S.F. Gay

Luster

Justin Herwick, left, and b. Wyatt star in director-writer Everett Lewis' ensemble seriocomedy 'Luster.'

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Waking up in the morning aftermath of an ill-remembered orgy, aspiring poet Jackson (Justin Herwick) feels rudderless and out-of-control, in need of a grounding romance. Showing up for work -- late as usual -- at the record store owned by hetero best bud Sam (Shane Powers), he incongruously bewitches preppie-looking customer Derek (Sean Thibodeau), who professes love at first sight. Yet this golden opportunity holds little immediate appeal for Jackson. He wants somebody edgier, like current crush object Billy (Jonah Blechman), a boyish enigma who turns out to be a serious masochist.

Offering further, poorly timed distraction during this period of soul-searching is the arrival of Iowa cousin Jed (b. Wyatt), a corn-fed hunk alarmingly willing to embody any and all fantasies for whomever he attracts.

Jed is shanghaied out to the desert for a nude photo shoot by Jackson's lesbian pal Alyssa (Pamela Gidley), much to the distress of her lover Sandra (Susanna Melvoin). Meanwhile, Jackson is hired on the basis of his zine writing to pen lyrics for closeted rockstar Sonny Spike (Willie Garson).

This big break turns sour, however, when it emerges that Sonny and Billy have a considerable prior history.

While dialogue could be sharper, and situations a tad more ingenious, script gradually assumes a compelling shape as various characters' intersecting arcs become clearer. Impudent but generally sweet-natured script flirts with more dangerous, rather creepy content when Jed endures an (offscreen) rape and the full perversity of Sonny and Billy's relationship is revealed. Yet these jarring notes are balanced out by a surprisingly warm, bittersweet subsequent development. Another proves tragically heartfelt (if a tad murky in psychological setup), and finish is a wish fulfillment that's just desperate enough in motivation to make its romanticism credible as a blind leap.

Despite production's very modest scale, Lewis, whose black-and-white debut effort "The Natural History of Parking Lots" showed at Sundance 12 years ago, juggles a quite ambitious mix of tonal, character and narrative left-turns here, and it's much to his credit that the results -- while somewhat uneven -- really do pull together as "Luster" proceeds.

A couple overstated support turns aside, perfs are very good. Pace is sharp, colorful yet realistic design aspects ditto; solid soundtrack is driven by tracks from Pansy Division, Extra Fancy and other queer-friendly punk bands.

Camera (color, 16mm), Humberto DeLuna; editor, Lewis; original music, Michael Leon; music supervisors, Garret Scullin, Mark Kreistl; art director, Alex Brewer Disarufino; costume designer, Mimi Maxman; sound, Erica Santa Maria; sound designer, Richard Evans; associate producer, Scullin; casting, Nicole Arbusto, Joy Dickson. Reviewed at San Francisco Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, June 15, 2002. (Also in New York, Sydney and Toronto Gay & Lesbian Film Festivals.) Running time: 90 MIN.