Critique: Benjamin

This film is, unsurprisingly, about a man called Benjamin. He’s a film maker and he dates Noah. It’s good because the film isn’t about being gay but instead the film has characters that are gay. This is refreshing.

 

*****SPOILERS*****

 

Benjamin’s character is socially awkward and anxious.

The actor played this really well without stereotypes. His facial expressions, too, were brilliant. I’ve never seen such a diverse range of emotions presented by an actor before.

Benjamin has dinner with Noah’s parents. He sees his ex Paul so, being anxious and awkward, Benjamin not only points out his ex is there but then asks Paul over to the table for a conversation. I’ve seen anxious friends do similar things so this was personally humorous to me.

 

The relationship between Benjamin and Noah was like a typical relationship in real-life: by no means perfect.

When Benjamin and Noah first kiss, Benjamin doesn’t stop talking so Noah keeps on laughing and telling Benjamin to talk.

At the start of the film, Benjamin says he doesn’t like going anywhere he hasn’t been before. Yet at the end of film, he agrees to move to Paris with Noah. If this doesn’t move you then I don’t know what will!

Noah breaks up with Benjamin after his film premier, saying he wasn’t ready for a boyfriend. Is this because of the awkward scene between Stephen and Henry’s girlfriend or because Benjamin’s favourite part of the film is slated? We had no indication Noah didn’t want a relationship before these things happened.

 

There were two scenes that weren’t up to the standard of the rest of the film.

            When Benjamin rings his bestie Stephen, Stephen doesn’t answer. Benjamin gets anxious and smashes Stephen’s window to get inside. Stephen was in the shower and Benjamin tells him if he ever feels suicidal then he should call. Honestly this scene was unnecessary to the plot. It didn’t add anything. Something so serious shouldn’t be said offhandedly.

            Benjamin pushes Noah away because he doesn’t want to hurt Noah like he hurt Paul. The script wasn’t done that well here because it didn’t seem organic enough. The dialogue didn’t really explain the situation well.

 

This has to be one of the better films I’ve watched. Considering my genres are fantasy and period drama (neither of which apply to this film), that’s a tall order. ‘Benjamin’ was the first film I bought for another person. If even I spend money on something it must be good!