Sacha (Hugo Andre) is a food critic and it’s his first time in London. He’s far away from his family in France and so when he meets his new flatmate, Dan (Will Masheter) he’s understandably nervous.
Dan works in the city as a banker, he wines and dines with his colleagues and is just like one of the boys. Except Dan feels that he has to hide himself and his sexuality because of his toxic work environment. However, Dan finds he can confide in Sacha and their friendship even helps him come out of his shell.
Makeup is the directorial debut of Hugo Andre, with a script co-written by Will Masheter. A movie that deals with issues of homophobia in the workplace as well as tackling everyday attitudes. However, if Makeup were set thirty years earlier, it may be more realistic.
It’s unfortunate that the pacing is so slow as well. Something which could have been a feelgood story about two men who find a strong friendship, could have been filled with laughs as well as drama. However, it takes a while for the movie to get going which suggests an undercooked plot which feels stretched out.
Also, the attitudes of most of the male characters is deliberately homophobic and quite upfront about it, something which doesn’t feel like would happen even amongst straight male friends in the 21st century. In fact, a scene where Dan’s boss addresses his behaviour would have led to a tribunal, whereas in the movie it’s seen as something that just happens and can’t be tackled.
Questionable French accent aside, Andre does a good job of inhabiting a character who’s full of anxieties and neuroses. However, considering both lead actors wrote the script together, there could have been more of an effort to show their friendship on screen. They unfortunately come across as quite dull and even a drug fuelled bonding scene doesn’t do anything to liven them up.
Makeup feels like a production where the filmmakers wanted to do something that felt relative to a modern audience. However, their efforts feel inauthentic and cliched.
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