Jess and James [DVD]

This one really rings true. While you wonder what will become of the boys as they make their way through life, as a road movie, representing a brief portion of their lives, it works. And they are so polite and have good manners in dealing with all the folks they meet along their journey through the Pampas of Argentina. Having some time where you don't have to be somewhere or do something specific all the time, there's time to just explore where you and make the most of it. And that's what they do. Would be interesting to see if they make a sequel of the movie, this time 10 years later, where the guys have moved to Buenos Aires and have jobs and a life together. And I really liked the music in the film. All the discordant notes seemed just right for a road picture.

To be honest I dislike artsy movies--I view to be entertained not to challenge my intellectual insights of the hault culture of modern film making! In part this movie is confusing and unreal in scenes that make no sense (one viewer called it magical realism[whatever that is!] in the context of the overall narrative! (Some viewers were quick to point out these scenes as brilliant strokes of artistic development of a plot line!)! Meech! The acting was o.k. but I blew a fuse when this director virtually blanked out the sex scenes of the trio having a menage a trois. 90% of these sex scenes between a gay couple are almost censored in that they film them in dark rooms loaded with obstacles covering the bodies so all you get is some head movement and possibly a hand moving over a torso! If its a str8 couple, you even getting the guy 'muffing' her (you know what!) and humping her to a climax! Why? It seems like they are constrained by the sexual mores of straight society? All in all, it is a watchable movie.

This movie took me 3 times to appreciate it. The first time, I didn't like the music at the beginning, and how the movie started. But as you stick with the movie, you are taken on a journey. I got absorbed into their journey and travel. I thought all 3 main characters were playful, and hot (attractive). There was some good interaction between all of them, which I liked. Movie made me wanting to be with them. If you see this once, and don't like it, shelve it for a while and then watch it again.

Confusing story line. Two main actors look so much alike that their roles are difficult to follow. Mediocre cinematography -- erotic night scene too dark to see what is going on, with no compensatory sensory quality. Overall unsatisfying experience.

This is a dreadful movie. It makes no sense. There is a road trip to nowhere. There is no character development. It is hard to tell the two lead actors apart. Other than some nice visuals of the Argentine countryside, there is nothing, absolutely nothing to recommend this movie. Save yourself the money and the time. Watch "Love, Simon" or "Alex Strangelove", instead!

If your a typical American you probably won't like it. If you have a brain, a soul and some imagination with intuition then you will enjoy this wonderfully thoughtful movie. Loved it!

This is a film about three gay guys with no ambition who just want to steal a mothers car and go on a road trip. I have no interest in lazy people who don't want to do any thing with their lives,and are very very shallow

screen says subtitles and english language are available, but could not access then

Over the years I have purchased more than my fair share of gay themed films from the sublime (Latter Days, Eating Out series) to the unwatchable (Celluloid, Monster Cakes). Jess & James falls somewhere in the middle. It's an average film. It's a watchable film. It has no special features. The soundtrack is different. The film runs for 1 hour and 25 minutes. For those of you who don't speak Spanish (like me) there's English subtitles. This film isn't for everyone, of course, it contains at least one scene certain groups won't like. The three leads are charming if vapid. The supporting cast are good. There's romance, and sex. There's some ghostly bits here also. It's a road movie. It's a coming of age movie. And it's a drama. Oh and there's guys kissing guys. But there's also one scene involving breasts. However it's brief enough to not disturb.

"Jess & James" is a road trip movie through rural Argentina, with two gorgeous leads, and it's an absolute joy.The boys have various adventures along the way, encountering eccentrics and, yes, homophobia. And they also meet a third boy, Tomás, leading to a steamy (but not gratuitous) ménage à trois.The soundtrack is odd, like a 1970s "Doctor Who", but it's pleasing, not jarring or intrusive, and a welcome departure from the irritating Indie warbling often favoured by arthouse productions.Better yet, "Jess & James" doesn't end with one (or both) of boys murdered in an act of homophobic violence. Thank you for that, writer and director Santiago Giralt. And thank you for an absolute gem of a film, one I'll be sure to return to, often.

Jess is described as ‘a Bohemian youth’ who is struggling, in Argentina, to live up to the expectations of his parents and wants to be who he really is – and that is gay. Then there is James who is a disgruntled waiter and is fed up living with his yoga loving and judgemental mother. The two guys hook up – and after some graphic, if simulated, rutting they decide to go on a road trip.This is the story of that trip and the good and bad times that ensue including meeting Tomas and what he brings to the relationship. Now this is a small budget affair – they even have a Citroen for the road trip and the music is a bit electro annoying in places and for me was the least enjoyable part of this film – others may disagree. Despite that this is still an accomplished effort.It is though fairly stylish and depictions of sex and the emotions that are evoked are all done extremely well. A relatively unknown cast did not show any limitations by their lack of experience and all manage to do convincing performances. It is also very beautifully shot with a keen eye for an arty angle and very good use of colour and texture to add to the mood and depth of the scenes. It is in Spanish with OK sub titles and runs to around 92 minutes. This is for those World Cinema fans who don’t mind a bit of sex but also want the story to be the main pull and enjoy a smattering of arthouse on the side.

Some art project of a writer who try to tell a story but fail during the story. Poor acting performance, zero storyline.

A very beautiful movie with the excellent cast