“Role/Play”–hiding out and coming to terms–another great movie from Rob Williams

“Role/Play”

Hiding Out and Coming to Terms

Amos Lassen

Rob Williams is a wonder. He has given us several gay films and “Role/Play” is his newest. Williams knows what we like and he gives it to us with style. His dialogue is always clever, his actors are always hunky and good at what they do and his plots are always attention getting. This time he gives us a remote Palm Springs location that is used as a place where gay men can hide and not worry about outside interference. His heroes this time are Steve Callahan as Graham Windsor and Matthew Montgomery as Trey Reed. Graham is an actor on a popular soap opera and he is having troubles because someone found a sex tape with him having sex with another guy and Graham is fired from his job because of the network’s morals clause. Trey is a gay activist for marriage equality and he is in the midst of a divorce. Both men escape to the resort to get out of the public eye. The two men meet there and begin to argue. Graham sees no reason to be out and lets Trey know that it is not an activist’s job to out those who have chosen not to be. As they argue. They develop a chemistry that becomes a romance and that is just what this film is-s romance.

As the director, Rob Williams, brings before us important questions that we must consider—does the public have the right to know what goes on in private and does the press have a role in our lives. He even looks at the gay press that is not always kind when a person falls from grace.

The relationship between the two men develops Graham and Trey show and tell us how much they feel for each other and we feel that they are true about what they say.

Matthew Montgomery is an exceptional actor and he keeps getting better and better. Callahan also does a great job. Both actors have no problem showing us their bodies and their butts. Williams has created two characters here that have problems and shows how they rise above them. Rob Williams gives us yet another exceptional movie that has won over mostly everyone as it played this year’s festival circuit.
Hiding out from negative media coverage, the two men meet at a secluded Palm Springs resort where they are hiding from negative media coverage and they find a common ground as they talk about the nature of fame in the gay community and the problems that gay celebrities face in the media. I can’t imagine what Rob will do for his next film but I do hope that he keeps them coming.