Poster Boy (2004) – Gay Independent Film Review

A Gay Interest Political Drama Starring Actor Matt Newton

Jul 7, 2009

Poster Boy, starring Matt Newton, is an engaging gay interest political drama that asks questions on the use of homosexuality as a propaganda tool in American politics.

Henry Kray (the affable Matt Newton) has a secret that could destroy his Republican father’s political career. A North Carolina Senator who has based his candidacy on upholding traditional family values and opposing homosexuality, Senator Kray (the dynamic Michael Lerner) does not know his son is gay, and what’s more, that he's about to tell his story to the press. Thus Poster Boy's story of the conflict between American politics and gay rights is established.

To kick-start his re-election drive, Henry’s father decides to utilise his son’s college campus for his first speech and demands that Henry be his introduction speaker. The big night is fast approaching, and, angry at being used as a tool in his father’s political games, Henry goes out to a party looking to hook-up before Senator Kray and his entourage arrive.

He meets Anthony (the poised Jack Noseworthy), a former gay rights activist, and the two spend a passionate night together. Upon leaving the campus however, Anthony is approached by a member of a student gay group who tells him exactly who Henry is and tries to persuade Anthony that they should out Henry publicly in order to sabotage Senator Kray’s political campaign. Anthony is torn.

The stage is set for Senator Kray’s big speech. Henry, like the dutiful son he has been reared to be, and full of self loathing because of it, introduces his father, but during his father’s speech Henry, who had asked that Anthony attend the gathering, pulls Anthony on stage and kisses him in front of the gathered press.

The fall-out is bitter; Henry learns that Anthony was going to betray him and all trust between them evaporates, whilst, ever the spin-doctor, Senator Kray markets himself as a new breed of conservative Republican who loves his gay son, and in so doing wins the election by a landslide majority.

Throughout the course of the movie Henry narrates his story to a journalist, and through this there are flashbacks to the events that Henry describes, thus stringing the story together. Initially Poster Boy is quite difficult to follow as the aforementioned flashbacks can be somewhat abrupt, but once a rhythm to this gay interest drama is established, Poster Boy knows itself well enough to not meddle with that format.

Matt Newton’s portrayal of Henry Kray is enjoyable. His presence binds Poster Boy together and although he may not seem like an obvious choice for leading-man material, he is suitably diligent in finding an authentic emotional response to each situation so that his character’s sour, self-hating nature doesn’t grate too much.

Poster Boy's script (by writers Lecia Rosenthal and Ryan Shiraki) is solid, but it is let down by overly fussy direction from Zak Tucker. There are needlessly arty establishing shots at the beginning of the film, over exposed cinematography throughout and some very shaky camera work. That said, this gay independent film has definite impetus, a more positive attribute that can also be linked to Tucker’s influence.

The standout performer in Poster Boy, though, is actress Valerie Geffner. She plays Izzy, who, as friends with Anthony, orbits around the central story of gay rights and politics and, at one point, becomes part of Senator Kray’s entourage after they inadvertently hit her with the staff limo. Valerie Geffner’s controlled but brave performance as a woman dealing with AIDS therein elevates Poster Boy and adds another dimension that many other gay independent films lack.

The characters are solid, and there are some truly great performances to enjoy in Poster Boy. This gay interest film will not be to everyone’s taste, and it does have some small problems, both logically and technically, but, overall, Poster Boy is a thought-provoking and provocative gay independent film that asks fundamental questions about gay identity and homosexuality in the American political landscape, and for this reason it should be both applauded and recommended.

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