I hope it’s readily apparent that a drama about eight gay men is not what might be considered a marketable subject. So, when the creators of “Love! Valour! Compassion!” set about making their film, they did little to make it very acceptable to the masses.
It confronts a variety of controversial and dangerous issues - everything from AIDS to the state of homosexuality in America. But, aside from all that, it remains a pleasant story about eight men.
It opens narrated by Gregory (Stephan Bogardus), who is exuding the virtues of his 19th century house, how much he loves it, how much his friends love it, and how much he enjoys being there surrounded by all his friends. It immediately and effectively sets the tone for the film.
In the next ten minutes or so, six of Gregory’s friends show up at his house, all with their various stories; most of them know each other, and they all have engaging histories involving past affairs and current ones.
“L.V.C.” was originally a Broadway play by Terrence McNally; it has many of the staples of that genre, including a single backdrop, and a plot advanced entirely by conversation, not by action.
The friends include Perry and Austin, a constantly arguing couple of fourteen years; John, a musician who everyone hates, and who hates everyone back; Ramon, a “horny Puerto Rican” who is John’s latest squeeze; Bobby, a friendly blind man attached to Gregory; Buzz, a flamboyant choreographer dying of aids; and James, John’s twin brother who everyone loves, also dying of aids.
Occasionally it feels like the film is plunging into the despicable area of AIDS awareness propaganda, but after a comment or too, it always returns to the story, making its point without becoming overly preachy. The plot itself it worth more to the cause than any comment about “never doing enough” for AIDS.
All the performances (there are only seven actors in the film) are great, but some simply overshadow the others. John Glover is fantastic as both John & James, who are the two most interesting characters in the movie. They are the antithesis of each other, but it’s easy to see that they have a surprising amount in common.
And easily the most entertaining is Jason Alexander as Buzz, the most stereotypically gay member of the cast. He is constantly entertaining and pushing the line between comedy and drama, but he always has the bittersweet undercurrent of his affliction with AIDS. The most impressive part of his performance, though, is his seeming ability to avoid any comparison or even awareness of his more famous role on TV’s “Seinfeld.”
It’s easy to dismiss a film for being about homosexuality, but “LVC” is far more interested in human interaction and the characteristics of love - whether the parties are male or female. The interplay between the characters is no different than any traditionally married couple on or off film, and betrayals are just as painful.
Grade: A-