Those People (2015) User Reviews

Charming performances elevate Those People

[FargoUT · 8/10 · 3 November 2018]

THOSE PEOPLE drops the viewer into the middle of a melodrama involving several friends trying to find their place in the modern New York landscape. The film follows Charlie (in a revelatory performance by Jonathan Gordon) who has been pining away after his best friend Sebastian (equally good Jason Ralph) for well over a decade. He's in love with Sebastian, yet has never pursued a relationship beyond the superficial.

Enter the pianist Tim (well played by Haaz Sleiman), who shows an interest in Charlie. To anyone who has been emotionally trapped by unrequited love, this scenario will seem familiar. Tim wants a relationship with Charlie, but Sebastian's presence in Charlie's life acts as a perpetual block to maturity. Sebastian is a narcissist, but he is dealing with abandonment issues and relies on Charlie to ground him.

Most of this is played out over three months, a plot device which gives some of the characters' decisions a forced and artificial weight. Had more time been given to flesh out these characters, this might have been a truly great film. These characters are all pretty well-off and seem detached from the struggles of life in a big city. Sebastian's father is dubbed "the most hated man in New York" due to his embezzling money from charities. Sebastian himself bears the brunt of the public's scorn, unable to show his face in public without being hounded by the press.

What separates THOSE PEOPLE from some of the more pedantic queer cinema of late is how these characters interact. They all care for each other, and the not-terribly-innovative admission of this story is we often stay in damaging relationships out of fear. Gordon's performance beautifully captures this hesitancy to mature and move on, even when he knows better. I've never seen Gordon before, but he gives an eye-opening performance here.

Ralph and Sleiman are also quite good. Ralph has the unenviable task of making Sebastian into someone the viewer believes Charlie would stay with. The chemistry between Ralph and Gordon is palpable, and it's a large reason the film works as well as it does. Sleiman, always a sight for sore eyes, gives Tim a maturity with a hint of past trauma that makes him quick to react.

While it isn't a great film, it is a very good one, with surehanded directing from first timer Joey Kuhn (he's a better director than writer, judging from this movie alone). The cinematography is lush and warm, drawing viewers into this inviting story with ease. Nothing here is particularly surprising, and the writing suffers from its predictable story arc, but minor complaints of an otherwise lovely little film.

Much Better Than Expected

[meaninglessbark · 8/10 · 23 October 2017]

I'd initially avoided Those People due to some well written IMDb reviews from users who essentially hated the film or at best found it lacking. But I eventually decide to give the film a shot and was quite surprised.

The story is mainly about one character, art school student Charlie, finally choosing to get out of the shadow and influence of his best friend, rich kid Sebastian, a guy he loves dearly but who is an adult spoiled brat. (In case you missed it: Hint hint, nudge nudge...Brideshead, yeah?)

Other People has an intimate, almost claustrophobic look to it, most scenes happen at night and often in small, dark toned interiors. The film is set in the fall and winter, a great time to watch it.

Those People... are really good.

[GoreWhoreAust · 8/10 · 17 June 2016]

As many fans of Queer cinema would know, the good ones are few and far between. Be it the reluctance of big studios to produce purely LGBTI content resulting in next-to-no- budget features in the Queer cinema genre or not, often the movies for us gay folk are pretty terrible - poor production standards, bad acting and cliché upon cliché upon cliché. Lately though, there has been some shining lights in this small genre. 'Henry Gamble's Birthday Party' is one and so is 'Those People'. Production standards here are very high, beautiful wide screen photography, particularly in low light night scenes; lush and appropriate music choices; and above average acting among a number of other merits. I stumbled across this gem on Apple TV and was immediately taken in by the seductive and moody trailer; and I wasn't disappointed - far from it. Some viewers might not like the lack of backstory here, as we are dropped into the lives of a clutch of arty and (mostly) wealthy young New Yorkers but slowly details are revealed, enough to really feel one among these characters at this pivotal time in their lives. There's plenty of tension and angst, and mercifully a lack of the usual queer cinema clichés. Questions (and loves) are left unanswered. I really don't won't to say too much about the story as it could spoil your immersion into the delicate world created here. Looking forward to seeing what this director and his leads show us next. Search this one out.

