...by all the positive reviews here, but absolutely NOT by the caliber of this film. How this gay detective "made for TV" film ever came into existence is the REAL mystery here. Chad Allen as the lead is probably the best actor in this piece, which frankly says a lot. But unless you are a die-hard fan, he's not really strong enough to carry-off the lead in any film. The "made for TV" feel (i.e. sappy/up-beat background music, boxy cinematography and overall pace) seems odd and out of place with full-frontal nudity (think "Murder She Wrote" meets gay porn). The rest of the acting range goes from TV-bad to porn-bad...which is VERY bad. Overall, the high production values (once again, think "Murder She Wrote") and overall polish make it palatable for someone who is into gay-themed movies and wants to kill some time with a little brain-candy.

Chad Allen is perfectly cast as Donald Strachey, a slightly haggard and totally "out" gay PI who lives with his Brooks Brothers hubby, Timmy (played by Sebastian Spence). Set in Albany, New York, of all places, Strachey investigates the attempted murder of gay activist John Rutka (Jack Wetherall), who has made enemies by "outing" still-in-the-closet VIPs.The film's final ten minutes transform what had been a mildly interesting story into a blockbuster whodunit that even Agatha Christie would be proud of. It's been quite some time since I have watched a film wherein the plot twists were so startling and stunning. The film's writers give you the clues you need to solve the puzzle. But those clues are so subtle that the probability that you will latch onto them is slightly greater than zero. It's worth every bit of the viewers' time to endure a tangled, serpentine plot, and some minor plot holes, one of which could have been corrected by the use of a different camera angle.The somewhat muddled plot conceals a substantial theme. But again, that theme does not appear until the final ten minutes. This is the kind of film you have to stay with, to appreciate its significance.Apart from the great story, "Third Man Out" exudes a classy, cosmo-chic style, reminiscent of 1940's crime noir, by way of the sultry jazz sounds of "In Heat, In Love" and "Martinis By Moonlight". At appropriate intervals, shadowy induced suspense punctuates the trendy atmosphere, consistent with what viewers would expect, for a whodunit.The film's cinematography, especially the lighting, is excellent. Production design and costumes (love those black suede jackets) render high quality visuals. Overall, acting is adequate. And some of the dialogue sparkles: "You know, I'm starting to wonder if maybe life isn't always so black and white, in Kansas maybe, but not here in Emerald City".Despite a slightly tangled plot, "Third Man Out" is a terrific film that can be enjoyed by viewers, gay or straight, who revel in stylistic murder mysteries.

This was so disappointing..It had such a standard storyline..Yes .You may say hang on its about a gay private eye and gay characters ,thats true but the screenplay,storyline, characters are the same as your standard private detective and murder, etc. The dialogue is the same as your standard TV private Detective episode . The acting is so ordinary, not one good acting performance in it , though to be fair in such a lousy story and screenplay its difficult to shine for any actor. If this is the best Ron Oliver can offer I suggest he sticks to the day job. One more note is the soundtrack.. truly bad.. small sounding like they were short of of musicians and the same as the Movie .Miss this one everyone. I mean it.

I'm used to seeing under-achieving gay movies, with laughable acting, unbelievable writing and downright bad directing. But not "Third Man Out"! The plot is excellent. The actors are believable - and really good. The directing is second to none.The only disappointment is that too many gay stereotypes were used - not stereotypes imposed on gays but stereotypes created by gays. That is, evil cigar-smoking Republicans hiding their hypocritical deeds, and evil church officials ruining the lives of others. But, the movie was so good, I can forgive the writer for injecting his own bias. Good job overall!I also get tired of seeing gay lovers always fighting. For once it was refreshing to see two characters really love each other - portraying what we all seek. In addition to that, the two characters really had different lives and different tastes, yet they made the relationship work. It was a good match.Thank you and congratulations to Chad Alan, Sebastian Spence, Ron Oliver, and Mark Saltzman.