Riley (film)

thumb|Dude, I didn't expect to be anyone's Obi-Wan today. But I can see that you're going through it. We all got choices to make. You can choose to keep all this outta sight, and probably live a miserable fuckin' life, or, you can say, "Fuck it" and live the life you wanna live. And yeah. Things are gonna change. But everything's fuckin' changing all the time anyway. Riley is a 2023 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Benjamin Howard in his feature film debut. The film stars Jake Holley, Colin McCalla, Riley Quinn Scott, Connor Storrie and Rib Hillis. The film screened at Calgary International Film Festival and BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, where it was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews. thumb|Listen up, gentlemen. This one isn't gonna be any easier. We have a tough opponent out there tonight. Now we know this team's gonna play tough, and we know we're gonna face some adversity. You get pushed around, you get back up. You brush yourself off and say "What's next?" Tonight, you do that, and I promise you we're gonna have a good game. Now, I'm not saying it's gonna be easy. But it's gonna be good. Carson Riley Listen up, gentlemen. This one isn't gonna be any easier. We have a tough opponent out there tonight. Now we know this team's gonna play tough, and we know we're gonna face some adversity. You get pushed around, you get back up. You brush yourself off and say "What's next?" Tonight, you do that, and I promise you we're gonna have a good game. Now, I'm not saying it's gonna be easy. But it's gonna be good. Dialogue Jaeden: What about besides football? Riley: There's nothing besides football. Jaeden: God, you're boring. Desmond: Hey, listen, listen. Liam's faggot ass got a better shot at Skylar than my boy Riley does. Liam: [to some classmates] Guys, guys. [approaches the boys at the table] My faggot ass what, Desmond? Desmond: Oh, fuck. Liam: No, what'd you say, dude? Desmond: Bro, nothin'. Liam: No, what'd you say? If you can say it here, you can say it to my face, right? Classmate: Hey, Liam, it's chill. It's chill, Liam. Liam: No, no, no. Say it to my face, can't you? Desmond: Man, get this guy outta here. Liam: C'mon, say it to my face. Classmate 2: Liam, just chill out, man. Liam: Can't you? Desmond: This man still here? Liam: [leans in close] Hey. Hey, Desmond. Look at me. You know, I don't care if you call me a faggot. You know, just as long as when you do it, [strokes Desmond's cheek] I get to feel your- [Desmond stands up and shoves Liam away] Skylar: Desmond, what the fuck?! Stop! Liam: No, no, no, we're good! We're good! Just don't say it so loud next time. You know, you might actually turn me on. Hector: Liam, shut the fuck up. Liam: [leaving] Choke on a dick, Hector. Dakota Riley: This just isn't who I was supposed to be. And I think there's a part of me that's always gonna believe that. I don't wanna choose for my life to be different than it is now. I don't wanna choose to live one way or the other. 'Obi Wan' Hookup: Woah. Your parents really fucked you up, huh? So don't choose. Just live it. Here. When I don't know what the fuck to do, I flip a coin. Riley: What am I flipping for? 'Obi Wan' Hookup: I don't know. That's up to you. Heads, you keep all this under wraps and end up resenting yourself for it, tails you don't. You- just keep living. Flip the coin but don't act on the coin. Flipping the coin makes you feel. Look. Dude, I didn't expect to be anyone's Obi-Wan today. But I can see that you're going through it. We all got choices to make. You can choose to keep all this outta sight, and probably live a miserable fuckin' life, or, you can say, "Fuck it" and live the life you wanna live. And yeah. Things are gonna change. But everything's fuckin' changing all the time anyway. So- I don't know what the fuck you came here for, but you seem smart enough to know that I don't have your answer. But I'll tell you this. You care way more than anybody in your life probably does. And those that do care, those people may come around. Or they might not. And there's nothing you can do about it. So you can say "Fuck off" to those people or you can love all those assholes, despite their assholery. Like I have. Quotes about Riley Throughout our lives, we all face many different decisions. During those moments, we hope to find a path to guide us toward a much brighter, happier, and more fulfilling direction. The most important one is, without a doubt, choosing between the life you want and the one that society constructed for you. It’s already hard enough for straight people (“Your biological clock is ticking”, “When are we going to hear those wedding bells”), but for LGBTQ+ people, it’s even more complicated. If they finally dare to step into the spotlight and reject the heteronormative society, they’re met with a lot of prejudice, fear, shame and uncertainty. And so probably also Dakota Riley, “Riley” for the friends, in Riley, the latest movie by writer/director Benjamin Howard (Deviant). Liselotte Goes to Hollywood (pen name), "‘Riley’ Film Review", Medium, 24 March 2024 High school football star Dakota Riley (Jake Holley, adroitly handling a difficult role) lashes out at anyone who suggests or even jokes about his being gay. Truth is, he is buried deep in the closet in a macho world and it’s not only eating him up alive but destroying relationships. Writer/director Benjamin Howard’s debut feels like you’re watching a lived experience, and that’s because it is based partly on his life. It is that rawness and realness that gives “Riley” its extra edge, making it a more formidable queer drama about how repression in a hyper-masculine setting can strangle and suffocate someone until they come up for air. Randy Myers, "SF Frameline 2024: Here are 11 films you gotta see", San Jose Mercury News, 18 June 2024 Dakota Riley (Jake Holley, looking like a hot hybrid between Jim Carrey and Tig Notaro) rides his bike to a Grindr hookup but panics when the hookup wants to go faster and further than he planned in Benjamin Howard’s coming-of-age feature film, “Riley.” His Hookup (J. B. Waterman, credited as Obi-Wan Hookup) either doesn’t suspect his “date” is in high school or doesn’t care. But Riley is in his high school, and he’s crushing it. He’s on the football team and hopes to follow in his father’s cleats and go pro. His father, Carson (Rib Hillis), who is also the high school football coach (Go Eagles!), is living vicariously through his son. The dad is a former athlete who sustained a career-ending injury during his pro years. Carson claims he has no regrets, but he carries the regrets in his eyes. Michael Buzzelli, "All American: A Review of ‘Riley’", QBurg, 10 November 2024 There is plenty of eye candy in “Riley,” Holley and McCalla are shirtless in the locker room, the hot tub, and Riley’s bedroom. Howard lets the camera linger over their taut physiques, and the film teeters on the edge of softcore (not that there’s anything wrong with that).There is magnificent cinematography by Michael Elias Thomas, replete with tangerine sunsets, sepia-toned close-ups, and the muted indigo of a football game at dusk. Not to mention those long, loving shots of tight torsos, perky pectorals, and succulent six packs. With football at the film’s center, however, very few pigskins are thrown. The movie is full of tropes, but it’s interesting seeing the story from the POV of the jock and not the nerd who typically falls for him. It’s a grimmer and grittier “Heartstoppers.” The dialogue is simple everyday language with a few French words peppered in from Madame Dupont (Caroline Amiguet) and Storrie’s Liam.This is a drama, and sometimes it takes itself too seriously. Storrie’s character adds a few moments of levity, but Howard’s script is grounded and realistic, reminding us that each person’s Coming Out story is different. Michael Buzzelli, "All American: A Review of ‘Riley’", QBurg, 10 November 2024 External links Category:2023 films Category:2020s American films Category:American drama films