Redwoods (2009)

Redwoods (2009)



Director: David Lewis
Writers:David Lewis
Genres:Drama, Romance
Country:USA
Language: English
Duration:82 minutes
Year: 2009


Stars:Matthew Montgomery, Tad Coughenour, Caleb Dorfman

Two people weary from life meet unexpectedly and, even though they only know each other for a couple of days, discover a mind-blowing love that Changes Everything. But one of them has unbreakable commitments elsewhere — forcing him to ask, "Do I dare pursue this mind-blowing love, even if it means hurting other people?"
Everett feels stifled with Miles, the man with whom he is raising an autistic son. But then Miles and their son go away for a week, and Everett meets Chase, a traveling novelist in town to research a book.

And so begins a brief, bittersweet love affair that will echo throughout the ages.

Look, if you simply can’t buy this premise of "soul-mates," of love-at-first-sight, you won’t like this movie. And truthfully? I don’t buy this premise either, not in real life, where I think "infatuation" is completely different from "true love," which is something that grows slowly over time.

But for some reason, I can suspend my disbelief long enough to buy it on movie screens — or at least I bought it here — even despite a wildly over-the-top ending. This is a fantasy, pure and simple, and it is exactly as ridiculous as the two movies I mentioned above.

It helps that the two leads, Matthew Montgomery (Chase) and Brendan Bradley (Everett), do a wonderful job of selling all this. Bradley, who is reportedly straight in real life, has an appealingly vulnerable quality to him — exactly what the role requires. And Montgomery, who is openly gay and well-known in indie gay film, is certainly my idea of a handsome stranger who would force me to Question Everything.

Keep in mind that Redwoods is a micro-budget indie gay movie, surely made on a shoestring. As such, the synth-heavy music is occasionally distracting, the story flags for a bit, and the dialogue is sometimes a little clunky (especially toward the end when they discuss Chase’s novel their relationship).

That said, this is night-and-day better than most similarly-budgeted projects: the script is solid, the acting is remarkably good (and consistent; unlike a lot of these micro-budget movies, there are no painfully wooden supporting players). And — I know this sounds like a small thing, but it’s not — the lighting, which is so often "off" in these indie gay movies, looks professionally done.

Better still, the movie takes great advantage of the redwood forests where it is set. Too many low-budget movies are set in the front room of the director’s house, and they feel weirdly claustrophobic. This movie took the exact opposite approach — small budget, but big scope — and it absolutely paid off.

Mostly, I appreciate that, more and more, we live in an age where gay movies don’t have to always be angsty and depressing, or preachy and pointed. There are no closeted boyfriends in Redwoods, no disapproving parents to come out to.

This a pure cheese, a frothy romance — a gay guilty pleasure! And in my book, that makes this the most revolutionary gay film I’ve seen in quite some time.

Source: http://www.thebacklot.com/

Rock Haven (2007)

Rock Haven (2007)

Director: David Lewis
Writer: David Lewis
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA 
Language: English 
Year: 2007


Stars: Sean Hoagland, Owen Alabado and Laura Jane Coles

Prije nekog vremena sam preko neta upoznao dva lika koja su bila u mom gradu. Potpuno su različiti jedan od drugog! Jedan onako ćutljiv, razbacan, potpuno muževan tip. a drugi brbljivac koji mi je išao na živce. Sjedali smo i pili neko vino, jedva uspostavljajući neku komunikaciju. Skoro pa mi je bilo nelagodno. Onaj brbljivac je pričao sam sa sobom nešto o tome kakvih ludaka ima na netu i slično. Ovaj drugi vidim nervira se, ali ćuti.
Taman sam pomislio da je bolje da se pokupim i odem kad ovaj što je jedva progovarao počne da se skida. Kada je ostao u bokserice brbljivac ga pita, jel to tebi vruće. Ovaj odgovori, nije vruće . al ajde skidaj se, pa da se jebemo. Ja se provalih od smjeha i pitah oću li se i ja skinuti.
Nakon seksa brbljivac više nije pričao , a ja i ovaj lik smo pričali i pili vino.
Poslije sam razmišljao o tome koliko se suprotnosti privlače. kako ona dva lika uopšte funkcionišu? Onog brbljivca ne bi trpio ni pet minuta da je nasamo samnom.
U ovom filmu možete pratiti odnos dva tinejdzera , koja žive potpuno različitim načinom života.
Brady, 18-togodišnji momak, živi sa svojom religioznom majkom na obali Californije u Rock Haven. Svakdnevne molitve narušava Clifford, poptuno suprotan Bradiju, zgodan, otvoren prema okolini….

Sweet, romantic story ... but ENOUGH with the waves already!,
7 November 2007, Author: bigbearphx from United States (IMDB)

The plot of "Rock Haven" (2007) is simple and realistic, though far from original: is being gay an impossibility if you consider yourself a Christian as well?

