Prick Up Your Ears

<<

Under the Radar

>>

Best Actor winner, Gary Oldman, is one hell of a talented guy. He's out there enough that when it came to finding something "under the radar" for him, it was a bit difficult. In all honesty, I just figured I haven't heard of this movie, it came right after 'Sid & Nancy' (perhaps considered his breakout performance) and I knew enough to know that he had to act gay, which was something I had yet to see him do. So, although people may still know this title better than I do, considering Vanessa Redgrave's Golden Globe nom for Best Supporting Actress, I figured it's be a good way to go.

This is a biographical film about British playwright, Joe Orton (Oldman), his lover, Kenneth Halliwell (Alfred Molina). It's based on a biography by John Lahr, and is told in flashbacks while Lahr (Wallace Shawn) gets his information for his book from Peggy Ramsay (Redgrave), Orton's former literary agent. Adding a fair share of secretive drama to this is the fact that back in the 60s where this all takes place, an openly gay relationship was actually illegal. So there's actually quite a lot of secrecy going on here with Orton's overly sexual personality, as just about every other scene he's trying to hook up with not-Halliwell, but you get the impression he'd rather swing while Halliwell just wants him to himself.

In the meantime, as far as play writing is concerned, we're shown that Orton grows and succeeds, even getting an opportunity to wright for The Beatles. However, Halliwell, who taught Orton what he knows, gets kinda pushed to the background and becomes disheartened, jealous and angry quite often. In short, they sort of turn into this dramatic trope of a loveless marriage, and we're along for the ride.

Being that this film is from 1987, it was probably far more impactful for it's time as opposed to watching it now. Movies about homosexual relationships get Oscar nominations, and have a much more open-minded audience viewing them these days (at least I think and hope). Nothing is really shown here, but there's enough to consider it pretty risky for it's time. In my mind, the all-out acceptance of a movie about homosexuality began with 'Brokeback Mountain', but of course, I could be way off, so do correct me if I'm wrong on that.

All in all, though, this is a biographical love story with an ending people know is coming, especially upon reading the description of the film, or just knowing who these guys were. Personally, this carried little to know impact for myself, but it does get points nonetheless for convincing acting, and having a story line I could see being of interest to particular audiences. I don't highly recommend it to just anyone, but if the subject matter is of any interest, it's probably well-worth the viewing. The whole film can be found on YouTube for free (that's where I watched it), so one can always cut it short if need be. But it's a fascinating role for a young Gary Oldman, circa his early 30s. It's even often considered one of his best. So perhaps it's not quite as "under the radar" as I originally suspected.

3/5

---