By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Richard Glatzer | Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Adina Porter | Deborah Harry | Michael Cunio | Richard Riehle. Tim Bagley | Robert Walden | Roxanne Day | Scott Gurney | Taylor Negron
Country: united_states
Year: 2002
Running time: 95
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0303321
Laura says: “Wash, who wrote THE FLUFFER, mines his experience in the industry to get his audience thinking about the difficulty of the work and the additional pressures porn players face maintaining personal relationships. Rebel’s like an athlete, or better yet, a bull on a stud farm, paid for his physical prowess, and the daily stroking he receives feed his ego. The matter of
fact technical descriptions Sean receives from old hand Sam (Richard Riehle, BANDITS) counterpointed by Rebel and his male costar’s agreement to be quick, humorously sum up the workaday aspects of the porn film set. Silver (in a noteworthy turn by Adina Porter), a lesbian working at Janus, explains her presence by her preference for gay porn over the ‘sucky’ lesbian variety. When Wash attempts to plumb the philosophical depths of the ‘fluffing’ concept, however, the marvelous industry players are left behind and his leads and his writing begin to tremble under the added weight.
“Director of Photography Mark Putnam takes far greater care composing his shots than the 4 cameramen fired in a row at Janus. The film looks far better than the subject it portrays normally would. THE FLUFFER starts with a bang, but can’t quite sustain the expectations it raises. ” 2 1/2 cats
For Laura’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/thefluffer.htm”
Robin says: “For the first hour, as THE FLUFFER opens us up to the machinations of making gay porno, things are interesting and exposes us to the workings of an industry that we never see. When it turns away from the seedy though interesting porn business and delves into the personal relationships of the principles the film loses steam. The thing that made the first part so captivating is due mainly to the efforts of an array of veteran character actors that make up the producers of the Men of Janus – Robert Walden, Taylor Negron, Richard Riehle and Tim Bagley. Their faces are familiar (even if you don’t recognize the names) and their experience helps elevate things above where one would expect on a modestly budgeted film. Deborah Harry, in a small role as Babylon’s boss, gives a nicely layered performance as a tough business woman (she does, after all, manage a strip joint) with a compassionate heart. Adina Porter, as the Men of Janus secretary Silver, is a wry pragmatist – a lesbian, she has a fondness for looking at penises, and took the job to satisfy her likings.
“Unfortunately, the main characters don’t come up to the same level as the character actors around them. As the action moves away from the business and to the personal triangle of Sean, Johnny and Julie, the film loses its edge and wanders to a conclusion, but not one I cared about. An attempt is made to stir things up when one of the Janus men is murdered but it is merely a diversion.” 2 1/2 cats
For Robin’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/thefluffer.htm”