Monday, July 27, 2009

Great Movies - Longtime Companion

longtime companion

Longtime Companion was released in 1990. I went to see it while living in NYC, and was so moved it took me a bit of time just to get out of my seat. I had moved to NYC in 1983, and was there for this time frame, reading the news in the Times as well as the NY Native. The movie covers the lives of several gay friends from 1981 to 1989, the start of the AIDS crisis marked by an article in the New York Times to the rest of the decade, marked by love, loss and political action [or lack thereof]. I lost far too many friends and acquaintances to the illness during that period, and in many way felt this movie spoke to me in a way few others have. I sat there in the theater crying, both out of loss and for the joy of the characters. The final scene is as joyful as you can get in a movie.

longtime companion
longtime companion longtime companion longtime companion

The cast was stellar. The cast list was Campbell Scott as Willy, Patrick Cassidy as Howard, John Dossett as Paul, Mary-Louise Parker as Lisa, Stephen Caffrey as Fuzzy, Welker White as Pochelle, Bruce Davison as David, Mark Lamos as Sean and Dermot Mulroney as John, with other roles played by Tony Shalhoub, David Drake and Dan Butler. It was written by Craig Lucas and directed by Norman René. It is in no way an easy movie to watch, but it is certainly worthwhile.



You can purchase Longtime Companion from Amazon, Wolfe Video or TLA Video.

10 comments:

  1. I weep like a little girl during the scene where Bruce Davison is telling his partner he can go. Makes me tear up thinking about it.

    Yet, when the one guy, and I cannot remember his name, busts out with the Dreamgirls score, i always chuckle, because I did that; I do that!

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  2. Bob, there are several of those tear-worthy moments with me, still. And it is Fuzzy who busts out the Dreamgirls, and he who is the man of my dreams!

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  3. I saw Longtime Companion with a friend. When the movie was over and the house lights rose, it was obvious who the gay viewers were: we were all sitting still, silently weeping. My friend and I finally left and were silent for about a half-hour before either of us said something. We both were affected deeply, not only by the movie, but by what the message of the movie is. It definitely made an impact.

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  4. Behr, I went with some breeder friends, and the liked the movie very much, but were confused by my state of zombie-fied tears. For the next hour, they tried to make me laugh. I couldn't explain the tears were from both ends of the spectrum, the joy and the pain, both exposed like a raw nerve.

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  5. How is it possible I've never seen this? I need to get a copy, but something tells me I'm not going to find it down at the Blockbuster.

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  6. OMG - I just started crying when I saw the pictures you posted! That last scene is magical and fabulous and uplifting and heartbreaking all at the same time.

    XOXOXOXOXOXO

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  7. It is a classic & it still holds up today.
    Bruce Davison was Oscar nominated for this.
    I worked with Campbell Scott & is a total good guy.
    Lovely post.

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  8. Larry, if you can find it, I can't recommend strongly enough how great this movie is.

    David, the final scene is brilliant in its own celebration, isn't it?

    Stephen, I do think the movie will certainly stand the test of time.

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  9. does anyone know where i can download the song "post-mortem bar" online? I use bearshare but when i search for it, nothing comes up
    i would appreciate any information. the song is very important to me. i'm a huge fan of the movie LONGTIME COMPANION even though all the actors are straight, they did a great job!!

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  10. You can find it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ_6jEN5UPk or maybe contact Zane Campbell, the singer/songwriter of the song on his Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zane-Campbell-the-Gravel-Pit-Ramblers/137754786261016

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