Gay Movie Review: Redwoods

Summary:

Writer/director David Lewis presents a romantic story in a beautiful setting. Everett (Brendan Bradley) and Chase (Matthew Montgomery) fall in love among the California redwoods, despite the family that will soon return to Everett’s life.

Text:

Life partners Everett (Brendan Bradley) and Miles (Tad Coughenour) co-exist in order to raise their autistic son. Unfortunately, all passion seems to have dissipated from their relationship, and they seem to only speak in terms of chores and other responsibilities. However, it seems unlikely that they will break up.

When Miles and their son leave town for the week, a new complication arrives. The handsome writer Chase (Matthew Montgomery) pulls up, looking for the bed and breakfast that Everett’s aunt runs.

Writer/director David Lewis previously made the quiet but touching film Rock Haven. That film also built itself around character development and a beautiful landscape. Lewis goes further in that direction here, with better production and a constant interaction between characters and settings. He could not have picked a better setting: the ancient redwoods of California’s Russian River.

As the movie’s title suggests, the redwoods play an important role throughout the film. Chase’s current book project helps solidify that role. Besides two handsome and talented leading men, Lewis interjects breath-taking scenery into the story.

Everett’s aunt, brother, and parents all give insight into his personality and why he stays with Miles. However, they also help reveal why he easily falls in love with Chase.

This romantic movie takes unexpected turns and reveals flaws in all of its characters. The actors make those flaws understandable and forgivable. As for the movie-making, Redwoods makes me want to see more from David Lewis, and it definitely warrants repeat viewing.

Thanks for visiting my blog! Please read about my books, including the small-town fiction collection The Acorn Stories and my free eBook Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.

Gay Movie Review: Hollywood je t'Aime.

Summary: Writer/director and former Odessa, Texas, resident Jason Bushman directs his first feature-length film. The offbeat comedy Hollywood je t'Aime brings a gay Parisian to California, where he meets interesting characters and tries to start a film career.

Review: Gay film viewers might recognize Eric Debets from Jason Bushman’s short film Serene Hunter, which appears in the Wolfe Video collection S is for Sexy. In Hollywood je t'Aime, Debets carries Bushman’s first feature-length film, bringing comical charm to the role of Jerome.

Hoping to get over his ex-lover and start a film career, Jerome moves from France to Hollywood. Nothing could prepare him for the constant surprises of his new life. Jerome seems to take everything in stride, but we see that he often hurts behind those gentle eyes.

From the movie poster, I expected Chad Allen to also appear throughout the film, rather than as a supporting character. However, Allen still brings his own charm, playing an oddly likeable stoner. Aside from his more conflicted role in the movie Save Me, Allen’s work here offers a major departure from most of his other film and TV parts.

The other supporting characters bring a mixture of poignancy and humor, weaving through Jerome’s unsettled new life, teaching him about Hollywood and himself. Diarra Kilpatrick and Michael Airington appear as social outcasts in some ways and as overly guarded in others, but their characters provide a strong sense of family to Jerome.

Who better to make a cross-cultural movie about a Parisian in California than Jason Bushman, a graduate of Odessa High School? After Texas, Bushman went on to the University of California—Los Angeles and now separates his time between Silverlake and Paris. In interviews, Bushman acknowledges using his feelings as an outsider in Hollywood as an inspiration for writer and directing. Those channeled feelings lead to an engaging movie experience.

Thanks for visiting my blog! Please read about my books, including the small-town fiction collection The Acorn Stories and my free eBook Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.

Gay Movie Review: Make the Yuletide Gay

Summary:

Writer/director Rob Williams brings Christmas to gay audiences with a sweet romantic comedy about how young love and coming out can both complicate family life. Keith Jordan and Adamo Ruggiero show strong chemistry in this award-winning film.

Review:

Gay viewers receive an early Christmas present this year from Rob Williams, the director of Long-Term Relationship, Back Soon, and 3-Day Weekend. The winner of Audience Awards for Best Feature at the 2009 Seoul LGBT Film Festival and FilmOut San Diego 2009, Make the Yuletide Gay is a silly, sweet, and likeable romantic comedy. Besides writing and directing the project, Williams co-produced again with his long-time collaborators Rodney Johnson and Matthew Montgomery. Some of the actors from his previous films return as well, along with other familiar faces from TV or movies.

Adorable Gunn (Keith Jordan from the movie How do You Know When?) leaves college for the Christmas break. He plans to spend his vacation with his parents in Wisconsin, but without his gorgeous boyfriend, Nathan (Adamo Ruggiero, from Degrassi: The Next Generation).

Nathan’s parents know he’s gay, but avoid the subject, and their son. Gunn dreads coming out to his loving but bizarre parents, fearing they might reject him. When Nathan suddenly shows up at Gunn’s house, Christmas turns into a comedy of masquerades.

As with any comedy, some of the humor doesn’t quite work. However, the film constantly benefits from Williams’ clever references to books, movies, TV shows, etc.—even to projects that involve his cast.

That cast shows obvious chemistry, especially the two male leads and their parents. Acting teacher and Star Trek icon Gates McFadden appears with well-known soap and primetime TV actor Ian Buchanan as Nathan’s parents; despite their brief roles, they provide an important counterpoint for Gunn’s family life.

Kelly Keaton and Derek Long play Gunn’s parents. Those two Rob Williams film veterans both nearly steal this movie more than a few times. Some of Keaton’s funniest moments involve her neighbor and nemesis, Heather, played by Little House on the Prairie neighbor and nemesis Alison Arngrim. Hallee Hirsh, another former child actor, plays Heather’s daughter and literally can’t keep her hands off the closeted Gunn.

The resulting mixture leads to a movie with some good laughs, a few poignant moments, and a lot of heart. It definitely warrants repeat viewing, regardless of the season. As for the DVD extras, skip the drawn-out Behind the Scenes features, and go straight for the amusing interviews.

Back to the movie itself, though, I recommend it for gays and their loved ones, or anyone who likes light-hearted comedies. I enjoyed previous films from Williams, but this one easily stands out as my favorite, and a good introduction to his work.

The gay arts, entertainment, and equality site StoneWall Society

The gay arts, entertainment, and equality site StoneWall Society is celebrating its ten-year anniversary with the launch of new sister sites.

Equality Net will focus on human rights for all people. Artists for Equality will provide promotional opportunities for artists who join Equality Net. GLBT Artists, part of the OutVoice Banner Program, is similar. However, as its name suggests, it will focus on GLBT artists and issues. On Equal Grounds will provide web hosting and other services.

Watch those sites for more information. SWS has helped my books receive much more publicity than they would otherwise.

A. Chandler, a Top 100 reviewer, has posted a review of The Acorn Stories, titled “A light hearted read with stories that flow smoothly and a dash of humor.”

More reviews by A. Chandler.