Highly Recommended.

[lylecass · 22 June 2015]

I saw this film at the Frameline LGBT Film Festival in San Francisco on Saturday night. Great performances, heartbreaking story & very intense love triangle. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. Charlie (the handsome, Jonathan Gordon) is a budding artist who is hung up on his self-centered BFF, Sebastian (Jason Ralph). The feeling is not mutual. Sebastian's life is turned upside down after a scandal puts his father in jail. When Charlie meets a hot Lebanese concert pianist, older & more grounded than Sebastian there developing relationship starts to interfere with Charlie & Sebastian's long time friendship. The cast is outstanding but Jonathan Gordon is the star & is just about in every scene except when Sebastian meets his father in jail. It's a heartbreaking moment. Joey Kuhn's directorial debut is very impressive. Well done. Highly recommended.

Love, like,infatuation, friendship...sometimes it's a rough road!

[jefferzsd · 7/10 · 13 May 2019]

Got this movie from the library. It starts out snail pace slow and I was tempted to cut it short. I'm so thankful I didn't! Once the plot line got going I was hooked. Yes, it's a little uneven but, overall, a very good movie. Sometimes there isn't a happy ending. Sometimes there's just life!

Good, recommended, but flawed

[lollollolllo · 7/10 · 5 July 2016]

I really wanted to like this movie, and I do. It's a nice little character drama, the acting and cinematography are strong across the board, and it's so refreshing to watch a gay movie without someone in the closet or dying of AIDS.

The problem was that I thought the Charlie and Sebastian characters were generally unlikable and hard to root for. Sebastian in particular is a massive trainwreck, and it's hard to see why Charlie would be pining after him for so long, or why it took so long for them to address the tension between them. Sebastian came off as charming, but also selfish and self-destructive. The film could have developed more on the pull that Charlie feels toward Sebastian in order to fix this.

Charlie's new love interest Tim, on the other hand, is almost too good to be true. He's an incredibly talented concert pianist with seemingly no flaws who keeps giving more chances to the equivocating Charlie. I imagine that by the end of it all he was almost relieved to have an excuse to quit NYC for San Francisco, just like he left his last boyfriend in Lebanon. lol

Overall I enjoyed it, and would recommend it to others. The dialogue is generally good (though I thought Sebastian's talk with his father was an exception) and the characters are fairly realistic, which is to say that they were frustrating in the ways that real people can be.

Gay friends hopelessly devoted!!!

[ohlabtechguy · 9/10 · 14 December 2018]

Have read other reviews that suggest this film is about unreturned romantic love between two long term gay friends. I disagree. It's about two long term gay friends who have become hopelessly devoted to one another. I am 58 and have a similar type friend for 30 years. There is no sex or romance, but we've been hopelessly devoted to one another for decades. The writer pokes fun at gay men who always think it's pointless to have other gay friends if you can't have casual sex with them. This was made clear in the bedroom scene where Sebastian's trick wants a three way. The attempted suicide scene clearly shows how devoted Charlie is to Sebastian regardless of their circumstances. Their embrace in this scene was the highlight of the entire movie and the whole story in a nutshell.

One of the most beautiful movies with the stupidest endings I have ever seen

[dzcfrench · 7/10 · 14 May 2019]

I love the movie. Jonathan Gordon was beautiful and brilliant. I had to look him up immediately right after seeing the movie. I hope somewhere in real life he has a happy life. His eyes, his lips, his smile, his tears, his vulnerability, his desperation, they all spoke to me beautifully. I could feel his pain. When he cried, I cried, but god, the ending was awful, truly awful. It ended on a bad note on purpose, simply to be different, simply to NOT have a happy ending. Completely illogical to what happened a couple of minutes before.

Between minute 21 and 1:22, it was a masterpiece. If they cut the rest out, I would give it a 9 star or even a 10. It was so perfect. So either be patient and watch at least 25 minutes before deciding whether to quit watching or just skip to minute 21 when Charlie recognized someone he met before. You will still understand the story perfectly.

