I read other reviews on IMDb and agree with many of them regarding the slow pace of the film, as well as the unnecessary and drawn out scenes at the beginning which could've been shorter and still set the stage of the movie. So I'll admit I didn't really watch the scenes focusing on Shayne's exploits with his friends as I was more curious to see Thang Chan, since there aren't many, if any, Afro-Vietnamese actors out there. As many noted, Shayne Gray is easy on the eyes and plays his character (Lincoln) with such ease he comes off as though he's being himself. Chan plays Lincoln's 'hook up' Minh/John. While he's also nice looking, his character threw me for a loop at first because he claimed he'd been waiting so long to meet Lincoln, yet spent most of the time talking about himself, his family back in Vietnam, etc. When they do finally meet. Eventually, however, he started to grow on me because of his interaction with Lincoln, telling him how cute, sexy, handsome he is, etc.
Lincoln is one of those guys who "isn't aware of his powers" as yet. He's shy, quiet and lacks self-confidence so it was cute watching him blush whenever John paid him a compliment. However, when John told him he loved him that immediately threw up a RED flag. (Later in the film we'd see a slightly evolved, more self-assured and confident Lincoln emerge to the point of emulating John when he told his girlfriend about the same dream John told him, but making her the subject, but I'm getting ahead of myself.)
Smooth-talking John convinces Lincoln to take his father's boat out on the Mississippi River where they spend a few days together. It was during this time we gain a slightly better understanding of John and what makes him tick, since he does most of the talking, stopping intermittently to solicit Lincoln's views or to ask him about himself. I was disappointed they didn't connect more on a sexual level since doing so may have made the film more interesting. Both the physical and sexual chemistry was there so it was weird they didn't explore that avenue. Furthermore, the length of time they spent together indicated Lincoln, at least, wanted something to happen sexually but the hold John had on him intrigued him-John was this carefree, rough-around-the-edges and slightly dangerous character so unlike his friends-so Lincoln was in no rush to get back home to his girlfriend or family.
John's 'accent' seemed to be an issue with some viewers when it really shouldn't have been, seeing as he's a Vietnamese who's only been in the US for 3 years. I got the impression these viewers would've hated him even if he hadn't committed that unspeakable act at the end of the movie. I did, however, get the impression he may have been in the country illegally--maybe staying beyond his visa's expiration date--after he ran from the police at one point. This would explain why he didn't have a job which left him no choice but to hustle for a living. But he did seem to stir up trouble wherever he went due to his "I do what I want" attitude.
At the end of the film I finally understood the "Betrayal and Revenge" aspect when John took his latest 'hook up'' on what appeared to be Lincoln's father's boat. He went on about how everyone only wants to be with him for his body; no one actually wants to get to know him. Now it made sense why he wasn't in a rush to have sex with Lincoln--he really did love him. But when Lincoln ran off and left him in the woods that was the ultimate betrayal. This broke his heart so he had to get even.
Lincoln is one of those guys who "isn't aware of his powers" as yet. He's shy, quiet and lacks self-confidence so it was cute watching him blush whenever John paid him a compliment. However, when John told him he loved him that immediately threw up a RED flag. (Later in the film we'd see a slightly evolved, more self-assured and confident Lincoln emerge to the point of emulating John when he told his girlfriend about the same dream John told him, but making her the subject, but I'm getting ahead of myself.)
Smooth-talking John convinces Lincoln to take his father's boat out on the Mississippi River where they spend a few days together. It was during this time we gain a slightly better understanding of John and what makes him tick, since he does most of the talking, stopping intermittently to solicit Lincoln's views or to ask him about himself. I was disappointed they didn't connect more on a sexual level since doing so may have made the film more interesting. Both the physical and sexual chemistry was there so it was weird they didn't explore that avenue. Furthermore, the length of time they spent together indicated Lincoln, at least, wanted something to happen sexually but the hold John had on him intrigued him-John was this carefree, rough-around-the-edges and slightly dangerous character so unlike his friends-so Lincoln was in no rush to get back home to his girlfriend or family.
John's 'accent' seemed to be an issue with some viewers when it really shouldn't have been, seeing as he's a Vietnamese who's only been in the US for 3 years. I got the impression these viewers would've hated him even if he hadn't committed that unspeakable act at the end of the movie. I did, however, get the impression he may have been in the country illegally--maybe staying beyond his visa's expiration date--after he ran from the police at one point. This would explain why he didn't have a job which left him no choice but to hustle for a living. But he did seem to stir up trouble wherever he went due to his "I do what I want" attitude.
At the end of the film I finally understood the "Betrayal and Revenge" aspect when John took his latest 'hook up'' on what appeared to be Lincoln's father's boat. He went on about how everyone only wants to be with him for his body; no one actually wants to get to know him. Now it made sense why he wasn't in a rush to have sex with Lincoln--he really did love him. But when Lincoln ran off and left him in the woods that was the ultimate betrayal. This broke his heart so he had to get even.