Brady is a shy, introspective 18 year old spending the summer before going away to college in a small coast town in Northern California. He is there with his widowed mother, who is a devout Christian in the process of establishing a religious school for the local pastor. Brady spends most of his time either reading the bible or staring off at the waves crashing on shore, until he meets a neighbor's free- spirited visiting son, 19 year old Clifford. While we later find out that Brady had some early inklings that he was somewhat attracted to other boys, he never before felt drawn to anyone as he feels to Clifford, and the other boy makes it clear that the feeling is mutual. Sensing his apprehensions and inexperience, Clifford lets their relationship develop slowly over the course of the summer, and, although he kids Brady about being a "nerd" in many of his interests, is careful not to express a conflict with his religious upbringing and convictions.

In the film “Rock Haven,” religion, sexuality and romance collide as a deeply spiritual young man experiences his first love.

A beautifully written story by director/writer David Lewis ("Under One Roof"), capably acted by a talented Bay Area cast. While the basic plot is not original, and the story development somewhat predictable, it is told in a well-paced, sweet and romantic manner that lets the viewer feel the emotions experienced by the characters. The one negative I must point out is Lewis' seeming obsession with numerous extended scenes of waves crashing on the beach (Waves wash out like past experiences, wash back to erase what was on the sand before, metaphor for life going on, new beginnings, yadda yadda yadda ... WE GET IT! The ocean should not have more screen time than the actors!) Other than that, I enjoyed the film and recommend it, especially for those who may be going through a similar dilemma.

DVD has deleted scenes, production stills and trailer. No director commentary, which would have been nice (I'd have loved to hear what he says about the ocean scenes.

Visit: Orvel.Me

Rock Haven (2007) Repost

Rock Haven (2007)

Director: David Lewis
Writer: David Lewis
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA 
Language: English 
Year: 2007


Stars: Sean Hoagland, Owen Alabado and Laura Jane Coles

Prije nekog vremena sam preko neta upoznao dva lika koja su bila u mom gradu. Potpuno su različiti jedan od drugog! Jedan onako ćutljiv, razbacan, potpuno muževan tip. a drugi brbljivac koji mi je išao na živce. Sjedali smo i pili neko vino, jedva uspostavljajući neku komunikaciju. Skoro pa mi je bilo nelagodno. Onaj brbljivac je pričao sam sa sobom nešto o tome kakvih ludaka ima na netu i slično. Ovaj drugi vidim nervira se, ali ćuti.
Taman sam pomislio da je bolje da se pokupim i odem kad ovaj što je jedva progovarao počne da se skida. Kada je ostao u bokserice brbljivac ga pita, jel to tebi vruće. Ovaj odgovori, nije vruće . al ajde skidaj se, pa da se jebemo. Ja se provalih od smjeha i pitah oću li se i ja skinuti.
Nakon seksa brbljivac više nije pričao , a ja i ovaj lik smo pričali i pili vino.
Poslije sam razmišljao o tome koliko se suprotnosti privlače. kako ona dva lika uopšte funkcionišu? Onog brbljivca ne bi trpio ni pet minuta da je nasamo samnom.
U ovom filmu možete pratiti odnos dva tinejdzera , koja žive potpuno različitim načinom života.
Brady, 18-togodišnji momak, živi sa svojom religioznom majkom na obali Californije u Rock Haven. Svakdnevne molitve narušava Clifford, poptuno suprotan Bradiju, zgodan, otvoren prema okolini….

Sweet, romantic story ... but ENOUGH with the waves already!,
7 November 2007, Author: bigbearphx from United States (IMDB)

The plot of "Rock Haven" (2007) is simple and realistic, though far from original: is being gay an impossibility if you consider yourself a Christian as well?

Brady is a shy, introspective 18 year old spending the summer before going away to college in a small coast town in Northern California. He is there with his widowed mother, who is a devout Christian in the process of establishing a religious school for the local pastor. Brady spends most of his time either reading the bible or staring off at the waves crashing on shore, until he meets a neighbor's free- spirited visiting son, 19 year old Clifford. While we later find out that Brady had some early inklings that he was somewhat attracted to other boys, he never before felt drawn to anyone as he feels to Clifford, and the other boy makes it clear that the feeling is mutual. Sensing his apprehensions and inexperience, Clifford lets their relationship develop slowly over the course of the summer, and, although he kids Brady about being a "nerd" in many of his interests, is careful not to express a conflict with his religious upbringing and convictions.

In the film “Rock Haven,” religion, sexuality and romance collide as a deeply spiritual young man experiences his first love.

A beautifully written story by director/writer David Lewis ("Under One Roof"), capably acted by a talented Bay Area cast. While the basic plot is not original, and the story development somewhat predictable, it is told in a well-paced, sweet and romantic manner that lets the viewer feel the emotions experienced by the characters. The one negative I must point out is Lewis' seeming obsession with numerous extended scenes of waves crashing on the beach (Waves wash out like past experiences, wash back to erase what was on the sand before, metaphor for life going on, new beginnings, yadda yadda yadda ... WE GET IT! The ocean should not have more screen time than the actors!) Other than that, I enjoyed the film and recommend it, especially for those who may be going through a similar dilemma.

DVD has deleted scenes, production stills and trailer. No director commentary, which would have been nice (I'd have loved to hear what he says about the ocean scenes.

Visit: Orvel.Me