This will be one of those movies that I will watch again and again (between minute 21 and 1:22). It's so beautiful, so poetic. If I have the power to give someone an Oscar, I would give it to Jonathan Gordon. I have never seen someone so beautiful when he cried. The bed scene at the end broke my heart. It was so simple but his voice and his hand quivered and that was all he needed to tell us his emotions, his desire, and his desperation.

Someone needs to film an alternate ending and maybe add another 30 minutes to the film to give it a proper ending. Frankly I only need another minute where Charlie gets into a cab heading to the airport and on the phone telling someone he will arrive in SF in 3-5 hours. That's all I need to make the movie perfect.

Love Adapts

[josedavid71 · 8/10 · 2 July 2017]

Ahhhh the wonders of love, betrayal and everything in between. I believe this movie captures all that, maybe superficially at times, but it's there. Obviously the subject matter is similar to that of other movies as originality is hard to find. I mean lets face it, what hasn't been written and/or sung already?!

This movie touches on a subject that most of us experience and that's love. How love hurts, pining for someone that you've known for sometime but your love/admiration for that person isn't reciprocal, so you think. The characters in the movie to me were very believable. This movie was about those bonds that you form with your clique and how love adapts and how acceptance of its adaptation plays out. It didn't need to be this over the top gay extravaganza like other movies. The actors were very good and I'm glad that they didn't throw in all the unnecessary extras (i.e. the bigger than life drag queen, the club scene where most have their shirts off dancing to club music, etc). I believe the script was well written and stayed on focus. Definitely very touching, soft and dark at the same time. It's a movie that no matter what your sexual orientation is, you can relate to.

Based On The Mini Series "Brideshead Revisited", Not Nearly As Good!

[jsmith98-1 · 7/10 · 5 May 2020]

This is a modern and much shorter version of the highly acclaimed series "Brideshead Revisited" which aired on PBS and it's definitely doesn't live up to the mini series from 1983. I will always remember watching Brideshead Revisited on our local PBS as it answered a lot of questions that I had been trying to figure out about my own sexuality. I was 13yrs old and I knew something about me was different about me and my feelings about other men from around the the age of 7yrs old, I just couldn't put my finger on exactly what or why I felt so different than my peers. I had pondered that I was gay as I had several crushes on a few of the male teachers and oddly the fathers of many of my friends. I was never touched by any of them or anything like that, but I preferred their company and being around them over the females in my life. Brideshead reassured me of exactly what I had thought was going on with my sexuality and it was something that I would have to deal with until I was about 30yrs old. This movie is similar to the Mini Series , but it's crammed into less than two hours rather than several episodes. It's modern day, where as Brideshead was a period piece, but it's not anything like the original. It's worth watching , but at 45 or so when we watched this, I found it to be a very childish idea of what a true relationship with someone else is really like. I'm not going to give away any spoilers here, but again, it's worth a look and I've spent more time watching other gay genre movies that where a complete waste of time.

The mini series and this movie are both based off the same book that I think has the same title as the movie version. The Mini Series, " Brideshead Revisited " aired during the beginning of the AIDs epidemic and I was absolutely terrified of acting on my desires until I had graduated from High School. It was a new disease with no one really knowing anything much about it and what they taught us in High School was completely wrong. I look back at my 20s now and wish I had come out to everyone I knew at the time. I wasted a whole lot of time playing the part of another person. It gets hard trying to live two different lives and it is just exhausting. When I came out, it was not a surprise for anyone that I knew anyway. So I wasn't fooling anyone but myself. I had very few sexual relationships in my 20s and I was always very safe about them.

