If you were to canvass all the fans of Bel Ami and ask which model they would most like to take home, make love to, and fuck, it would not surprise me if the classically handsome (and poorly named) Brandon Manilow were to come out in the top five. One of the reasons this dark-haired beauty appeals to so many men is that he has never been a bottom on camera, and in this movie, which pretends to look at his life in a behind-the-scenes way (but doesn't really), he remains true to his top man role. But he also clearly comes off as a secure gay man, especially in the opening sequence where he kids around with and eventually gets to fuck his ex-real life lover, Alex Orioli.
The two are paired in a scene filmed in South Africa where Brandon, an obviously schooled diver, puts on a show on the high board for an enchanted Alex -- they are supposed to be strangers -- so this is not a behind-the-scenes thing, this is a scripted encounter. They meet, fall in lust, and move to a room in the hotel where they pounce on each other on the couch. The close-ups framing these two brilliantly beautiful men are stupendous: faces, bodies and cocks are accented for our appreciation in a groping, kissing encounter that leads to mutual cock adoration, and eventually, to bed. One of the great things about Brandon is that even though he is a top he is a nurturing and very cock hungry man -- he fingers Alex's hole, sucks his dick, mounts him missionary, and finishes him off in a sit-fuck that leads to a creamy explosion by both.
We have one of the sexiest and sleaziest (in a positive sense) mega stars to come out of the Czech porn scene in the next scene, Marc Vidal (left on the cover with Brandon) in a photo shoot that is quick, quirky and sometimes silly, without much sex except for a few sucks on dicks and mutual masturbatory satisfaction, but it shows both models completely at ease with each other and sex.
Roman Prada, whose cocky jock look is a perfect complement to Brandon's more laid-back preppy appearance, apparently loses his on screen cherry to Brandon in the next scene which takes place on a couch that became the recipient of a tell-tale stain (read the subtitles). With the director's instructions flashed on the screen, it's obvious that this is a screen-test, and Roman passes it instantly -- his sensationally big and fat cock is topped by a magnificent head that Brandon cannot keep his mouth off of and doesn't mind describing, either. Three quickly edited fuck positions lead to streaming cum-shots.
A solo jerk-off by the pool from his earlier days is followed by a serious highlight for all Bel Ami fans: A live interview with the legendary Lukas Ridgeston who discusses the next scene with Brandon. The amazing thing is that Lukas has aged into an exceptionally handsome young man, still showing some twinkiness in his face and eyes, but more of a solid sex god just sitting there and conversing. Do not miss this sequence, because even though there isn't a hint of sex, it's a keepsake of how natural and relaxed these two are in each other's company.
Andre Pagnol is Brandon's partner in the aforementioned next sequence -- a sweet, chipmunk-faced and slim post-twink. The scene was filmed several years earlier by Lukas Ridgeston and Johan Paulik, who both appear as cameramen in the scene -- nice juxtaposition of how they looked then and now. As for the sex between Andre and Brandon, it's fast, hard and interspersed with reality bits of Lukas and Johan as directors.
A photo shoot on a beach with Tommy Hansen and Sascha Chaykin is just fun, and is followed by a three-way that is initiated by the masculine Etienne Pauliac. He comes into the room being shared by Brandon and the still cute Josh Elliot, who are sleeping it off on a couch from a party. Etienne brings in a bottle of wine, a stunning face topped by a mop of coarse blond hair, and a rock-solid body with impeccable abs. He also brings a willing mouth and ass, a lovely cock, and a serious need to get laid. He gets his wish -- cocks in mouth and ass, He steals the scene, and if he hangs around porn long enough (say, another 10 years), he is going to be one fucking hot young daddy type for all those new Czech boy-toys to adore.
There are plenty of reasons to like this look at a man who is starting to grow out of prettiness and is beginning to look contentedly handsome even if he doesn't offer it up in the end. But, we can dream, no?
DVD features: Chapters; and no regional coding (playable worldwide).
A DVD Review by Bo Champion