Roedy Green
I watched this film simply because First Wave's impossibly handsome Sebastian Spence was in it. I wanted to see what other roles he might play. His character here is completely different from Cade Foster, and completely charming. The plot has as many twists as an Agatha mystery novel, constantly keeping you guessing, and pulling the rug out from under you when you think you have finally figured it all out. However, it is also a thriller. The protagonist, Chad Allen as private eye Donald Strachey is neither tough nor particularly intelligent, though his body ripples. I was on the edge of my seat worrying about what would happen to him next.It is a movie about gay people, exploring all kinds of issues from blackmail, to outing, to spying, to HIV, to gays in the military, to sexual abuse. The main pair of characters have a loving, domestic monogamous relationship. It is nice to see a gay couple portrayed realistically. Sex is not the #1 priority for most gays. They are both clean cut, pleasant and sympathetic. At times Spence reminded me of Cary Grant in Arsenic and Old Lace. The lead gay couple don't take drugs, go to orgies or commit suicide as seems mandatory in so many other movies about gays.There is a touch of frontal male nudity, and a short tasteful scene of a male-male couple in bed caressing gently. It is not a sleasy film despite some of the subject matter. There are also photos of the bad guys engaged in S&M.This is a film unlike any other. I never could guess where it was going next. It is delightfully entertaining, every last minute of it.
L.J. McFarland-Groves
I don't often post on this site, perhaps I will more often, but felt compelled to add my two cents since my reaction to the film was different from the reviews I've been reading. I enjoyed this gay Who-done-it and hope that there'll be more from the same writer. Yes, the characters at time seem overly sweet, but that's against the sarcasm and one-upmanship we come to accept as normal in gay society. Here we have a devoted couple, struggling along the best they can. One is in a political background, supporting his other half who does what he can in a tedious private detective position. Presented with a case he's torn between doing the right thing, either refusing to work for a gay man who he finds fanatical and who tends to ruin lives - or put himself and his lover in danger by pursuing "the bad guys"Dashiell Hammett has been dead for years, there'll be no more Nick Charles stories, but Richard Stevenson's Donald Strachey is a refreshing twist especially considering Strachey and his partner aren't some tedious twinky 20-somethings, and the film was done as a homage to Film Noir and has some nice romantic touches. I have purchased this DVD,recommend it and look forward to sequels.
House-of_cards
This was so disappointing..It had such a standard storyline..Yes .You may say hang on its about a gay private eye and gay characters ,thats true but the screenplay,storyline, characters are the same as your standard private detective and murder, etc. The dialogue is the same as your standard TV private Detective episode . The acting is so ordinary, not one good acting performance in it , though to be fair in such a lousy story and screenplay its difficult to shine for any actor. If this is the best Ron Oliver can offer I suggest he sticks to the day job. One more note is the soundtrack.. truly bad.. small sounding like they were short of of musicians and the same as the Movie .Miss this one everyone. I mean it.
jlbrown7
I'm used to seeing under-achieving gay movies, with laughable acting, unbelievable writing and downright bad directing. But not "Third Man Out"! The plot is excellent. The actors are believable - and really good. The directing is second to none.The only disappointment is that too many gay stereotypes were used - not stereotypes imposed on gays but stereotypes created by gays. That is, evil cigar-smoking Republicans hiding their hypocritical deeds, and evil church officials ruining the lives of others. But, the movie was so good, I can forgive the writer for injecting his own bias. Good job overall!I also get tired of seeing gay lovers always fighting. For once it was refreshing to see two characters really love each other - portraying what we all seek. In addition to that, the two characters really had different lives and different tastes, yet they made the relationship work. It was a good match.Thank you and congratulations to Chad Alan, Sebastian Spence, Ron Oliver, and Mark Saltzman.
AD
