"In his fourth and best feature, Totally F***ed Up, provocative and talented independent filmmaker Gregg Araki delves into the troubled world of gay teenagers. Araki here addresses the disproportionately high suicide rate among gay teens.
Principal among six friends, two of them a solid good-humored lesbian couple (Susan Behshid, Jenee Gill), is the lonely Andy (James Duval), an appealing youth with a James Dean look and vulnerability, who doesn't believe love exists - until he's swept off his feet by handsome, slightly older but vastly more experienced Ian (Alan Boyce).
Meanwhile, Andy's pals Steven (Gilbert Luna), an aspiring filmmaker, and his lover Deric (Lance May) soon experience a crisis in their relationship when Steven strays, trying to blame it on the fact that the new guy in his life just happens to have a bootleg Nine Inch Nails tape to tempt him with. Rounding out the group is easygoing skater dude Tommy (Roko Belic).
Araki effectively punctuates his story with quotes in the manner of one of his acknowledged idols, Jean-Luc Godard, and probing interviews with Steven, who's always poking a camcorder in his friends' faces.
Araki presents none of his young people, (all of whom are played so expertly by his cast) as gay stereotypes, and manages to create a spontaneous, off-the-cuff quality while actually maintaining tight control of his material.
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