This rarely remembered 80s picture has now become one of my favorites. Based on the Tony Award winning stageplay of the same name, "Torch Song Trilogy" creates a permanent stamp in the highest quality works from Harvey Fierstein.

"Torch Song Trilogy" follows Fierstein (Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day) as Arnold, a Jewish female impersonator in his 20's as he fights through the pains of being a self-conscious gay man in New York City who desires the unconditional love of a partner, as well as his mother. The picture focuses on Arnold's pivotal relationships, ending with his adoption of a troubled teen.

As a movie, TST is very different from most movies from that decade. Some may even label it as "artsy," since it works outside of the usual regards of structure. But it is Fierstein's writing that shines through this work.

The original stageplay was a combination of three separate plays, hence the use of trilogy in the title, in which Fierstein originated the Arnold role. In the picture version, the three plays somehow mold themselves into a three act structure, but not in contemporary usage. Because of this, the picture tends to feel longer than the two hours it actually is.

Fierstein shows his brilliance as an actor AND writer again, adding a handful of scenes to compensate for the HOURS of stagetime omitted from the original work. Rearing up the supporting cast is Brian Kerwin (The Myth of Fingerprints) as the confused bi-sexual Ed, who begins as an affair of Arnold's and later becoming a longtime friend of years.

A familiar face among the film's cast is Matthew Broderick (Election, Glory) who plays the love of Arnold's life, Allen, before he is attack and killed in a hate crime.

The heaviest hitter in the supporting cast is Anne Bancroft (Keeping the Faith) playing Arnold's closed minded mother. Scenes between Bancroft and Fierstein are the best parts of the movie, especially during their epic battles in act three when she learns Arnold is about to adopt a troubled teenager named David. On Broadway, Broderick originated the David role, but as he got older, he was bumped up to playing Allen in the film version.

Fierstein's dialogue is punchy more than anything of its time, as much as it is balanced between characters on different ends of certain arguments.

Paul Bogart's direction is sketchy at times. The use of lighting gives the picture a great "Torch Singer" quality, especially when Arnold addresses the viewer. However, as for being a light hearted drama, Bogart could have been a bit more intimate in his camera choices for this story. Some scenes are fantastic visually, while others leave the viewer on the outside looking in. The inconsistency gets on my nerves.

All in all, the "Torch Song Trilogy" DVD disc is worth renting, especially presented in widescreen and including an interesting and humorous Fierstein commentary.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?