The Shortest Distance Is Round (2019)

STORY: Based off the NOIR version of the film, which is supposed to be the true, intended ending. This is about what happens when things go terribly wrong and a guy resorts to selling his body in the underground of Japan. There are so many sex scenes, kissing scenes, it might as well be pornographic. I'd describe this movie as: very dark, disturbing, horrific, sweet, happy, sad, hilarious, freaky, creepy, crazy, insane, erotic, and so much more.

ACTING: These actors made it look real, the sex, the kissing, even if no private parts were shown. They were not squeamish in the slightest when it came to the many scenes. I spend half the time marveling at what the actors must have been feeling during these make-out scenes. For Riku Mukai, he virtually had sex with the entire cast onscreen--I mean this must have been HOURS and HOURS of takes, getting everything right, all the kissing, rubbing, touching, wow.

MUSIC: I liked the main piano piece, the main theme, but really either there wasn't much or it was so much in the background I didn't hear it.

REWATCH VALUE: I will probably watch the BLANC version next time when I'm in the mood to revisit this, to see how the last 15 minutes differs.

OVERALL: I liked the movie, but it's not a sweet BL by ANY stretch of the imagination. It's much darker, insane WTF movie with a lot of sinister people in it. Not usually my taste, but worth the ride.

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Story: Both Blanc and Noir contain disturbing elements, depicting mostly the ugly world of male prostitution, whether as a host for female customers or as a gay fuck toy for monied clientele. Especially jarring are the numerous instances of sick torture, unreasonable demands, basically shit that the MC and others like him have to go through just to keep themselves alive, and hopefully out of debt.

It is understandable that copious amounts of sex would be involved in a movie about selling your body, but sometimes I don't see why it's necessary the client's backstories are included, like a precursor as to why they seek male companionship in the first place (I especially had problems with the goat story).

It seemed to me the movie is going for shock value with the numerous fucked up scenes, but at least not as mentally disturbing as some other shorts I've seen trying to pass as film noir.

Acting: With their clothes off, they are quite convincing but with their clothes on, not so much

Music: Nothing to write home about

Rewatch: Maybe for only some parts of the movie (just to measure the trajectory of piss-cum), but unless I'm a masochist, then no.

Overall: Watch only if you want to say that you've watched it. Or if there's no good porn left on the net.

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