This drama is about the queer punk scene, focusing on blue-haired poet Jackson (Justin Herwick). Every gay man in LA is in love with him except for the guy he loves, Billy (Jonah Blechman)--a hustler who enjoys being beaten up. The film takes place over one weekend. On Friday Jackson wakes up after an orgy and goes to his job at his friend Sam's (Shane Powers) record store. He gets a call from Sonny Spike (Willy Garson), a closeted gay rock star. Leaving work, he meets Derek (Sean Thibodeau), who falls in love at first sight. Jackson meets Sonny who asks him to write the lyrics for his next album. Jackson goes home and sees his cousin Jed (B. Wyatt) in the shower, which inspires thoughts of incest. Jackson and Jed go back to the store just in time to head out to a book signing with Sam. There Jackson runs into Billy, who he'd met at the orgy. Jackson admits his love for Billy, who tells him he won't have sex with him. The author spots Jed, who then writes about Jed's body.
On Saturday morning Jackson writes several poems. Jed is in the desert with Alyssa (Pamela Gidley), a lesbian photographer. Jackson gives his poems to Sonny, who changes the sex of the subjects to female. Alyssa takes her photos of Jed to a gallery and lands a showing in NYC. Billy wakes up next to Jed and engages in some sexual torture. Sam visits his mother to tell her he has paid off her mortgage. Jackson returns home and finds Jed handcuffed in the shower. On Saturday night Sam, Jackson, and Jed go on a bar crawl through the city. Jackson runs into Sonny and Billy in the restroom of one bar and beats Billy up for what he did to Jed. Then Sam drops Jackson and Jed off at Jackson's and gives Jed a videotape to give to Jackson. Jed goes inside and he and Jackson make love.
On Sunday morning Jackson takes Jed to the airport for his flight back to Iowa. Jed tells him about the tape. Jackson returns home to find Alyssa and her girlfriend Sandra (Susannah Melvoin), who tell him that Sam has killed himself. On the tape, Sam says he's in love with Jackson and knows he'll never be able to be with Jackson the way he wants to. Distraught, Jackson runs all the way to Derek's place. He has Derek reassure him that Derek loves him. Jackson strips naked and tells Derek "I'm all yours." Jackson says he doesn't know if he loves Derek but he does think Derek's pretty special, and special is "pretty fuckin' good."
Critical reaction to Luster was sharply divided. The New York Times dismissed the film as "relentlessly bright and superficial, even when the subject turns to self-destruction. It's as if the filmmaker, along with most of his characters, had taken too many self-esteem seminars at the local Learning Exchange." However, The Los Angeles Times concluded it "lives up to its title as a fresh, bittersweet look at the pursuit of love", populated by "attractive, appealing people" and it has a "charming, skittish quality, and Lewis finds pathos and humor in his characters' often painful search for love. There are moments in which the actors seem a bit self-conscious, yet this low-budget picture is a calling card for pretty much everyone in front of the camera." All characters are artists and it's rare for a gay-themed movie to depict gay, bi, lesbian, and straight situations. Dennis Cooper wrote the poetry and Everett Lewis wrote the script and directed.
On Saturday morning Jackson writes several poems. Jed is in the desert with Alyssa (Pamela Gidley), a lesbian photographer. Jackson gives his poems to Sonny, who changes the sex of the subjects to female. Alyssa takes her photos of Jed to a gallery and lands a showing in NYC. Billy wakes up next to Jed and engages in some sexual torture. Sam visits his mother to tell her he has paid off her mortgage. Jackson returns home and finds Jed handcuffed in the shower. On Saturday night Sam, Jackson, and Jed go on a bar crawl through the city. Jackson runs into Sonny and Billy in the restroom of one bar and beats Billy up for what he did to Jed. Then Sam drops Jackson and Jed off at Jackson's and gives Jed a videotape to give to Jackson. Jed goes inside and he and Jackson make love.
On Sunday morning Jackson takes Jed to the airport for his flight back to Iowa. Jed tells him about the tape. Jackson returns home to find Alyssa and her girlfriend Sandra (Susannah Melvoin), who tell him that Sam has killed himself. On the tape, Sam says he's in love with Jackson and knows he'll never be able to be with Jackson the way he wants to. Distraught, Jackson runs all the way to Derek's place. He has Derek reassure him that Derek loves him. Jackson strips naked and tells Derek "I'm all yours." Jackson says he doesn't know if he loves Derek but he does think Derek's pretty special, and special is "pretty fuckin' good."
Critical reaction to Luster was sharply divided. The New York Times dismissed the film as "relentlessly bright and superficial, even when the subject turns to self-destruction. It's as if the filmmaker, along with most of his characters, had taken too many self-esteem seminars at the local Learning Exchange." However, The Los Angeles Times concluded it "lives up to its title as a fresh, bittersweet look at the pursuit of love", populated by "attractive, appealing people" and it has a "charming, skittish quality, and Lewis finds pathos and humor in his characters' often painful search for love. There are moments in which the actors seem a bit self-conscious, yet this low-budget picture is a calling card for pretty much everyone in front of the camera." All characters are artists and it's rare for a gay-themed movie to depict gay, bi, lesbian, and straight situations. Dennis Cooper wrote the poetry and Everett Lewis wrote the script and directed.