I lived with my first "real" partner from age 25 until we separated in the beginning of 2000. He was a very kind person, very faithful, and we shared a loft in Norfolk VA for 5yrs. I borrowed the money to pay for my half of the $300,000 loft from my mother. He was a retired Navy Seal. I met him through work as after he retired from the Navy, he became an accounting manager for one of the architects and home builders that I was doing residential electrical wiring for. I had heard that he was gay and I just couldn't believe it was true. We happened to be in a upscale hotel bar and he came over and realized who I was. It was a known bar for men who were gay at the time. It was very quiet and not like most gay bars. After we talked for three hours or so, we both realized that we had a lot in common. We rarely ever talked at work, but after we met in a public situation, he was completely a different person. He was still closeted as was I , and he said he was shocked to see me in the bar. We we're a very monogamous couple and it was an incredible experience. It was my first real adult relationship. He was 20yrs my senior. I didn't think much of it. However, he had been secretly worried about the age difference. He finally decided to have a heartbreaking talk with me about what he had been worried about. He admitted he was scared that as we grew older, I would resentment him for our age difference, and because I was so set on monogamy, I would feel trapped in a relationship that I didn't want to be in any longer. I told him he was wrong and that age wasn't something I had even considered, that it was part of what I loved about him. He still thought that it was unfair to me to watch him grow older as time passed on. He said I shouldn't have to be his nurse or care for him when I was 50 and still young enough to do things he could no longer do. He wasn't seeing anyone else or anything like that, he was sincere about his feelings and he actually cried about it more than myself. He became depressed after I moved in with my mother and he quit working for the home builder where I first meet him. I worried about him for a long time and he finally got better. It was devastating for me as well, but I had finally realized that I could have a life with someone else now and I wasn't afraid to try and find him. The real irony with this is that I gave up owning my own company, my life in Norfolk and moved to Texas in December of the same year. The one thing about this time with him that helped me tremendously was that we sold the Loft for $560,000 and we both made a huge profit on our investment. We sold it just in time as well because the City of Norfolk decided to permanently dock a Navy Ship in what would have been our view of the city and waterfront. I'm sure the price of the Loft was impacted but it's probably a million dollar property now.

I had met someone in New Orleans that was actually 25yrs my senior in late June of 2000. After several plane trips back and forth, we decided to take the plunge and see what life dealt us. For some reason, I have just always had an attraction to older men. I finally turned 50 this year and I'm still in touch with my Navy Seal, he's a good friend and I know he is there for me if I needed him. He has found someone who's 2yrs older than he is know. I'm extremely happy for him and his partner. They met around the same time I met my husband. He is a good friend and we still talk to each other regularly to this day. My husband was also an Auditor for the Army. It's really funny how life works out. My Navy Seal has often said that he now wishes he had never let me get away. It's something that I think he's kidding about, but I still love him, I always will. It's just that I'm not in love with him anymore. My now husband of 21yrs has no problems with me talking with him and he's actually invited them both to visit us here in Texas. He doesn't have a jealous bone in his body, that's me. My husband is just as honest, loving, and faithful as a person can be. He is and will always be the love of my life, even if I outlive him and meet someone else, he has been my best friend, my husband , and my rock! We have been in a completely monogamous relationship for the entire time we have been together. We've never had a fight about anything or yelled at each other since we've been together. We communicate very well and he says I have an "old soul." We we're both looking for a soulmate and we found each other in a sea of so many fish. We officially got married in 2016 as an extra layer of protection in case something happened to one of us. We also worried that the current administration might try and void our marriage rights. We we're as married as we thought we would ever be when we had a lawyer draw up our wills and power of attorney for each other. But we made it official and I never thought that would be possible.

This shortened version in movie format is a pretty good film, but watching it now as an adult shows how immature the relationships in both the movie version and even the mini series Brideshead truly is know that I'm more mature and lived a full life. Even having experienced two incredible relationships, one short and one two decades, with two incredible people, Brideshead Revisited will always have a special place in my heart. At 13yrs old, it seemed so great. However, watching it know, it seems kind of silly. I got my now husband of 21yrs to watch Brideshead Revisited and he barely got through the whole series. After I explained why it was special to me, and how it made me realize that I was a gay child, he also found a soft spot for Brideshead Revisited in his own heart.

It's just unbelievable that PBS showed "Brideshead Revisited " in 1983 on a television show. I absolutely love PBS and it's funny that my mother was always trying to get me to watch PBS more as a child. She never saw any of the Masterpiece Theater shows and I guess she thought PBS only showed stuff like Sesame Street. PBS is quite ground breaking as shows like "Tales From The City" aired on it as well as other provocative and outstanding programming.

