Cruising

At last! And not a film I want to dash off… Despite the initial backlash from gay rights groups, I have to say this looks pretty benign almost 30 years later. The film’s clear position is that the “dangerous and mysterious” S&M world is not the mainstream “lifestyle” (I dare anyone to review this film without using “sarcastic quoties” liberally) and none of the credible characters judge or even look askance at any gay characters. The film attempts to be fair and fails only when it falls back on stereotype. If I take issue with anything it’s how carefully they guard Pacino’s image: though undercover as a guy cruising for hardcore man-on-man action, he barely touches or is touched by another man; certainly no kissing, certainly no sex. Certainly he fucks Karen Allen every time he catches a break, possibly only to work off the tension at not being able to score with any men…? Anyway the film might be unjustly maligned on the gay front, and stripped of that it’s just a pretty lame by-the-book thriller. But somehow worth the anticipation.