Watch Urbania

Urbania is a psychological thriller film released in 2000, directed by Jon Shear, starring Dan Futterman, Scott Denny, and Paige Turco. The movie takes place in New York City, where Charlie (Dan Futterman), a gay man, wanders the streets at night, encountering several people and their stories. The movie tells the story of how Charlie navigates these encounters, exploring themes of love, loss, and grief.

The movie starts with a close-up of Charlie, staring directly into the camera, as he begins to narrate the story of his life in the city. Charlie is a successful urban professional, but as the movie unfolds, we see that he is haunted by the memories of his past. He spends his days seeking new sexual relationships and his nights wandering the city's streets.

As the movie begins, Charlie encounters a young man named Dean (Scott Denny), who is new to the city and looking for love. Charlie takes Dean under his wing, trying to show him the ropes of the city's gay scene. However, as the movie progresses, Dean's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and Charlie begins to fear for his safety.

The movie consists of a series of flashbacks and flash-forwards, exploring Charlie's relationships with past lovers and his deep sense of loss. These flashbacks reveal the events that led to Charlie's current state of mind, including the death of his boyfriend, Michael (Alan Cumming), in a violent act.

Throughout the movie, Charlie encounters a series of people, including an older man who lost his love to AIDS, a woman who lost her husband in the September 11 attacks, and a prostitute who is trying to escape her dangerous lifestyle. Each encounter deepens Charlie's understanding of his own grief and loss, highlighting the parallels between his own experiences and those of the people he meets.

The movie is shot in a gritty, realistic style, with a muted color palette that evokes the sense of a city that is both familiar and alienating. The script is well-crafted, with sharp dialogue and a strong sense of pacing that keeps the viewer engaged throughout.

The performances in Urbania are uniformly excellent, particularly Dan Futterman, who delivers a nuanced and complex portrayal of Charlie. He captures the character's sense of longing and despair, navigating the emotional highs and lows of the story with ease. Scott Denny also delivers a standout performance as Dean, capturing the character's manic energy and increasing desperation.

Overall, Urbania is a powerful and thought-provoking movie that explores the complexities of loss and grief. While it may not be for everyone, those who appreciate deep psychological dramas and thoughtful character studies will find a lot to enjoy in this film.

Urbania is a 2000 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 73.