Skip to main content

Plan B (Argentina - Spanish)

Plan B is one of those films which is not everyone's cup of tea. The heart is in the right place but the pace at which the film is shot is lethargic specially in this day and age. The film is raw, the acting is raw, none of the lead characters are buffed up or anything; they are every real like you would see someone in everyday life; so in totality it either works or doesn't work. Personally for me, it worked to an extent but could have been improved drastically.

Tall, confident wild-haired Bruno is pissed that he’s been dumped by his girlfriend and upset that she’s seeing another guy, Pablo, a sweet metrosexual charmer. Although she has dumped him, she still sees Bruno occasionally for sex. Determined to get even and get back his girl, Bruno devises a plan that involves befriending Pablo, making him fall in love with him, and then dumping him in the hopes that his ex will run into his arms again. But have things ever remained same the way you plan it. Bruno starts hanging out with Pablo trying to entice him to make him fall in love with him. They start spending a lot of time together but never get physical or anything. A gradual mutual affection starts developing. Bruno gives him final blow when he gives Pablo a letter expressing his love. Pablo confused about everything finds out by a mutual friend that Bruno is actually ex-boyfriend of his girlfriend and probably he has done all this to get back at Pablo. Pablo is sad because at some end he was falling for Bruno. He breaks up with his girlfriend because now he is confused. On the other hand, Bruno now is really falling for Pablo and wants to get back with Pablo.

So the story has its heart in the right place but there are scenes (and a lot of them) where nothing happens. The camera just captures various moments in the 2 men's lives and their hanging out scenes. There is no background music or anything. The director actually focuses a lot on the two actors' faces, as they ponder, decide, ponder some more, dream, think some more, decide, and ponder. The film can definitely use some serious editing and some background music. In my opinion, this would have ended up a really good 30 minute short film but as a full length feature, it fails in keeping the audience captured.

You have to be really patient to understand and appreciate director's vision for this film. For me it worked only partially. (4/10)

Comments

Anonymous said…
I just finished watching this one... I enjoyed it I thought half way threw it was gonna end with Bruno going back with the girl and that just made me sorta feel like I had wasted my money on this one but in the end things worked out for the best. I see how you feel this film could have been a short LOL! Lots of scenes in bed sleeping no talking at all LOL! Plus scenes of just the crotchs (Dont worry people they were still dressed!) It was fun and my first new gay themed movie of 2011 YAY!!! I enjoyed it and think my friends at work might even like to see this one.
Unknown said…
Yep, I agree with your about the terribly slow pace and would-be Antonionni long "takes" of buildings and bedroom scenes. The script has no real momentum and the main characters seem rather dated--from a era before cell phones and internet dating. I can't believe that two guys who meet at the gym wouldn't notice things a bit sooner. How can a guy sleep over that much and not end up fooling around? The lost wallet trick is over-worked. With a stronger script, this film could work but it needs the female characters portrayed more strongly.
Grah said…
My view of this the PLAN B is very different from the other two reviews here. I thought it a brilliant film. The slow pace mirrored the gradual development of the confusing love.
Not everything has to be said with words, nor does there always have to be background music to make meaning clear. For me the actors were perfect...just ordinary guys grappling with something very new to them. I suggest people read some of the thoughtful and positive reviews in IMDB
Pitbullshark said…
I didn't see this film, but would like to point out that this film was made by the same man who made "Absence" that you loved so much.
Golu said…
Yeah I realized that after watching Absent. I might have to give this film another shot and watch with more open mind
Doug said…
I really like this movie. I've watched it twice now. It is slow and subtle. The quiet and the slow pace tells the story. There was a lot I picked up the second time that I didn't see the first time. An earlier comment from Doc McKinney said he didn't know how it would end. I didn't either and I really liked that it wasn't predictable.
Golu said…
wow!! Now I feel I really have to watch this one again
Feri said…
I also think this movie was quite good, especially because of the lack of music and very slow pace.
I'm actually very happy to see that some people still make gay-themed films that are not corky comedies, or propaganda for the most superfacial kind of lifestyle and promiscuity, or where gay people are pictured as martyrs. This movie (much like The Sex of the Angels) had believable characters and a touching atmosphere.
Golu said…
I can't agree more. I wish there were more realistic films out there
ILHiker said…
Got back last night from my overnight with my sister--it was a lovely getaway. Now for a productive Sunday to be ready for the week. Of course, first order of business last night and this morning was a rewatch of Plan B. I think I'm even a little more fond of it than I was. One issue was I didn't have great subtitles. Now that I'm learning a little Spanish I got a little more flavor of the dialogue, which helped. I loved the development of attraction between Bruno and Pablo. The slow scenes between the two of them and the long shots of them lying together really appealed to me this time through. I loved the one musical interlude--it starts sounding just like a clock ticking, which I think was a reference to Berger's short El Reloj and hit me just the right way. I still found the city shots and the shots of the two when they were alone in the frame too slow for my taste though. It still isn't clear to me the meaning of Pablo having taken the photo of Bruno in the first scene at the park before they'd met and having it in his walled at the end. Was Pablo already attracted to Bruno? Seems too coincidental an interpretation, though Pablo's scenes with the girlfriend are clearly much less sexually charged than Bruno's.
Golu said…
thats some pretty deep observations and interesting questions to ponder over.. And I have to hand it to you of your commitment to rewatch the film.
Maybe one day, I will too.

