The Green Plaid Shirt (1996)

In 1978 Philip (Gregory Phelan) meets Guy (Kevin Spirtas) at a yard sale where they both want the same green plaid shirt. Shortly afterwards they become lovers. Their relationship is "open", allowing both partners to have outside sexual contacts. Philip finds that he is not as "open" as Guy, but they only cease to be lovers when Guy informs him that he's moving in with another man. Their friendship continues, however, until Guy's death of AIDS in 1988. Friends Devon (Russel Scott Lewis), Jerry (Richard Israel), and Todd (Jonathan Klein) also die of the disease. Even though the film's focus is on their relationship, it handles it without sentimentality.

The cheeky wit of the characters is one of the movie's highlights. Because of a low budget, this film has sound that warbles between indistinct and tinny. Also the camerawork and music are poorly done and distracting. It's mostly a flashback movie and events are sometimes shown out of chronological order, with scenes presented in a disorienting sequence. A green plaid shirt is worn in almost every scene, and it becomes an annoying gimmick rather than a symbol. This film has a passionate and clear message, but is not very well dramatized. Norman Noll composed the original music, and Richard Natale wrote the screenplay and directed.

The Dying Gaul (2005)

Based on the play of the same name by screenwriter and director Craig Lucas, this film is about gay screenwriter Robert Sandrich (Peter Sarsgaard) who has a tragic affair with bisexual movie executive Jeffrey Tishop (Campbell Scott) . Robert's lover has just died of AIDS and Jeffrey offers a fortune for his autobiographical screenplay. Of course it must be changed into a heterosexual script. Jeffrey says, "America hates gay people", although he approaches Robert for sex and and his wife Elaine (Patricia Clarkson) learns of their affair--leading to deceptions, confessions and betrayals. A pessimistic movie with three unsympathetic characters viewers will love to hate, it's about what happens when people choose money over integrity and sell out. There are no easy answers regarding compromised principles, the price of greed, and the closeted nature of Hollywood. Scott, Clarkson and Sarsgaard give great performances, but the film is too complicated, with a tragic climax. The title is taken from an ancient Roman statue, which is a copy of an earlier and lost Greek statue. Steve Reich composed the music.