MovieChat Forums > Interior. Leather Bar. (2013) Discussion > Anyone else think there's a deeper meani...

Anyone else think there's a deeper meaning 2 this movie? my theory!


I watched this last night, and I'm gay, I wouldn't really recommend it as a movie that you must see, but i did think it was interesting and fresh viewing, Even as a gay person it took me to certain places where I noticed my own physiology change and it definitely made me come to terms with some of my own beliefs.

I think that this is one that every GBLT person should watch, and not just for the sexual content, I think it's interesting because it explores a journey from an number of actors points of view, their friends and families, and it has a strong backbone because of the high profile director James Franco. When I heard it was his film, I kind of rejoiced because when i read or hear about high profile and also straight or butch manly men taking on gay roles or gay projects, I feel it just boosts the image of gay people, and beats the stereotypes. It's amazing how people like myself automatically become more accepting of their sexuality when they see other strong popular individuals taking on or exploring their views on sexuality or doing anything of that nature, it's like a "Hey, maybe I'll come out now too seeing as that person has!"

I would really need to watch it again as it was so short and i can't remember it 100% but if i look back on it, there was little things/ theories i had, (i may be completely wrong but this is just what I took out of it, and *SPOILERS POTENTIALLY AHEAD SO STOP READING NOW IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT*)

I think that some of this movie was potentially staged, as if Franco had it all planned out in advance, making about 70% in real life as it happened, but I think he may have had 2-3 people "acting" as in saying certain things or talking about different topics to see what the real reactions would be in terms of people and challenging their sexuality views. James was extremely vague, whenever the guy playing Pacino was out smoking and kind of anxious. He was like "Just try and fit in man, i don't know, just cruise, you're cruising, just relax, try to fit in, i don't know man" (with a big grin on his face) He's going into a room full of leather clad gay people or "gay acting" even if i had to do that i would be anxious, and the uncertainty from Franco really wouldn't have put my mind at ease, with his vagueness, and limited specific direction.
To me it was a bit of a metaphor, because loads of gay guys want to find other gay guys but are afraid to go to specific gay clubs and bars, it scares them a bit, it scares me, mainly because of the stereotypes, the overly camp image and getting caught. so loads of gay guys go to straight clubs instead and just hope that they meet someone there by chance. When I go clubbing or to bars, I often feel i'm cruising myself, walking around, spotting good looking guys, talk to them if they give me enough eye contact or approach me first, but i usually have zero luck.

The guy seemed to get a little freaked mentally when he was watching the little guy get makeup on his face and talk about acting as a drag queen, so casually with no fear, i could kind of see his puzzled expressions especially after he mentioned he was straight. the guy was fully getting sweaty and anxious as the day went on, he was smoking like a train, he obviously was very uncomfortable and potentially was shocked at how many straight guys were accepting and willing to do these gay things. When Franco sat down and firmly explained his reasoning for this, it was completely valid, and one of the strongest points made in the film. He was so sure of his belief, that I really can't see who would try to argue against his point, (obviously there will be numbers of narrow minded people challenging this but anyway).
The other important thing was throughout the course of the day, the Pacino guy let his guard down a little, even to the point where he was challenging his friend down the phone, he really sounded in his own head that he was starting to see Jame's point and challenge his own fears, he took respite in the fact that it was a kind of a "If i go down because of this i'll be going down with James Franco too, so i'm putting my faith in that" -look how many gay people are afraid that someone they've done something with will rat them out to the next gay partner they have? it's definatley something I've thought about throughout my years.
The next little thing I noticed was, the guy Val Lauren - that's his name, he got a little anxious when he noticed James disappeared, it was like, hey, i'm watching this gay scene, he even seemed to find it funny or something at one point, but as soon as the guy he trusted and knew amongst the crew and cast left, he was almost completley concerned with where his friend went, which is perfectly understandable now that i just processed that, (my final point is here finally)

The biggest part and pretty much my main point, is that a married, straight man who got *beep* from his "friends", jokes from his wife, vague support from a high profile actor/director and just high anxiety levels about the whole thing was laughing and chatting away to all the guys at the end of the day. His face was lit up, he was conversing with all the other guys, Val even complimented two guys and stated that whenever he was watching them, that he could tell they were a couple, and that he thought they were a real cute couple, to which the guys embraced each other in loving arms! Even I would question saying that to a gay couple openly because it would raise too many questions and point the finger at me in a stage of my life where I'm just not fully ready to embrace my sexuality openly, I'm only 18! To top it all off, and i mean literally the icing on the cake, was Val at the end stated something along the lines of "One thing's for sure, we are one group of sexy guys"

