directed by:
Daniel Talbott written by: Daniel Talbott genre: Short |
Hey! That’s a bum! How can you not love a film where a bum is the very first thing you see onscreen, right? It’s not too long after that first bum that you’ll even see a bum like mine as well…all hairy & stuff. I feel seen! Sorry if that’s way TMI for ya, but representation in the arts is such a wonderful thing, is it not?
Alright. All jokes aside, representation IS an important thing, and it certainly plays a large role in this queer short film from Writer/Director Daniel Talbott. If you are not into nudity, I will not be able to hold your hand through this review – Daniel cast actors, but he did not cast them with clothing. That means bum cheeks in the wide open, that means we’re unapologetically hanging dong onscreen, and much of what you’ll see is vividly explicit lovemaking in “My Age Now.” It’s definitely graphic, but it’s also quite beautiful. It also deals with some of the heaviest of heavy emotions you’ll see in very clever ways. I believe, if I’m not mistaken, we’re dealing with the aftermath of a relationship that is currently over. I’ve got notes here that reflect on how Daniel’s movie is intentionally not linear, so at the start, we have to wonder about which part of the story we’re actually seeing. Yes, the main characters do eventually find their way into some clothing, but that’s hardly an important detail. What “My Age Now” deals with so directly and so smartly is the power of love and the memories that it leaves behind. Those memories can be our own undoing at times, which is something you’ll see in the course of watching “My Age Now.” Memories are always based in the past, which unfortunately means that life has moved on from that time, whether we liked it or loved it or not. We form memories without consent or any real choice in the matter. They’re just as capable of destroying us as they are of making us smile at any given moment. This was quite a compelling watch from start to finish. It’s definitely a short moment in time for us, with it being around thirteen and a half minutes in total run time, but it accurately documents the permanent impression that love can leave us with for a lifetime. You’ve got older Ben (Carey Cannata) and younger Drew (Tyler Woehl), who genuinely seem like they’re entangled in a loving relationship that any of us would be lucky to be in one day ourselves. As they kiss each other between the sheets and caress each other gently, it’s clear that whatever they’re feeling, they’re feeling it together as one. As in, the power of love has taken hold of them both in the exact same way – or at least that’s how it seems, at first. As we dive deeper into “My Age Now,” it’s clear that not everything is completely as it seems. Daniel has done a tremendous job using the music of the soundtrack to the film’s advantage to elicit even more emotion out of us as viewers, but also to give you subtle clues as to where “My Age Now” is going. Some of you out there will have an idea right away, and others will continue to clue in on this story as it plays out onscreen, which will be made easier for you as we listen to a message that Drew has left for Ben on his phone. One of the things I love so very much about “My Age Now” is how Talbott insightfully knew where to add more information, and his professional restraint in how it all gets revealed. In particular, that message from Drew is the highlight example – we don’t get to hear it all right away, and instead, Talbott opts to dole it out piece by piece, so that we’re still left to figure this story out on our own. The main question becomes, how quickly can we grow up in order to not let what we love slip away? Can we force that to happen? Do we have any control over where our interests lead us or how important we are to another person?
When it comes to relationships, can we count on the person we’re with to see everything the same way that we do…to feel what we feel? Is the moment all we ever have? What would you do and how far would you go to protect the love of your life, and how would you feel if it disappeared? If you truly love something – could you actually set it free? Sure, there’s that whole adage of how if it comes back to you, then it was meant to be and all, but that doesn’t make it easy to do, does it? Most of us would scratch and claw and do everything we can to preserve the love we’ve found if it’s as real as we think it is, because it’s scary to think of what life would be without it! But like people can often vote against their own self-interests, we don’t automatically know how to make all the right decisions in life & love to put us in the best positions to succeed. And so, more often than we’d probably like to admit, we make the wrong choices…we go right instead of left…we don’t consider the other side of the story, and we end up being alone or away from those we love the most. You factor in the fact that both Ben and Drew are technically still pretty young themselves, and c’mon y’all…all we do is make mistakes during our youth. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” as the old saying goes – that’s what it’s like to be young and trying to sort out all the amazing things that you’re experiencing. The phone message from Drew certainly has you understanding where he’s coming from, but so too do the actions of Ben. The situation, whether they each realize what the other is going through or not, is extraordinarily tough on both of them. Relationships are the most sought-after thing on this entire planet, but they’re also the toughest to navigate, and just because it’s something we might desperately want, it doesn’t mean that anything comes easily. Meeting the full needs of two people on the inside of one relationship can be the most challenging thing you’ll ever encounter in life. What makes it extremely complicated, however, are times like what Ben and Drew share together, where everything falls so perfectly in line. If we can have those moments in life, then how come the rest doesn’t just automatically fall into place, right? If only it were that easy somehow. That being said, to feel what Ben and Drew feel for each other, if only for a moment, might very well still be what makes life worth living. Talbott got a ton of mileage out of his cast of two, with both Tyler and Carey revealing a ton of emotion onscreen. Both talented actors with exceptional range, you follow them through the lifecycle of a moment in time that they were lucky enough to share together. You get the good, the great, the sad, and the aftermath in “My Age Now” – and chances are, no matter what kind of relationship you’re in or have been in, you’ll find that you can intensely relate to what they’re going through. Filming-wise, Daniel Talbott is a genuine talent without question – the way he’s put this short story together onscreen is not only highly clever in its details, but powerfully artistic as well. He’s got such an incredible grip on how he wants to show you the information/message of his film that he really didn’t need all that many words at all, which again speaks directly to the strength of the cast that he’s enlisted for “My Age Now” as well. His understanding of how to use such an impressive range of emotions, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, to create that memorable, bittersweet combo that is so compelling and thought-provoking to watch, genuinely highlights Daniel’s connection to the craft and confirms that it’s different in all the right ways. Talbott’s a gem through & through, and if he continues to deliver content as well thought-out and exceptionally filmed as this short film is, he’s got a massively bright future ahead of him. I’m going with four & a half stars out of five here – “My Age Now” is powerfully moving, melancholy & memorable, and it’ll resonate with you long after it has finished. Now... about that movie poster. |
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