Very juvenile portrayal of "gay life"

[Gregburnscds · 4/10 · 13 September 2016]

While this film was a good effort, there were just far too many incomprehensible plot points and devices to make this a believable story. I can partially swallow a bunch of immature 26 year old gay boys not really understanding their emotions and as a result, being overly dramatic about EVERYTHING, but when you throw in a 40-year- old successful concert pianist who behaves like a child, that's where you lose me.

Saying "I love you" after two weeks? No.

Inserting yourself and revealing tempestuous details at very inappropriate times, is not only selfish but tactless.

After one month of dating, saying to your boyfriend: "You're always going to choose him over me, aren't you?" when referring to a friendship he has had for more than 15 years, can easily be considered clinically insane.

A valiant effort on the part of the director, but the story needs greater finessing, beyond inserting dramatic plot points and illogical characters for the sake of trying to create tension. It's not just that gay men don't behave this way, adults don't behave this way.

Thoroughly Believable, Wonderfully Cast, Visually Unequalled

[tr-83495 · 10/10 · 9 August 2019]

Excellent film, immediately identifiable characters no matter what part of the social stratum you're from. We all have relationships and friendships like this, whether we're gay or straight, and some of them start early, as the relationship in this movie does. Thoroughly believable, wonderfully cast, and visually unequalled, Those People is a film of the highest quality that reaches truly genuine emotions we as people can feel.

6

[Edvis-1997 · 6/10 · 14 December 2018]

It was really difficult movie to understand so maybe I'm to stupid for it not sure but I found it kind of disappointing.

Hey y'all, spoiled rich people have feelings too!!!

[hughman55 · 1/10 · 21 September 2016]

Artifice! Disingeuous artifice! Not one meaningful line of dialog. No character development. Spastic "storyline". I couldn't find a reason to care about anyone in this film. They were like cartoons; and not the funny kind. The message is, ostensibly, to see the good in everyone. And that trope resulted in a swing and a miss. Everyone here is depressed and in tumult despite having fabulous lives and wonderful imaginary jobs: Vogue Editor, successful painter, principal pianist of the San Francisco Symphony (a full time position?) - like there weren't a thousand other pianists in SF who could have played the third movement of The Pines of Rome every five years when it gets trotted out to kill the brass section. Memorable lines: "My father's dead. No I lied. He's really alive. I'm sorry I lied about that to you." "Isn't it hysterical when my phone keeps going off during synagogue!" "How can you be like him (the father in prison) when you're more like 'you' than anyone I know". I threw up in my mouth a little on that one.

It is breathtaking how shallow and vapid this story and its characters are. I wanted to like this, I really did, but I can only take so much. We get so few gay themed films and we're supposed to grade on a curve because of that. I get it. But, really... I will get skewered here at IMDb for calling bullsh*t on this one. So, bring it on, 3,2,1, and, go...

Good film but overly dramatic story

[Gordon-11 · 6 April 2017]

This film tells the story of a young gay painter, who has a billionaire gay best friend. The best friend falls into disgrace when his father is convicted of a financial crime. Coupled with the arrival of a handsome pianist, their relationships are tested and an unstable love triangle is formed.

"Those People" is actually an above average gay film, as it has great production standards. The picture is clear, the lighting is great and the cinematography is nice. It does not feel low budget at all, which is a refreshing change. The two lead actors are handsome and likable, but the story is overly dramatic to be believable. The pianist is a little too forward and premature in expressing his feelings, and Sebastian on the balcony is an overly dramatic over reaction. If the plot was more normal and less dramatic, I would have loved this film.

It's OK but it needed to be better...

[Irishchatter · 6/10 · 6 November 2016]

Even though I do like the movie, I thought there was a lack of story line there where the characters were on top of each other. It may seem that Charlie likes Tim but then he likes Sebastian. Then he cries to go back to Tim and sticks up for Sebastian when themselves & their friends were having Christmas dinner.

I have thought about giving this movie a rating of 8 however, I felt the story line should've run smoothly and not give me a few headaches by trying to find out what is gonna happen next?!!! That's why I'm giving this movie a 6!

I also think it would've been better if there were even less characters in this, especially the boys annoying wimpy friends. They shouldn't have been on there the first place, it was just pointless having the three friends on this!

