Twisted (1996 film)
Encyclopedia
The film Twisted was written and directed by Seth Michael Donsky
and released in 1997
. It is a retelling of Charles Dickens
' classic novel
Oliver Twist
set in a New York City contemporary underground populated by drag queens, drug abuse
and prostitution
. The film debuted at the 1997 Berlin International Film Festival
. Donsky's film was made prior to Jacob Tierney
's similar film Twist
, starring American actor Nick Stahl
.
William Hickey
stars as Andre, the lecherous brothel owner that trades in young men. Exploiting his young charges through paternalism and drugs, Andre sets his sights on Lee (Keivyn McNeil Gaves), a ten-year-old, black, runaway orphan. Through Andre, Lee quickly becomes immersed in New York's sleazy underbelly of drug dealers and street hustlers. The boy's only hope for survival is the aspiring song-writer Angel (David Norona
), himself a former hustler and drug dealer. Angel befriends Lee and rescues him from the wiles of Andre's cohort Fine Art (Jean Loup Wolfman), who attempts to profit on Lee's tender age. Eventually, Andre's petty empire is vanquished by Shiniqua (Billy Porter), a powerfully wise and glamorous drag queen whose fiercely maternal spirit is every bit the match for the depraved denizens of the brothel.
Seth Michael Donsky
Seth Michael Donsky is an American filmmaker screenwriter and journalist.-Biography:Donsky was born in Champaign, Illinois to Aaron Donsky and Wendy Arbit. He was raised by his mother and stepfather James Hite in Riverside, CA and currently lives in New York...
and released in 1997
1997 in film
-Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*...
. It is a retelling of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' classic novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to...
set in a New York City contemporary underground populated by drag queens, drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
and prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
. The film debuted at the 1997 Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
. Donsky's film was made prior to Jacob Tierney
Jacob Tierney
Jacob Daniel Tierney is a Canadian actor, film director and screenwriter.Tierney was born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of veteran producer Kevin Tierney...
's similar film Twist
Twist (film)
Twist is a 2003 Canadian drama film and a queer retelling of Charles Dickens' classic, Oliver Twist.-Plot:The plot is updated to the present day, and moved out of the London poor house onto the streets of Toronto. In addition, the tale is told not from Oliver's point of view, but rather that of Dodge...
, starring American actor Nick Stahl
Nick Stahl
Nicolas Kent "Nick" Stahl is an American actor. Starting out as a child actor, he gained recognition for his performance in the 1993 film The Man Without a Face and then embarked on a successful career as a child actor...
.
William Hickey
William Hickey
William Hickey may refer to:*William Hickey , English lawyer and author of a famous set of memoirs*William Hickey , American actor...
stars as Andre, the lecherous brothel owner that trades in young men. Exploiting his young charges through paternalism and drugs, Andre sets his sights on Lee (Keivyn McNeil Gaves), a ten-year-old, black, runaway orphan. Through Andre, Lee quickly becomes immersed in New York's sleazy underbelly of drug dealers and street hustlers. The boy's only hope for survival is the aspiring song-writer Angel (David Norona
David Norona
David Norona is a Cuban American actor.-Biography:David Norona was born in Hialeah, Florida on December 14, 1972 to Cuban parents Jorge Norona and Edith Iglesias. He began his acting career at Coral Gables High School with roles in The Sound of Music and The Fantasticks...
), himself a former hustler and drug dealer. Angel befriends Lee and rescues him from the wiles of Andre's cohort Fine Art (Jean Loup Wolfman), who attempts to profit on Lee's tender age. Eventually, Andre's petty empire is vanquished by Shiniqua (Billy Porter), a powerfully wise and glamorous drag queen whose fiercely maternal spirit is every bit the match for the depraved denizens of the brothel.
Cast
- Ray Arhana .... Can Man
- Keivyn McNeil Gaves .... Lee
- Erik Jensen .... Punk
- Anthony CrivelloAnthony CrivelloAnthony Crivello is an American actor and singer, mostly in musicals on Broadway. He has written several scripts and more than twenty songs.-Personal life:...
.... Eddie - David NoronaDavid NoronaDavid Norona is a Cuban American actor.-Biography:David Norona was born in Hialeah, Florida on December 14, 1972 to Cuban parents Jorge Norona and Edith Iglesias. He began his acting career at Coral Gables High School with roles in The Sound of Music and The Fantasticks...
.... Angel - Billy Porter .... Shiniqua
- Simon Brook .... Undercover Cop
- William HickeyWilliam Hickey (actor)William Edward Hickey was an American actor. He was best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Don Corrado Prizzi in the John Huston 1985 film Prizzi's Honor, as well as the voice of Dr...
.... Andre - Jean Loup Wolfman .... Fine Art
- Brenda Pressley .... Mrs. Burns
- Eugene ByrdEugene ByrdEugene Byrd is an American actor.-Career:He has been in movies including Dead Man, Sleepers, 8 Mile, Lift and Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, and has the leading role in Confess, for which he won the Break-Out Performance Award at the 2006 Method Fest Independent Film Festival...
.... Willus - Keisha Howard .... Laylene
- Elizabeth FranzElizabeth FranzElizabeth Franz is an American stage and television actress.-Life and career:Franz was born Betty Jean Frankovich in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of a factory worker....
.... Social Worker