So there you go! make of it what you will, please don't say i rambled my heart and soul out there on my theory of this movie for no reason, lol, sorry it took so long, i felt strongly about this! He starts the day looking like a paranoid schizophrenic and through one day of spending time amongst more accepting and broader minded people who thought differently to the societal norms and stereotypes, he left the set appearing relaxed, comfortable, changed! I'm not saying this is the way to get straight people to turn gay, I'm saying that more "correct" type of exposure is the only way to get gay people to let their guard down, as I being one, am a member of the gay straight acting community who is still living in fear because of societies stereotypes on Gay people and the can of worms along with the lifestyle!

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I understand what you're saying weewizard2013. You summed up the a lot of points I got from the movie.

I agree with James Franco and I understand his point in doing the movie. About challenging what's acceptable and what's expected. Being around unfamiliar people and sexual situations can help you better understand who you are at your core. No need to be judgmental, It's not necessarily good or bad, just be open to new experiences. You may learn something.


No two persons ever watch the same movie.

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I totally agree with u. But, I'm gonna say 99% of it was scene scripted with the dialogue ad-libel. Though, as u mentioned above, they were also given direction on what to discuss....something wasn't sitting right with me throughout certain scenes like u mentioned. Then there was that final scene of Val....he was sitting in the lane way, leaning against the wall, reading the script....and reading from the script, he says "Val, sits in the lane way, leaning against the concert wall, script in lap".... He even then repeats the exact same line.....

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Thanks for this! Don't be afraid or worry. You're extremely well spoken, insightful, and articulate for an 18 y/o. Thanks again. Best-Steven

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A good analysis, with a lot of interesting and well-taken points. You bring up the question of "how much of this is scripted, how much ad-lib?" My guess is that the whole movie is 100% scripted. After all, we see a lengthy script actually there, being read. And (probably the deliberate giveaway), we hear both sides of telephone conversations at several points, which wouldn't be possible unless these scenes, at least, were totally scripted and staged.

Another question, which occurred to me only a few hours after seeing it: are the "straight" actors actually straight? Or are they actors (who may or not be straight, but are James Franco's friends) PLAYING straight actors? After all, the whole theme here is one of realities within realities within realities. In the original Cruising movie, Al Pacino is playing a straight man who is pretending to be gay.

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This is a good analysis and great interpretation of the film. Unfortunately, where the movie falls short, for me, is that it takes the viewer all of this effort to piece it together and decode the scenes. So, I asked myself, what's the point?

What does Interior. Leather Bar. set out to do? I feel the message that it's conveying in this convoluted way is so lost on anyone that it could actually influence, that the only people who gain anything from it are deep film enthusiasts or gay men interested in the genre.

Franco is here for two purposes, but one of them is to attract people to a subject that they might not otherwise find accessible. As I see, the whole point of the project ends up lost in its own academia, which makes everything it sets out to do totally a moot point.

- David

Breaking Down Bergman
http://www.youtube.com/breakingdownfilms

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I thought it was a successul experiment to explore the iconography of gay sex...without being pornographic. Gay sex: graphic and outside of 'marital model'. In exploring this--he shows the process. Thats what an exploration is.

It is very disapointing to me that viewers expect all productions to be spoon fed to them as if filmakers are authorities on issues of sexuality. Franco does have a point of view, yet it happens to be democratic. Sadly, audiences are too weak minded and attention deficit to perceive it.

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Call me Weak whatever. This thing is a joke. Franco pulled a fast one on the viewers. No longer interested in anything Franco does.

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wrong-the close up five minute scene of oral sex is considered pornographic

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I wouldn't read too deep into stuff like this you give it cred where it hasn't earned it .this film has absolutely no redeeming quality what so ever your just making these idiots look more of something they are not.

Let face it, people hate art movies. Especially when they are not expecting an art movie

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Great post, as are most of the posts in this thread. (Well, excluding the last few by people who seem to be angry about a movie going entirely over their head.) I admit that to some extent I did not understand the movie while watching it. But after reading everyone's posts for this movie...I finally get it!  Oh well, better late than never. I realize now that this is the type of movie one needs to watch again once they've thought it through...and we will pick up on lots of subtleties that went over our heads with the first viewing. Great job Mr. Mathews and Franco! 

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