Mr. Smith Gets a Hustler

Customer Reviews:

Don't look for a Hollywood ending!.......2006-06-04

"Mr. Smith Gets A Hustler" is one of those gay-themed films that frequently plays to GLBT film festivals and leaves audiences with a big "What?" at the end. Well acted, directed, and filmed the problem doesn't lie with what's happening on-screen, but the predictable formulaic script and its inconclusive ending. Populated with characters that aren't quite fully-fleshed it's hard to feel any connection or empathy for the characters that come across as two dimensional. Hustlers and Pimps are portrayed as money-hungry and profoundly amoral. The mysterious Mr. Smith reveals perhaps the most of any character in the movie; a former bank vice-president on-the-run after bilking a customer out of money. He's in New York to try and reconcile with his son, Bobby Blue, by his estranged lover, only Bobby has no idea that Smith is his father. His discovers the secret of Mr. Smith's true identity in a way that screams predictability and the film unfolds as an equally shady character tries to track down Smith via the hustlers, although its never clear why. Mr. Smith's pursuer finally entices Bobby Blue up to his hotel suite to get the goods on Smith only to have Bobby's pimp spare him by ratting out where Smith is. Another hustler, Abe, comes to save Bobby only after Smith's pursuer has left to get Smith. Rather than trying to save Mr. Smith from his pursuer Bobby and Abe instead commiserate about what to do. The following day Bobby coaxes a hotel staffer to let him into Smith's suite only to find it emptied, neat, and tidy. The film ends with Bobby getting into a taxi going who knows where; the end! Yeah. No indication of what happened to Smith, no insight into why Bobby wouldn't try and save Smith, no reflection on what Bobby is feeling other than his facial expressions as the credits roll. My hunch is he doesn't really care about Smith, life goes on. The sound quality is terrible...very muddled and mixed very low; I had to max out the volume of it on my DVD player and STILL could barely hear the dialog.

"Mr. Smith" is emblematic of the current rash of gay-themed films without neat tidy endings that not only leave far too much to the viewer's imagination (not necessarily a bad thing), but that fail to engage the viewer. You feel no connection or interest to the characters and as a result none to the film. The theme here is that life is brutal, nasty, and short...if you care about people you'll only get your feelings hurt. Trapped in the Me-First zeitgeist of the 1990s it reveals nothing about the characters and there really is no moral to the story other than to look out for yourself and your own interests; how depressing.

One of the worst movies I've ever seen.......2005-02-10

The only thing that might be good about this film is its cover art work. Even that leaves a lot to be desired. I wish I hadn't wasted the time watching it. I would have given it negative stars but it wasn't an option.

The cure for insomnia .......2004-11-29

Having trouble getting to sleep? Get this movie with its bad acting, bad music, bad lighting, bad sound, and a restaurant that never has any customers, and you'll be out cold before the second act.

The only reason I made it through this snorer is that I was waiting for the twist. The relationship between Mr Smith and his hustler is so obvious that I figured it must be a setup. Well, it's just exactly what you think it is, so there's no need to wait around.

Don't expect glitter, but you just might be dazzled!.......2004-08-03

Ok, so 'dazzled' might be a stretch, but this film has more merit than a couple of these reviews give it credit for. The film is an adaptation of an off, off Broadway play and if the viewer keeps this in mind in regards to the lack of intricately decorated sets and complex technical effects, then the movie will deliver exactly what it should: a story.

Alex Feldman plays the lead actor, a male prostitute named Bobby who supports his single mother's alcoholism by working in a squalid "restaurant"...for a pimp. One day he meets an older john named "Mr. Smith" (Larry Pine) who seems to want nothing more from Bobby than the company of his time. But why? To tell too much more would be to rob the viewer of the journey meant to be discovered by himself. The magnetism of the story lies in the seedy reality of it and how well both actors play their roles flawlessly and believably the whole length of the movie.

As with any smaller budgeted movie, lesser roles are played by lesser talented actors, but their roles are so small they do not detract from the story in the least. Since this isn't a (...) the cast was not hired in regards to buff bodies and Alex Feldman is totally believable in his appearance and demeanor as The Hustler. It's not hard to guess the plot as the film reels start turning, but it is not billed as a mystery, either. Sit back with a friend or even a date and be prepared to watch a poignant story unfold.

I doubt you'll want to forget Bobby Blue anytime soon.

Hustle is Right.......2004-01-08

The only hustle here is the poor sap who gets hustled into spending bucks to see this movie because it stinks. Stinks big time. It looks like they took two dollars and got the cheapest sets and cameras they could and they begged their next door neighbors to be in the movie. The so-called hot guy isnt hot either, and if you cant figure out who Mr. Smith is ten minutes into the movie you need to get out more often. Waste of time and money.

Average customer rating:

Don't look for a Hollywood ending!
One of the worst movies I've ever seen
The cure for insomnia
Don't expect glitter, but you just might be dazzled!
Hustle is Right

Mr. Smith Gets a Hustler
Starring: Larry Pine , Alex Feldman , J.D. Williams (II) , Benjamin Hendrickson , and Tom Hildreth
Director: Ian McCrudden
Manufacturer: Ariztical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000092Q40
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Product Description

Bobby Blue (Alex Ferdman) is an 18-year-old New Yorker with street smarts and an athletic body. He provides for himself and his alcoholic mom (Anna Thompson) the "old fashioned" way, turning tricks for lonely businessmen. Mr. Smith (Larry Pine) is married banker who engages Bobby's "services". But Mr. Smith isn't like other johns. He's repeat customer who spends $600 a night with Bobby, asking him about his hopes and dreams, but appears oblivious to Bobby's physical allure. Bobby isn't the only one kept under the thumb of his sleazy, drug-dealing pimp. A new boy arrives on the scene, driven by desperation and a debt that must be repaid. One day, a sinister customer comes sniffing around asking the new kid questions about Mr. Smith. It isn't long before an amazing past is revealed, and the lives of both Bobby and Mr. Smith are changed forever.