In the last ten or fifteen years, there has been a fair share of stories about gay, lesbian and or the LGBT community. In some regard, because the people who are writing these stories,directing these films and in some instances, also starring in these films are, in fact gay, lesbian or LGBT in some way or form. Plainclothes is another such film as this. It’s from first-time writer/director Carmen Emmi, who’s also from New York, where this story takes place. 

Lukas (Tom Blyth) is a young undercover police officer who is involved in a sting operation at a local mall. He is tasked with attracting men, then convincing them to go into a bathroom and take their pants down for sex or for sex from the other person who follows them into said bathroom. Once this happens, the other undercover police officer makes the arrest. The problem if you want to call it is that the Blyth character doesn’t set up one of his marks. He gets a phone number and calls the man Andrew (Russell Tovey) back under the alias of Gus, which was his father’s name.This leads to a very short relationship but more importantly quite a few issues for this newly gay man.

Emmi sets this story up in two different ways. The first is the straightforward narrative where the story unfolds before the viewer’s eyes.The second is a framing device that takes place in the span of a day where the Blyth character is mourning the loss of his father. This takes place at his house.The funeral service and a party that takes place afterward all happen on New Year’s Eve.The framing device works well in setting up a climactic ending to the film.The other portion of the movie is just to set up the relationship between the two main characters. And why, despite their feelings for one another, they can be together. It’s a heartbreaking story, to say the least.

I don’t know anybody who has held a secret of being gay but I can imagine it’s not an easy thing to do. Keeping one’s feelings in has to be a struggle, especially when it comes to sexual edges and so forth. Add in the fact that this man was an undercover police officer who was arresting people just like himself. Yes, this story took place in the 90s when things were a lot different than they are now. They played a part in the way I view the film, but it’s still hard to watch this man go through this anxiety if you will.  The writer/director balances the juxtaposition of this man’s two lives perfectly. Even the Tovey character has a difficult time with being two separate people as well. He has a wife and kids he has to think about also. 

In this day and age, these types of situations probably wouldn’t happen. People are much more open with their feelings today. There are many stings trying to uncover and gay men like there used to be. The main reason for this then was to try and stop the AIDS epidemic from spreading. That’s not an issue today. I genuinely felt sorry for what this man played by Blyth was going through. He even had to keep his secret from his family as well as his job, but the stress of it all made him quit his job in the end. Blyth shows a lot of emotion as this character. I could see the struggle in his eyes throughout the length of the film. It all culminates in a glorious encounter at the end of the movie, though, where everything comes out. Pun intended. 

There was one thing about this picture that was a bit strange to me while I was watching it. And that was the camera work. There were many moments where the camera glitched and / or went out of focus. I’m sure this was intentional by the director. I figured it was a way to show the inner struggle this young man was going through. The various camera shots added to the inner turmoil that was going on around this character. I’ve never seen this type of camera work used in this way before. Usually this kind of camera work is a technique used in horror films. Maybe that the director’s way of saying the idea of what is going on in this man’s head is horrific in some way. Who knows? It worked in the context of the story, though,that’s all. Which is a good thing.

As someone who has a gay brother, I can honestly say I don’t have a problem with people being this way if it means they are happy. I can say keeping secrets from your family and having to quit your job is not the right way to do things. This film shows that very clearly in the end. Happiness is hard to find as this man in the movie finds out. He thought he had it, but things got too complicated. As someone who is alone 90 percent of the time, I find being alone very hard. Wanting that significant other in your life, whether they be gay, lesbian or LGBT is a feeling that most people have and are supposed to have. It’s natural. This film shows how hard loneliness can be on someone. It doesn’t matter what sexual orientation they are. Plainclothes deal with these topics in a very intelligent and thoughtful way. This was a very well written and directed movie by Emmi. He has a bright future on his hands.

4 stars

Dan Skip Allen