Anyways the good news is that it's not the "worst" movie I've seen and the sex scenes were well done. I liked the background too that was set in this movie, the film crew did a good job on that. It's a good movie to watch if you wanna kill time!

Those People

[jhonathancquintero · 6/10 · 2 November 2018]

Its a simple story with two characters that have many faces but the movie need to be interesting because it is toonslow

Great film

[eileen_seah · 8/10 · 25 October 2017]

IMO overall rate is a bit low, so don't skip this movie after looking at the ratings, as the film is emotionally great. This film will make you feel the emotion ups and downs and struggle with the protagonist, his budding love, and his childhood friend who keeps chaining him down. Its really impacting.

Ending?

[patientsmcgill · 7/10 · 26 March 2022]

In my opinion the movie was pretty interesting and well presented, but what about the ending? The whole plot line was about Charlie not being able to let Sebastian go so that he could have the relationship with Tim that he wanted. But, in the end Tim moves away because of work and Charlie doesn't come with because Sebastian is still in New York. Then later Sebastian leaves too. So why didn't he go with either of them? The whole movie Charlie was portrayed as someone who could not live without Sebastian even if they were jut friends, but at the end he has no problem watching him move away.

Those People Review

[felipepm17 · 8/10 · 12 July 2019]

I think the ending saves this movie, because it gets lost a bit in the middle (maybe it's the fact that I do not like Tim). Reminds me a little of Kings and Planets. Although the protagonist is not bad, I think Jason Ralph carries the movie.

Gossip boy

[marinostattaris · 3/10 · 31 March 2020]

I wanted to like this so much. There were parts i really enjoyed but at the end i was left with the feeling i have when i eat something and didnt diggest well. I liked the two protagonists but i couldnt tell what their relation was and why they couldnt be together. 3 for being a bit enterntaining

Excellent story, great performances.

[dominickmiciotta-26882 · 10/10 · 11 November 2018]

This was a beautifully conceived and executed romantic drama. We've all been here.

Beautiful scenes and sound but no other qualities

[gphgrm01 · 4/10 · 6 February 2018]

All credits in this film go to the visual and musical side. Literally all characters in the film are physically over-beautiful (even Charles's mother). Everything is wrapped in some decadent opera-like theatrical style of talking, moving, drinking, etc. The main character is Charles who is unexpectedly boyish and naive (too much for a 26 year old man), and who hangs around his theatrical constantly drunk friend, son of a scandalous businessman, with some vague expectations that something will happen one day between them. However, while it could have been good a la Tennessee Williams drama plot, the film is actually lacking in some basic relations to reality, real people, real behaviors, etc. The worst part in the film is cheesy naive romance between main character and exotic looking pianist with the body of wrestler, who immediately delivers him his all passion, heart, etc, like they are 13 year old school kids. Everything in the film is overly dramatic and romantic and it ruins a potentially interesting plot. The film would have been much better if Charles did not do so much sobbing and deep-breathing, and did not cry in every second scene over his positive and negative emotions. This could have been a real expensive gay drama, but it stayed an expensive upper Manhattan gay bed-time story.

A good story on commitment

[cekadah · 8/10 · 3 August 2016]

Charlie and Sebastian are old friends. Sebastian is emotionally damaged. Charlie seems to have a life and is committed to his friendship with Sebastian.

Sebastian has stalled emotionally while Charlie has continued to grow up. Charlie meets a new love interest and this causes a fracture in his friendship with Sebastian. Sebastian is very very needy of Charlie's friendship and Charlie does not want to hurt Sebastian by following through on his new found love relationship by having to totally leave Sebastian.

The fact that each character is gay is not made into a factor with this story. It's just fact. The story is all about friendship, commitment, and the love of two friends - not two lovers. One friend is weak and confused, the other is strong and wants to get on with life but his conscience and friendship with poor Sebastian is a stumbling point with Charlie.

The characters are wealthy and spoiled. Sebastian's needy personality will get on your nerves but the plot works and you begin to care about Charlie as he is a nice person who is dealing with issues that have a direct impact on his life and future.

Worthwhile

[beards_d-305-972057 · 8/10 · 9 February 2019]

Pacing is a little slow, but there are many tender and emotional moments that more than make up for it.