2009-02-07
N/A
75 min
Biographical drama based on the last 20 years of Crisp's life. The literary figure and gay iconoclast emigrated to New York in 1981 and lived there until his death. The film observes Crisp in both his public and private lives, from his seemingly cavalier response to the outbreak of AIDS to his tender relationship with his friend Patrick Angus and his own response to growing old.
Quentin Crisp (John Hurt) has tired of Blighty and arrived in New York where he quickly becomes a successful part of the theatre scene with his unique blend of monologue followed by a Q&A from the audience. Befriending "Philip" (Denis O'Hare) and promoted by "Connie" (Swoosie Kurtz) he is the talk of the town, until he commits a faux pas when responding to a question about the newly developing AIDS epidemic. His refusal to apologise or recant led him to fall from favour. He was increasingly rejected by a grieving gay community to whom he struggled to relate. His sardonic and aloof self defence mechanisms making it almost impossible for him to explain or say sorry. There's still one corner for him to turn, though, as he inspires the infected artist Patrick Angus (Jonathan Tucker) which in turns sees him back on stage, this time in a two-hander with "Penny Arcade" (Cynthia Nixon). Back in the spotlight, he realises that his hernia is the least of his worries, that time is running out and maybe now some new perspective is required. Hurt owns this part, and building on our introduction to this man from 1975, entertainingly delivers a performance that marries his realism and cynicism in a very stoic but ultimately very empty fashion. He lived into his nineties a wealthy and celebrated man, but did he ever actually enjoy his life - or really appreciate the joy of being loved, either?
