Writer-director Ira Sachs presents a premium-strength, undiluted Rami Malek in The Man I Love. However, his overripe performance and self-conscious mannerisms are even more oppressive for being conveyed relatively quietly in spoken dialogue. The singing scenes are far from quiet. Malek's style is as distinctive as John Malkovich or Jeff Goldblum, but it works best with a light touch in direction and material. Things never truly come together here.
A Story of Gay Culture in 1980s New York
The Man I Love explores gay culture in 1980s New York during the reactionary homophobia of Reagan's America. HIV-positive men come to terms with their condition and the callous bigotry of the political zeitgeist. One hospital scene shows the authorities' icily unsympathetic attitude. Malek plays Jimmy George, a charismatic actor and performance artist who has just emerged from a three-week hospital stay after a life-threatening HIV-related crisis. He now stars in a new stage piece based on André Brassard's 1974 film Once Upon a Time in the East, playing the stormy and defiant Hélène, who sings with a band.
Relationships and Tensions
Jimmy lives with his partner Dennis (Tom Sturridge), who has the stressful task of caring for him. Dennis is suspicious of their hot new British neighbour Vincent (Luther Ford), who appears enamoured with Jimmy. Dennis fears a hookup between them would trigger compulsive behaviour endangering Jimmy's recovery. Jimmy's sister Brenda (Rebecca Hall) visits with her son and disapproving husband Gene (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). She and their parents witness Jimmy's complicated and painful state of health and mind.
It is unclear whether the new stage piece, with Jimmy in an exuberant blonde wig and often unsure of what he is doing, will be a new start. Heartbreakingly, it is probably his swansong—an exhausting final performance consuming his remaining health. Jimmy performs a strident version of What Have They Done to My Song Ma at a family gathering, not entirely on-key. Then comes the excruciating, chaotic stage show itself.
Moments of Lightness
There are nice moments. At a party, guests must perform a turn, and Brenda sweetly sings the cod-Irish song How Are Things in Glocca Morra? from Finian's Rainbow. Malek's declamation of the St Crispin's Day speech from Henry V towards the end has spirit, better than many of his other performances. Sachs creates madeleine moments evoking the 1980s; hearing Talking Heads' Crosseyed and Painless brings a rush back to that time.
The Man I Love is an honestly intended movie, but the faintly baffling and strenuous lead performance sits uncomfortably. The film screened at the Cannes film festival.
- Director: Ira Sachs
- Cast: Rami Malek, Tom Sturridge, Luther Ford, Rebecca Hall, Ebon Moss-Bachrach
- Runtime: 120 minutes
