Small, tidy, independent first film by Bill Sherwood, on gay life in New York City, and in a rather arty and intellectual circle to boot. Michael, a would-be writer and reluctant editor, has a thriving relationship with Robert (tickling one another's ribs, fencing with umbrellas). But Robert has arranged a job transfer to Africa, in order to escape the swan song of Nick, a rock musician, who has AIDS, and who was Michael's first love. Peter, a record-store clerk, already has Michael in his sights. The action takes place in only a day and a half (the half starts to drag a little), and the milieu is well filled in. Of course, the arty New York part means that the smart talk must be fast and furious -- a little too much so for its own good -- and the low-grade sound quality means that it will often be unintelligible as well. Steve Buscemi, as the unselfpitying AIDS sufferer, and looking like a cross between Keith Carradine and Klaus Kinski, steals anything worth stealing from the rest of the cast. With Richard Ganoung, John Bolger, and Adam Nathan. (1986) — Duncan Shepherd
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