That was an excellent one.

How sad is this?

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Dorian is a young gay man just discovering himself. The story is not unique, the father is hostile to him, the mother afraid to speak out and help her son, the older brother in denial, but there is a twist. Through much introspection Dorian discovers that he is OK just the way he his, that he is not the freakish social outcast his father tells him he is. Step by agonizing step Dorian finds his own true path and while never easy he does prevail.Most independent gay theme movies try hard but never seem to get it all together. This one is different. The story is well written, clear and concise. The images and thematic flow work well and don't show the usual artifacts of a low budget. The actor are all very competent with the exception of the lead Michael McMillian who brings a very special something. Beyond being cuter than a "bug's ear" he has a presence that jumps out of the small screen. His comedic timing is startling for an actor so young. His ability to make you feel the emotions of the character in serious scenes is just as amazing. The strongest single part of this great little movie is the actor that plays Dorian.

It's clear that gay themed films need to be made. For decades the topic was strictly off limits and gay audiences denied any kind of representation on screen. Over the past years the situation has vastly improved with gay movies becoming something of a genre in itself. However gay audiences in their joy at being able to watch stories which may parallel their own lives, have all too often allowed their critical faculties to take a back seat. There's a sense of forgiveness and tolerance towards second rate acting, poor characterisation, weak plots and mediocrity in general. The need to encourage and support the genre overcomes all. The result is a slew of extremely mediocre gay films such as "Broken Heart's Club", "All Over the Guy", "Kiss Me Guido" and "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss" receiving a lot of undeserving praise. "Dorian Blues" is no exception. The problem is that first rate director's are seldom drawn towards making predominantly gay films while young aspiring inexperienced gay directors are all too eager to realise their visions. This they do with actors who for the most are ill equipped for the job and scripts unworthy of being made into movies.The inherent emotional upheavals of coming out makes for great drama. Naturally it's a process which has been delineated in a number of films. The feather weight "Dorian's Blues" hardly adds much to the sub genre. ( The British "Get Real" remains one of the best examples). It goes without saying that the movie is well intentioned. But that is not nearly enough. Gay audiences do not only deserve to have gay movies; they deserve good gay movies. Good movies are for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation. People will learn and understand a lot more about what it means being gay by watching a well made, well written, well acted film. There's a way to go yet.

Writer/director/producer Tennyson Bardwell is definitely a talent to watch. In his first venture into film, DORIAN BLUES, he has created an intelligent script with razor sharp dialogue, witty and acerbic and touching depending on the moment, and has cast his film with a fine groups of actors who obviously hold him in great respect, as the final product is a polished film that is always entertaining as well as informative. Few 'coming out' films flesh out the territory as succinctly and realistically as this.Dorian Lagatos (a fresh and talented Michael McMillian) is sour on the world that doesn't understand him. His family is the microscope on his world: a right wing radical father Tom (Charles Fletcher), a seemingly ditsy but subservient mother Maria (Mo Quigley), and a brother Nicky (another bright and hunky talent Lea Coco) who is everything Dorian isn't - a jock, a ladies' man, and a happy-go-lucky high schooler. Dorian has an 'epiphany': he discovers the reason he doesn't fit in is that he is gay! With his discovery he finds some solace from another edgy gay friend Spooky (Austin Basis) but still feels he must remain in the closet. Finally he confides in Nicky who surprisingly listens to him and accepts him - just so long as Dorian doesn't act out. Frustrated, Dorian leaves for New York for college while Nicky wins a sports scholarship to another college. In New York Dorian finds the gay life, feels 'normal' at last, falls in love, confronts rejection and the games people play, and then lives a despondent life until Nicky visits him: Nicky has lost his scholarship. The two brothers make the rounds of Dorian's milieu until they receive a phone call that their father has died. Returning home Dorian must still face his anger at his father, though dead, and it is this anger that his mother (far more sensitive than Dorian ever knew) confronts Dorian and the message of the movie is completed in a very realistic and understanding way. Life's philosophy is not wholly bound to one's sexual preferences.Michael McMillian and Lea Coco both give notice of being young gifted actors to watch. And the apparently 'film inexperienced' Charles Fletcher and Mo Quigley deliver radiant cameo roles. Indeed the entire supporting cast is excellent, perhaps due to the fact the Bardwell is a fine director! This is a gay coming out film that is intelligent, free of the usual visuals that distract the general audience, and one that has more healthy bits of psychology scattered throughout than many a feature film.Highly recommended. Grady Harp

"Dorian Blues" is indeed worth seeing. The acting is considerable. "The story" has been told many times, but this movie has an air of freshness to it, perhaps mostly because of the overall quality of the film. Without losing it's low-voltage current of kindly nature and good humor, this movie came close to showing some deeper levels of inner-struggles of those around a person coming out. Yet the self-absorption of the gay character was allowed to overshadow the likely introspection of the overly macho dad, the gay-friendly quarterback and the not-so-clueless mother.By necessity so many of today's (and yesterday's) independent art films are shot on low budgets and rather poorly produced, but this film appears to have had a big budget and top-quality production. The low-rent "statement films" are getting more difficult to endure (especially @ $9.50 a ticket), yet I understand the need for them.Thanks and Kudos to the producers of "Dorian Blues!"