Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
1999 Movie
Dir. Jim Fall · United States of America · English
A witty and refreshing comedy-of-errors depicting the gay community in the big city
When forming a connection with someone, sometimes it doesn’t go the way you plan to– it’s a familiar romcom thread, something from the classics, but it’s a story that works. Trick is a witty comedy of errors with a similar thread, but through the various obstacles shy gay man Gabriel has in trying to get a one night stand, the romcom neatly introduces him, and us, to Greenwich Village’s gay community of the 1990s: the casual piano bars, the vibrant nightclubs, and the fun drag shows. It’s charming, it’s sweet, it’s humorous, and it has a lighthearted relatable struggle, one that focuses on the joys and pleasures of falling in love as a gay man.
Gabriel is a young, aspiring musical composer whose life seems stuck in the First Act. When his new musical number gets a critical reception, a theatre colleague, Perry, tells Gabriel that he needs to get a life before he can write about one – so he heads straight for his local gay bar.

"A highlight of the 1999 Sundance Film Fest, Jim Fall's charming romantic comedy deviates from mnny gay-themed by not dealing with AIDS or other "serious" issues, instead centering on "simple" matters like dating and getting laid."
— Emanuel Levy
Aspiring Broadway songwriter Gabriel has never felt the urge to kiss and have sex with someone he’s just met… at least until he runs into Mark, a go-go dancer at a local gay club. He’s hoping to seal the deal, though the two men keep getting interrupted.
It’s just so refreshing seeing a film unashamed of sexuality, especially in the more sex-averse mainstream film landscape of the early 2020s.
Jim Fall, Jason Schafer… I know it’s been years since you’ve talked about the sequel but PLEASE we are begging for it.

Berlin
1 win

Sundance
1 nom
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