Movie Reviews : ‘Man of the Year’s’ Satire Plays Straight to Life’s Issues

Four years ago, Dirk Shafer, struggling to get a foothold in Hollywood, felt he had lucked out when he was named Playgirl magazine’s centerfold of the year. The only catch was that Shafer is gay, and he had no idea what he would be in for in living a lie for a full year. From this experience Shafer has written and directed the clever “Man of the Year.”

It is a tart, ruefully funny “mockumentary” in which he imagines what it might have been like had a crew of filmmakers followed him around throughout 1992. (The film has been polished and tightened since it was shown at last year’s Outfest: the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.)

Just how much of “Man of the Year” is fact--only a few of the people in Shafer’s life play themselves--and how much is fiction remains tantalizing. Such speculation finally becomes beside the point because Shafer, who deftly incorporates a series of his talk-show appearances, tells his story so convincingly and with such an amusing satirical touch.

Playing himself, the likable Shafer dramatizes his everyday life, interweaving interviews with himself and all the other key people in his life. Framing the entire film are black-and-white fragments showing him on the town in Manhattan with the young woman, played with wit by Mary Stein, who has won a date with him in a Playgirl contest. This segment has an unexpected and delightful payoff.

Shafer left his small Oklahoma hometown with his still-best pal, comedian Vivian Paxton, on the strength of a dance routine they worked out for a TV contest. After some time in Hollywood, Shafer really hadn’t gotten anywhere in show biz, but he had developed a superb physique. No wonder he got caught up in the man of the year bit, which brought him lots of attention and modeling gigs.

At first “Man of the Year” is all-out funny and frequently hilarious, but it gradually grows more serious as Shafer is increasingly confronted with questions of priorities, values and honesty. Just as his special year begins, he commences a romance with a nice guy (played by Michael Ornstein) who really loves him.

However, his patience becomes increasingly tested as 1992 wears on and he’s forced to live a clandestine life with Shafer, who grows progressively fearful that he will be outed before the year is over.

Ornstein is part of a first-rate ensemble cast that includes Cal Bartlett and Claudette Sutherland as Shafer’s parents, who make an effort to accept and understand him; Beth Broderick as Playgirl’s editor; Cynthia Szigeti as Playgirl’s amusingly aggressive publicist; and Rhonda Dotson, who’s fortunately funny rather than merely pathetic as a worn-looking exotic dancer who becomes obsessed with Shafer.

Clearly, Shafer, whose future as a filmmaker is most promising, is a man who learned more about himself than he ever expected to as a centerfold--and ironically gained some unexpected insights into women as well.

* Unrated. Times guidelines: The film contains no nudity or sex but has adult themes and some strong language.

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‘Man of the Year’

Dirk Shafer: As himself

Vivian Paxton: As herself

Michael Ornstein: Mike Miller

Claudette Sutherland: Tammy Shafer

Cal Bartlett: Ken Shafer

A Seventh Art release of an Artisan Productions presentation. Writer-director Dirk Shafer. Producer Matt Keener. Executive producer Christian Moeyaert. Cinematographer Stephen Timberlake. Editors Barry Silver and Ken Solomon. Costume/production designer Michael Mueller. Music Peitor Angell. Running time: 1 hour, 25 minutes.

* At the Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (213) 848-3500; the Los Feliz 3, 1882 N. Vermont Ave., (213) 664-2169; and the Art Theater, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach, (310) 430-4718.