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Hustler White (1996)
More
puerile trash from Bruce LaBruce. Here he takes on Warhol
by taking on "Sunset Boulevard," which Warhol took on
with "Heat." Then he takes on "Heat" as well. LaBruce
also plays out the most Udo Kier-like Udo Kier to be
seen with exception of the real thing. He's kind of
amusing as a complete cunt. But he can't sustain this
for the entire length of this rather short film, unfortunately.
"Hustler
White" finds LaBruce hamming er... playing it up as
a European journalist who comes to America to research
the hustlers on Santa Monica Boulevard. All of these
hustlers are at least 30 years old. Eventually he hooks
up with Tony Ward, an Italian gay porn star of some
mild interest. LaBruce drools and oohs like a little
bitch over the stud. Eventually, when they hook up,
LaBruce "corrupts" him with some obviously, albeit twisted,
symbolism.
LaBruce seems to explore the fetishist nature of "Johns"
in the film. There is mummification, bondage, transvestitism,
amputee sex, as well as an old queen hanging by his
wrists being burned by cigarettes and cut on the buttocks
by a razor blade. It's all rather dreary and uninteresting.
The only truly cute character is a baby-faced skinhead
who somehow manages to walk away unscathed from all
the sickness.
Now, don't get me wrong. I can find the eroticism and
the intrigue in numerous perverted fetishes. But LaBruce
seems to just present this stuff with no interest in
making it compelling, deviant or watchable. It just
lays there. It's the kinda stuff that makes you ashamed
to be a sexual human being, let alone a homosexual human
being.
There is a good scene about two guys, one of whom refuses
to kiss, but performs sexually with another male. There
is something to this idea but it was explored much more
emotionally and likably in "My Own Private Idaho." Where
Van Sant was heartfelt, LaBruce is indifferent, however.
At 77 minutes, "Hustler White" is a silly trifle. Oh,
that's being kind. It's really immature drivel. C'mon
Bruce. I know you got much more better stuff in you!
(You've had better in you, that's for sure!)
Note:
Made in conjunction with Rick Castro.
Report
Card
Script:
D-
Acting: D-
Cinematography\Lighting: F
Special Effects\Make Up: F
Music:F
Final
Grade: F
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