TRICK (1999) | Dir: Jim Fall | A story about two guys trying to make it in the big city. That was the brilliant, tongue-in-cheek copy line on the poster for TRICK, a romantic comedy that was funny, sexy, and sweet — often in the same scene. Set in New York City, the film follows Gabriel, an aspiring composer, who has a connection with a go-go boy named Mark who spend the whole movie trying to have a one-night stand and with each obstacle end up getting to know each other in deeper ways. I loved TRICK for the way it showed New York City, gay culture, dating, roommates, pursuing art, queer allies, and what it feels like to be hopelessly romantic. Ms Coco Peru has one of the funniest monologues in the history of gay film, and a line that has become part of the gay lexicon (“It burns!”). TRICK was a triumph and an inspiration for so many of us who were hoping to tell our queer stories outside of the studio system. Jim and his partners (including intrepid producer Ross Katz, indie film godfather Bob Hawk, hilarious Tori Spelling, adorable Christian Campbell and everyone else in the cast) made a magical film that belongs in the canon of New York stories.
