Written and Directed by: Andrew Haigh
Rating: 5/5 Unicorns
What was suppose to be only a drunken one-night stand evolves into something more, something new and completely unexpected. Weekend is the enchanting second feature by Andrew Haigh that follows two men fall slowly for one another over the course of a weekend.
When it comes to love stories, I am always a skeptic. The majority of love stories always follow the same formula. Boy- meets- girl, boy- loses- girl and then boy- gets- girl back. Boring!!! They are extremely predictable and the script is full of cheesy lines. I am always groaning and having a gag reflex. What I loved about Weekend was the authenticity of the film. It was extremely honest and intimate. Throughout the film I felt like I was a fly on the wall, a true intruder. I really loved the direction choices that Andrew Haigh made.There were several shots that are done through a mirror, as if you were watching the characters in the mirror. Those shots were my favorite because I felt like a nosy bystander. Then there were shots that followed the actors as if you were someone walking right behind them. It was just beautifully filmed. Weekend was also one of the best written films I have ever seen. I would give anything to read the actual script. There was a naturalness to the dialogue as if the film was completely improvised.
Another key to the magic of Weekend are the two leads, Tom Cullen and Chris New. Their chemistry was out of this world. You really believed that they were falling for each other. Their individual performances was nothing short of breathtaking. Tom Cullen was mesmerizing as Russell.You could not keep your eyes off him which is a true testament to Tom's talent. Russell is a bit of a wallflower who is little uncomfortable in his own skin. He is unassuming, bit removed from his surroundings but you have a sense that is looking for a place to call a home. When you learn about his back-story, you really appreciate the acting choices Tom makes. He was just brilliant as Russell, one of my favorite acting performances of all time. I loved Chris's portrayal of the confident and opinionated Glen. Underneath all of that assertiveness you have inkling that Glen desperately wants to be liked but has closed himself emotionally. It was comical watching Glen's walls breaking down because he was trying so hard to play it cool. I loved how both characters were complicated and flawed. What I loved most was how they each were the missing links of themselves. This movie was just flawless.
I wouldn't call Weekend a gay movie. Obviously, the two characters are gay men but just labeling Weekend as a gay movie it feels like you are writing it off. It is an incredibly acted film with an impeccable script. This movie restores my faith in the romantic film genre. It is possible for a film to be romantic, funny, heart-warming and refreshing. In little under two hours, Weekend entered my heart and became my favorite movie of all time. This is a remarkable feat considering I am a bit of a cynic.
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