Popular posts from this blog

The Shortest Distance is Round 3: Fallen Flowers

Continuing with the weird trilogy of "The Shortest Distance", I am so glad that finally I am done with part 3 and won't have to deal with this again in future. Thankfully, as of now the makers have not announced any further parts; which will save all of us on this earth from the embarrassment of watching this in near future. After the first 10 minutes are used in sort of recapping bits of first two parts, the story moves forward. Haruto is now starting to have feelings for Ruka, the mysterious pole dancer from second part. In a fit of rage, Ruka ends up killing the goat man and to save him and Haruto, Shibahara asks them to go underground. Meanwhile Shibahara continues the search for Seiya (the guy who had cut off Haruto's penis). It turns out Seiya is now also taking care of the original club owner from part 1. Both of them were released after they had informed Shibahara of Aoyama's secret location. Shibahara tortures Seiya's boyfriend leading to Seiya killin

One Summer Night (Korean)

I really wanted to like this film but for non native speakers, these movie leaves a lot to be understood and the way scenes were unfolding in front of me, I wasn't sure many times what was really going on. The story had potential button getting any back story on any of the characters limited my ability to empathize with any of these actors. Film starts with two North Korea military guys Yong Joon and Jae Sung having sex and they are caught red handed and they run. Three years later we see Yong Joon in Seoul leading a very mundane and poor life. He has a boyfriend Tae-Kyu, who is a weird guy. He is carefree, doesn't do any work and is completely emotional and financially dependent on Young Joon. In fact, even Yong Joon will go to any lengths to protect him , fend for him and taking care of him to the extent of even taking up prostitution. Suddenly one day Jae Sung appears in their life again. His motivation is not clear but it is obvious he wants Yong Joon back in his life, who

Ultimate masturbation: Shigoki no yama (Japanese) [The Ultimate Masturbation]

I would never know what was the point behind making this film. Was it supposed to be a comedy, cos it wasn't. It wasn't even porn. It was just a silly attempt at making something absolutely senseless and ridiculous. The story, as well as direction is equally shoddy. You could laugh for having seen something so bad, but I wouldn't call that comedy. An old man runs a camp about gay masturbation. The explanation given is that gays masturbate for pleasure unlike straight men, for whom the act is seen as shame or because they can't find a woman. One day a straight man shows up and wants to join the camp for his thesis. After discussion, he is allowed in. Rules include that you can masturbate together, you can masturbate one another, but there is no fellatio or anal sex. Some students of course breaks rule. The teacher then talks about 2 forms of masturbation which gives ultimate pleasure. He shows one without touching and then refuses to talk of the other. Somehow suddenly,