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Stop! That! Train!

By Golu
Coming out of the same studio that gave us RuPaul's Drag Race, and stacked with a whole crew of former contestants, Stop! That! Train! plays like RuPaul basically taking a bow for the entire franchise she's built. It's not really a gay film in the traditional sense, but with so many drag stars from Ru's shows popping up alongside a few cameos from well known out gay actors, I figured it earns a spot on this blog anyway. The whole thing is completely over the top, packed with GenZ slang, loud flashy visuals, and humor that's constantly winking at you knowing how ridiculous it is. Going in you'd assume it's meant to be a laugh riot, and a lot of critics online seem to be eating it up, but I just couldn't get into it at all. I've never really been someone who vibes with campy silly stuff like this, so honestly my reaction doesn't surprise me one bit. The setup follows Tess and DeeDee, two low level stewardesses who sneak onto the fancy Glamazonian E...
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Aya Arcos (Portuguese)

By Golu
It is very evident that this film was made on a shoe string budget. Also the film is set in the run-down parts of the Rio city which is more poor than seedy, and where old man paying for sex with young hookers is par for the course. To be honest, the direction and the treatment of the film felt a bit amateurish to me. No wonder, later I realized that this was the first film by its director.

Middle age successful writer EduFalls for young and charming prostitute Fabio. Surprisingly the feelings are reciprocated. Edu is going through a writer's block while Fabio on the other hand is young and carefree and spends his time hustling, hanging out with his other young friends. Edu resents the fact that Fabio doesn't seem to care in the world. Also Edu constantly worries that since they are having unprotected sex and Fabio sleeps around, they are risking themselves. Surprisingly Edu comes out positive but Fabio is negative. This adds more tension to the relationship coupled with the fact that another young hustler, a friend of Fabio, constantly tries to come in between the 2 guys. Eventually the two men move apart and move on.

My big problem with the film is a lot of unknowns. Why are the two men together in the first place? Understandably Edu falls for Fabio, but is Fabio genuinely interested or is he just playing a role to get more money and gifts? Edu like shim but constantly complains and is grumpy and hence why does Fabio stick around? You can probably guess why they are together but a bit clarity would help. Also it feels the movie just randomly keeps moving and is expected from audience to piece things together. Who was Edu's female friend and a random older man whom Fabio had dinner once. Why was Fabio's friend relentlessly after Edu (just for money or was it jealously? Even the whole HIV angle was thrown in but then not really addressed properly. It was jus there. Fabio looks charming and acts well. Edu was simply annoying. To be honest, the film is not awful but there are random moments of silence and it completely lacks character development. Hence you really don't care what happens with the actors next.

The film had interesting premise but lazy writing and incomplete and rushed film making makes this experience quite underwhelming. (3.5/10)
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Comments

luigi43 said…
This film can be a starting test for better works ....in the future . But director must apply diligently :-)))
January 24, 2020 at 3:17 AM
Golu said…
yes. long way to go and continue to learn.
January 24, 2020 at 7:43 AM
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