Hard Pill

A gay man takes an experimental medication designed to make him heterosexual in this provocative independent drama. Plain-looking, unlucky in love, and approaching middle age, Tim (Jonathan Slavin) isn't very happy with the shallow hedonism of the gay world. He pines for his straight best friend Don ...more

With its high-concept premise and shoestring budget, this indie drama could have been a train wreck. Instead, writer/director John Baumgartner has crafted a smart, timely parable -- "issue filmmaking" at its best. With minimal fuss, his script establishes its pharmacological conceit and then gets down to the essence of how a "cure" for homosexuality would affect actual people. As protagonist Tim, Jonathan Slavin gives a sturdy performance, establishing his character's essential dilemma without ...more