over 1998's very well done "Edge of Seventeen." One would think, seven or so years after that earlier production, the bar would have crept higher.

((3)) While "Dorian Blues" does have lots of 'cutesy' (particularly IN the lead, himself), there's definitely an overmuch amount (about the first film half) of:

((a)) The 'Mean Ole' Dad & the 'Mummified' Mom (Mom only comes into her own at film's end........as does Dad, for that matter / LOL)

((b))The 'Better-than' L'il Brother (even if he is presented as generally supportive of Dorian and possibly his best ally)

((4)) Sadly, what there's an 'undermuch' amount of time spent on is Dorian's New York City escapades (and I don't mean those with brother-from-home still in tow).

((5)) At bout's end, "Edge of Seventeen" remains the winner.

((6)) PS: Not much 7-years-progress evident to us in the on-screen romance department either: one very timid kiss. (Oh, I see, you don't look for 'that kind' of scene in any romance film, gay or straight. Interesting.)