10 Attitudes

Jason Stuart has showcased many of the worst gay stereotypes (aka "attitudes") in this low-budget snoozer, including his own obnoxious attitude. Waaah, poor Jason. He's getting older. I don't find his character or any of the other players here believable for one second. I wouldn't go out with him, but they don't allow any "normal" guys to dump him, only losers and freaks. Do we really think he would have gotten more dates when he was 20-something? There is no writing to speak of, and the direction often consists of film-student shots. Some of the supporting players aren't bad -- even some eye candy. But in the end Jason is way too obnoxious to save the film. Don't waste your time. Poor, poor Jason.

This gay "romantic tragic-comedy" was not made, I think, to be watched by oneself after renting it from a mainstream video store. As the writer/director in the screening I saw here last week suggested, it is best (and perhaps only) appreciated at a gay film festival watching it with an audience predisposed to its sense of humor and philosophy of life. The video is low grade, the situations are actually a satire of West Hollywood, being so over the top stereotypical of the area and its reputation.

Though several very well known actors from "Baywatch" other major Hollywood comedy series, and network soap operas are featured, it is a very low budget production, and it shows. So, for me, living abroad, in a continental-sized country the size of the US, with a similarly monolingual culture, the true test of its success is whether the audiences here "got" the film, and whether it made them laugh or moan in the right places.

And the film did that. To a packed house. And Portuguese here is like English elsewhere - it's the only language you'll ever hear even in this, the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Latin America. Many American cultural icons (known "worldwide") like Barbra Streisand, heavily used in the movie in jokes and comments, are unknown here to anyone under 50, and I mean among gays! So, a lot of the humor and understanding of the situations are totally lost to the audience. Yet the "10 attitudes" or Ten Chances for Love (as it is known here) are UNIVERSAL, and the film makes its point very well indeed. Even here and with laughs galore! But again, it is for this specific audience or the gay friendly audience (I think it goes down well with liberal young women). And DEFINITELY do not rent it (didn't even think it would be launched as a DVD) for your Flat Wide Screen High Definition Screen. The quality of the image would be enough to make me turn it off.

Yes, we have had Flat Screen, European type (1.85 to 1 aspect ratio) TV with the same advanced audio as anyone in LA or London has for years. And nobody I know here would watch such a film on one of those. This is a definitely something to be seen at a festival screening with the right crowd, and screened there, it is a very enjoyable, funny and insightful personal experience, in addition to the movie viewing. My only negative words would be that it is about 10 minutes too long. Maybe 8 or 9 attitudes would have been enough. Still, if you're in this target audience, you'll like it.

This is a good story about a man whose friend bets him that he will find love with one of the next ten men he meets. I don't think it's such a bad thing that throughout the film I completely forgot that a bet was made, and just enjoyed watching Jason Stuart's reactions to the strange men. Some of the dates are really hokey (David Faustino's), and some of them are pretty realistic (like the rage-aholic, an exaggeration of a type that really exists).

The majority of the scenes were improvised, but I honestly didn't notice--I found out after, watching the DVD extras. I think the main reason I liked it was because I went into it not expecting much of a movie at all. While it is certainly apparent that this is low budget, it doesn't take much to tell a good story and keep me interested. I found myself rooting for this "late thirties average looking" guy. I'm glad I checked it out.

10 Attitudes was so much fun! I would give this DVD to all my friends. This film made me feel I was not alone. It was about real gay men who are not perfect. Jason Stuart is the voice of the everyday gay guy. the hell with all the west Hollywood muscle Marys. Also all these Hollywood actors who think it is so brave to play gay. with there cowboy hats and perfect everything. Jason is the new breed of gay who is invisible to the mainstream studio films. he is funny, sweet and yeas sexy. Also a really fine actor who deserves the same PR as the straight actors who play the roles gay actors should of got. I just loved this film because it was so original. I cant wait to see what Jason does next!

10 ATTITUDES is a low budget, first film by director Michael Gallant that examines the highs and lows of contemporary dating that feels so spontaneous that it seems more like overhearing conversations in a cafe rather than a scripted movie. And for this tale of frustrated companion shopping, the minor details of awkward editing, obvious hand held camera use, and making the best of available lighting in real locations just doesn't matter.What does matter is the pacing and the funny (and not so funny) lines of each of the characters in this ensemble piece. Josh (Jason Stuart - in a very solid performance) is a thirties-something gay caterer in a long-term relationship with a lothario who embarrassingly discovers his partner's lifestyle en flagrant. Devastated and disillusioned, Josh wants to leave West Hollywood and return to Cleveland, but his closest friend Brandon (Christopher Cowan - a very fine, young, natural actor) supports him by promising to arrange ten dates within a weeks' time, a cadre among whom Brandon bets Jason will find a new love and remain in West Hollywood. If no new love is found, Jason will return home to lick his wounds.Josh gets the clothes makeover from Tex (JM J Bullock) and some tips on dating from various friends and therapist types (Judy Tenuta, Alexandra Paul, Lydia Nicole and more) and begins his arranged dating with 10 of some of the most diverse types everyone who has played the dating game has encountered (and incidentally there is a lot of fine eye candy here!). None of the 10 "attitudes" (for that is what these men represent) works out and Jason is about to depart for Cleveland (Brandon obviously lost his bet) when things change. And that change is well written and worth the surprise wait.What this film lacks in technical skill it makes up for in spirit, and if you are able to dispense with the production means and concentration the acting and the message of "10 ATTITUDES", you are in for a treat. This is a fine social comment about a problem that afflicts not only this gay population of the film, but relationships across the board. A brief, if technically flawed, breath of fresh air from some very talented people!Grady Harp