Handsome David Rudd stars as Drake, a sexy and charismatic stranger who infiltrates a group of good-looking, successful, thirty-something gay men in New York City. The flirtatious Drake spices up the lives of this tight kn... more »it circle of friends, but soon creates unexpected drama. Drake has a bitter past filled with hurt and betrayal. He thinks that all gay men are cheaters and resents anyone who seems happy and committed. He proceeds to manipulate, seduce and tear apart these friends to prove that no one deserves happiness. Will these friends survive Drake's cunning schemes or prove that love and friendship can prevail against all odds?
A smart and sexy story about the complexity of gay relationships, this touching, funny ensemble film explores non-monogamy, commitment, friendship, getting older and more.
WHIRLWIND hails from director Richard Le May (200 American) and writer Jason Brown (Tender Places). The film's cast also includes talented stage actors Brad Anderson (A Chorus Line), Desmond Dutcher, Mark Ford (Rent), Alexis Suarez and Bryan West (Hairspray).« less
"This was a terrific movie, one of the best gay movies I've seen. It's intelligent, funny, touching, smart.... I could go on, but you get the idea. The acting is great and the dialogue is very well written.
I loved the premise of this movie. The protagonist sets out to destroy the relationships between a group of people to satisfy his own bitter and twisted ends. Unfortunately, he doesn't count on the fact that these people have deep and honest feelings for each other. I won't say more, just that this movie has a very satisfying ending."
When Gay Guys Get Together
Amos Lassen | Little Rock, Arkansas | 11/13/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Whirlwind"
When Gay Guys Get Together
Amos Lassen
"Sex and the City" showed us what happens when a group of single women get together to discuss their lives. I was always reminded of what we, gay men, do when we get together--the conversation is not much different. In "Whirlwind" we have a group of closely knit gay men who have their lives turned around when a good looking and very hot young man with a mysterious past enters their lives.
At first, everyone is excited that there is a new guy and petty jealousies cause rifts between the tight group of friends. Drake, the stranger, spices up the lives of the men but in doing so he almost destroys the group. His ulterior motives are sinister and as the men begin to venture toward their own goals, everything goes amok and Drake attempts to destroy the relationships between the guys. The film is a subtle look at the nature of relationships, of gay men in their thirties, and of the choices we male in life. As Drake allows his own relationships to unravel, he stands by and watches the friends to attempt to go their separate ways. The acting is exceptional and sometimes painful to watch as the group, to me, at lest, is a microcosm of gay life. As the movie looks at the issues of commitment, monogamy and friendship, I found myself remembering similar incidents in my own life. It also exposes a lot about the complexities of relationships between men. "Whirlwind" is smart, sexy and honest and a movie you do not want to miss.
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A bit contrived, but a well-acted look at NYC gay dating sce
Bob Lind | Phoenix, AZ United States | 04/23/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The dating experience for NYC gay men is a "Whirlwind" (2007) of players, a compulsion to be judged as "hot," manipulative jerks, and missed opportunities ... at least as it is portrayed in this commendable gay indie film, which won several audience awards at gay film festivals.
It features a solid cast of actors, many with Broadway stage credits, who come together to realistically portray a diverse group of thirty-something gay men, along with assorted "straight but not shallow" friends. Likely the characters were written to be stereotypes of a sort intentionally, to assure the viewer would be able to identify with at least one or two of them. There's the monogamous gay couple, having some problems with maturity and responsibility, and a handsome and personable guy who seems to have an aversion to dating the same guy twice. Add in a quiet man who has still not "moved on" from the sudden death of his partner in an auto accident two years before, and then there's the likeable but plain guy who keeps asking his friends for advice on how to better live his life. The dynamics of this closeknit group of friends is strained by a handsome newcomer, an event planner at local bars, who feeds on others' insecurities and manipulates them for his own amusement.
Although very well acted and directed, the situations seemed way too contrived to me, and best I can give it is four stars out of five. The DVD includes director commentary, a video of the actors' first table read, and a behind-the-scenes slide show."
Whirlwind? More like a damp squall..
Alan Phessey | Melbourne, OZ | 10/29/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I have just watched this movie. Well that was a wastre of 90 minutes of my life. Do guys in NY really find it that hard o throw a party? There wasn't the slightest chemistry between Sean and Bobby. The dialogue was dreadful and the acting....well, I guess the guys were embarrassed that they were even in the damn movie. Don't buy this dvd. If you're that hard up for something to do, come over and do my ironing."
A Good One to See
Madelyn M. Knecht | Orwigsburg, PA | 09/17/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I watched this movie and really got caught up in the twist and turns of the plot. I think it is a good one to see.