Last Exit To Brooklyn

An old film from 1989, 'Last Exit to Brooklyn' is about underbelly of New York in the 50s, where a gallery of Brooklyn's finest and filthiest folks undergo change against an imposing back drop of union corruption, violence and neon lighting. Shown here, Brooklyn is a place awash with misery, and its inhabitants are the lost, the dreamers who grew bitter and jaded, or those so ingrained with gloom that that they never once thought to dream at all. Based on the novel of the same name, the story follows the lives of several characters trying to survive the hardships of lower class 1950s Brooklyn. So, again, this is one of those films that doesn't really fall in LGBT category but has a strong gay character, so warrants a review here.

There is a long factory dispute going on which leads to strike and Harry is the secretary f the strike. Using the union's strike funds, he buys beer, pretzels and the temporary recognition of the neighborhood toughs he admires. He feels seen for the first time, but he is also struggling with his sexuality even though he has a wife and child at home. He falls in love with a Manhattan transvestite Regina, who expectedly drops him as soon as the money is gone. We also meet Tralala, a hooker, who lures sailors on an empty street where a small time hood Vinnie and his friends loot them.  She meets a young sailor, who falls for her but she ignores only to realize later she has lost her chance at love. A neighborhood Trans Georgette has a huge crush on Vinnie who uses her for money and all but never returns her love. And then we have an older man, who has a young pregnant daughter at home. How these characters intertwine and what happens with their lives forms the crux of the story.

The film is not an easy watch, but then it's not supposed to be. The lives here are harsh and harrowing, with protagonists who are sometimes selfish and always stricken by poverty. The characterization can appear somewhat clichéd and the performances as broad and large as theatre. Harry and Tralala's characters seem to be the main ones here. Harry's confusion and frustration with his sexuality is handled well, and his brief flirtation with happiness only makes his eventual fall that more devastating. The actor brings just the right amount of naivety, strength, and desperation to the role, and his journey toward the bottom is heartbreaking to bear. As the greedy but vulnerable prostitute, Tralala, is a tragic mixture of unrestrained sexuality, deep rooted insecurity, and closed off emotion. She is a woman who wants to be desired, but can't seem to understand love. When a man she meets starts to show her kindness, it's as if she doesn't know what to do with it, and when it's gone, it leads to a climax that features one of the most unsettling sequences. Despite interesting characters, the dark subject matter weighs the film down quite a bit. It is a disturbing portrait of lost souls. It almost feels like an apocalyptic story with unsettling content make for a difficult yet potent experience. The story of self destruction and savagery is evident, its dark , not entertaining but insightful. (5/10)