ENDGAME Aspect ratio: 1.85:1Sound format: Dolby DigitalAfter killing the thuggish gangster (Mark McGann) who'd been acting as his pimp, a beautiful London rent boy (Daniel Newman) goes on the run with a sympathetic American couple (Toni Barry and Corey Johnson), but they're pursued by a corrupt police officer (John Benfield), one of Newman's former clients, desperate to retrieve an incriminating videotape in the boy's possession.Gary Wicks' low budget feature debut will divide opinion like few other gay-themed movies of recent years. The pacing is a little muted, and some of the lapses in logic are too significant to ignore (Barry and Johnson's reaction to Newman's crime is simply not credible), but Wicks generates a fair degree of emotional tension, helped by attractive location photography (by David Bennett), a memorable music score (by Adrian Thomas), and a fine portrait of corrupted innocence by Newman (SPEAK LIKE A CHILD), an elfin beauty whose low-key performance anchors the entire production.True to expectation, Wicks (whose resumé includes an executive producer credit on MOMENTS WITH JOHAN, a softcore ode to European porn star Johan Paulik, produced in 1996) makes a virtue of Newman's exquisite splendor, presenting him either shirtless or naked in every other scene, while Bennett's camera savors (almost) every inch of the young actor's glorious, sculpted body. But in a plot twist calculated to provoke outraged disbelief from some quarters, Newman's relationship with McGann and his cronies is depicted as violent and coercive, while his first heterosexual encounter (with Barry) is portrayed as a tender, liberating experience! This narrative backflip is both inappropriate and offensive, and suggests nothing more than a sop to commercial fortunes, skewing the film toward a gay audience whilst simultaneously appeasing potential straight viewers, an approach which defies all narrative logic and satisfies no one. That aside, however, the plot is reasonably engaging and the performances are superb, while the fetishization of Newman's fabulous torso provides some compensation for the movie's thematic shortcomings.NB. The VHS version contains full-frontal nudity from Newman during a shower sequence early in the film, but the US DVD has been deliberately reframed to obscure everything below the waist.

I don't think I would be as harsh as the previous reviewer, although, he raises many good points. But, I found the movie to be "ok". It always helps when one of the main characters is really hot to help you get through some of the bad parts of the movie. ;) I thought the acting was decent, but most of the characters typical. Newman as Tom was pretty good. The actor who portrayed Max was also pretty good. But, many stereotypical parts...the old "the character is gay because he was abused as a child" bit really is old.I must admit though, I really am sick of gay movies about f***ed up gay people. Does every gay character have to be a prostitute, abused as a child, drug addict, sex addict or some combination there of? How about a movie about a gay character where the guy is actually normal and relatively happy? That's why I loved "Trick" so much. Just a couple of normal, relatively happy guys living relatively normal lives.Endgame is not awful. How's that for a ringing endorsement? ;)

This one's relatively typical, albeit decidedly less flashy and without some of the pretentious editing, of most modern British gangster pictures (THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY, GANGSTER NO. 1, SEXY BEAST) in that it's overtly violent and foul-mouthed for those that like a dose of toughness now and then. This one's unique take is that it uses gangster shenanigans as the basis for a thriller revolving around homosexual, rough-trade sex and police corruption. The cast is first-rate; and in spite of a story that's relatively contrived and silly, it still entertains like an old Fritz Lang thriller, which is saying a lot for it and it's creator, Gary Wicks. Fairly smashing!

For those of you unaware, `endgame' is a chess term. After the opening encounters and tactics of a game, it's the final plan a player has to finish off his or her opponent. And such is the concept of `Endgame' a stylish, sexy and sadistic British crime thriller, although with a few minor flaws had me on the edge of my seat and at times my stomach in my throat! There are some brutal and graphic scenes of rape and torture, which may not suit everyone's taste. Yet it's directed with such visual flare by Gary Wicks that you cannot help but watch. There's a brutal fight and beating in a bar scene and as the music played it reminded me of a scene from a `Clockwork Orange'. The scene, among many, is twisted and dark for sure, but very well done. Daniel Newman who plays Tom is convincing as a male prostitute who's on the edge and John Benfield who plays Dunston is one of the most vile villains I've seen in quite some time and it drew to mind Ben Kingsley in `Sexy Beast'! Outstanding performances!The premise of the story centers on Tom (Daniel Newman) who is a `rent boy' and turns tricks around London for his sick, psychotic `sugar daddy' George Norris (Mark McGann). Through a series of flashbacks we learn of Toms past while he tries to deal with the present and his future. And the future looks bleak. Regularly raped, and brutalized sexually by Norris he also endures the verbal abuse from Norris's driver. He's made to turn tricks, one regular being that of Dunston, as well as help George perform his dirty mob deeds. Without giving to much away things take a turn, when a twist of fate releases Tom from his violent `keeper' and with the help of some American neighbors, Max (Corey Johnson) and Nikke (Toni Barry) he flees the city to their remote cottage in the country with Dunston close behind.The story fails a bit in the relationship between Tom and the Americans and vice versa and a few scenes that seem thrown in for the sake of erotica but in general I thoroughly enjoyed the story and it was nice to see a thriller featuring a gay/bi lead role. I recommend this highly. The DVD doesn't feature any extras but the audio and video were nice and clear for an independent feature.