That Man: Peter Berlin (2005)

92% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(55 ratings)

As the hedonism of the '70s reached a fever-pitch, few gay porn stars achieved the stratospheric level of success as Night in Black Leather and That Boy star Peter Berlin. In filmmaker Jim Tushinski's insightful documentary tracing the career of the boyish gay icon, interviews with famous friends… More As the hedonism of the '70s reached a fever-pitch, few gay porn stars achieved the stratospheric level of success as Night in Black Leather and That Boy star Peter Berlin. In filmmaker Jim Tushinski's insightful documentary tracing the career of the boyish gay icon, interviews with famous friends combine with personal reflection by Berlin himself to tell the fascinating tale of how an average wartime baby from Berlin grew up to become a bastion of '70s debauchery. In addition to being photographed by the likes of Andy Warhol and Robert Mapplethorpe, Berlin also served as an influence to popular shock filmmaker John Waters, and adult film mainstay Jack Wrangler. As those popular figures and more come together to pay tribute to the man who helped to usher the homosexual lifestyle into the mainstream, audiences are offered a look beyond the public persona and into Berlin's colorful and compelling personal life. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Jim Tushinski
Written By: Jim Tushinski
Genres: Documentary, Drama, Comedy, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Jun 13, 2006
Studio: Gorilla Factory Productions

Critic Reviews

Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
Tushinski does a nice job of setting up Berlin as a symbol -- remembered by most as a cartoonish character -- and then slowly revealing the man.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
Sexy and informative documentary.
Leslie Felperin, Variety
A workable, if slightly reticent docu portrait of the titular '70s pin-up and porn star.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
Fortunately, Tushinski strikes the right balance throughout, interspersing old erotic photos and stills from Berlin's adult films with entertaining, current-day sound bites.
Nathan Lee, New York Times
One of the enduring icons of gay male eroticism, the phenomenon known as Peter Berlin, is explored, explained, ogled and interviewed in this minor classic of demimonde hagiography.
David Noh, Film Journal International
As an interview subject, [Berlin] is by turns arrogant, silly and rather touching.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Taking a subject this self-obsessed, Tushinksi still manages to portray Mr. Berlin in a flattering light.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
It should come as little surprise that a guy known for his looks doesn't get too philosophically deep
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
An affectionate, respectful film that's never less than engaging, no matter what your knowledge of '70s porn.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
For him, art was the strangest thing: a studied pose of personal expression and sexual abstinence.
Phil Hall, Film Threat
This should provide some retro fun for those who recall the gay scene from the early 1970s.
S. James Wegg, JWR
... it's hard to keep your eyes off the film, but Tushinski's subtext of the true value of beauty remains in memory long after the actual images have faded to black.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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