Beautiful Something

Beautiful Something (2015) is a fascinating and thought-provoking drama from director Joseph Graham. The film seeks to provide an intimate exploration of identity, desire, creativity, and the complexities of human relationships, keenly casting a focus on the lives of four gay men in Philadelphia. Featuring an outstanding cast including Brian Sheppard, Zack Ryan, and Colman Domingo, among others, the movie offers a compelling ensemble-driven narrative.

In the film, the audience delve into the existence of four diverse individuals whose lives intersect in a way that showcases the challenges and beauty of life and love in all its varied forms. Brian Sheppard plays Brian, a struggling poet unable to find inspiration. His character reflects the uncertainties of creative individuals who seek to elevate their artistry but continuously find themselves at a dead-end. We are taken through his journey, where he wrestles with his unsatisfying love life and a frustrating career, a situation many viewers will resonate with. The role is handled with great sensitivity and persuasiveness by Sheppard, matching the rawness of his character's predicaments.

Zack Ryan portrays Jim, a confident and accomplished but seemingly arrogant sculpture artist. He wrestles with his suppressed feelings and hidden insecurities shrouded beneath his bold exterior. His character is a depiction of success, with an intimate look at inner turmoils that often accompany such accomplishment. Ryan's depiction of Jim is multi-layered and compelling, painting a intricate portrait of an ambitious and seemingly fulfilled man grappling with his complexities.

Meanwhile, Colman Domingo shines in his role as Drew, a wealthy and older talent agent. He is portrayed as a man who tries to distract himself from loneliness with material enjoyments, but he ultimately yearns for deeper, more meaningful connections. Domingo's performance subtly reflects the emptiness that can come from focusing too much on career success and wealth, while neglecting personal happiness.

Finally, the cast is rounded out by John Lescault who plays Bob, a seasoned cab driver who exhibits wisdom and perspectives born out of a life full of experiences. Bob's character weaves these divergent lives within the narrative, showing us a different side of life, where wisdom often comes from years of observation and introspection.

The movie links the lives of these four characters over the course of one night, each man wrestling with his unique struggles as they move through the urban landscape and gay culture of the city. Amid gatherings that range from vivacious to intimate, what eventually unites these men is their search for love, companionship, passion, and a sense of selfhood.

Beautiful Something is set in Philadelphia on a night filled with art, drama, romance, and suspense. The story offers a tantalizing mix of romance and existential pondering, accentuated by the vibrant cityscape brimming with life and energy. The film maintains an LGBTQ+ perspective throughout its narrative, bringing an authenticity to the struggles and triumphs it portrays.

Joseph Graham, renowned for his deft handling of layered, character-driven narratives, once again delivers a layered and engaging story that grapples with the everyday realities and struggles faced by many - loneliness, unfulfillment in work, the absence of inspiration, existential dread, and the longing for love and connection. These concepts, interwoven throughout the narrative, bring about a sense of universality to the movie that elevates it from being just a niche LGBTQ+ film to a more broadly relatable cinematic experience.

Beautiful Something gives us more than just a peek into the lives of these characters. It presents a vivid and palpable slice of their existences, their ambitions, their triumphs, and their losses. Every character is delicately and authentically portrayed, enveloped in a torrent of emotions and realities. The film creates a deeply moving narrative about the pursuit of love and the desire for personal and professional fulfillment.

In summary, Beautiful Something is a captivating drama that explores the intricacies of human emotions and relationships with a deep understanding. It's a poignant exploration of the longing for love and the search for individual identity. Its stories are beautifully captured and acted, offering the audience a glimpse of the human experience in all its complexity and beauty.