Ladymol's Review

Blimey. I like romantic movies. Hell, I’ll even go as far as to say I like slushy movies, but even I was cringing in parts of this one. Which was such a shame really as the idea behind the film was rather good. Billy and Dean, long time childhood friends, separate as young men, Dean going into the military. Many years later, Dean comes home. Billy is also home now caring for his mentally handicapped brother at the death of their parents. Dean moves in with them and deep friendship turns to something else. Good premise, huh? And the acting wasn’t that bad – believe me, we’ve seen a lot worse. Ronnie Kerr was particularly good as Dean.

So, why the cringing? I’ve never seen so many tears in a movie with only three men in it. And I actually like men crying! (that sounds worse than I mean it, I think). Dean and Billy were intense enough, but then you add in death of parents, handicapped brother, one of them going blind, Christmas. Sheesh. Sunday on Walton’s Mountain! It was just too much all in one film with almost no action and one set.

The boy playing Johnny the brother did a brave job, but I would have taken him out of the plot entirely. Pathos ladled on with a spoon doesn’t for good movies make!

The transition for Dean and Billy from straight best friends to admitting their changed feelings was very well done and the best part of the movie for me. They were so awkward together, so diffident, so much longing in their eyes. Nice kiss when they do find out, but then… handicapped brother and decorating a Christmas tree. And this is two men who, by their own admittance, have never had anyone else! But this film was made for grannies, I guess. Slash-loving grannies? Now, there’s a thought.

Damn. I was expecting good things from this one and feel let down yet again. I wonder if the members of the academy voting for the Oscars have ever seen a movie like this. Maybe if they had they’d have appreciated Brokeback Mountain more.

Just a thought.

Cerisaye's Review

I wanted to like this movie.  It’s sweet.  Realistic, with guys who look like the boys next door not unobttainable movie star hunks.  But just tries too hard, using a sledgehammer approach to filmmaking.

Set somewhere along America’s Northeast coast in a fishing community, like Brokeback Mountain it shows ordinary men dealing alone with feelings of attraction away from the usual backdrop to coming out stories. 

I appreciate the intent.  Trouble is I just didn’t connect to the story or characters.

It’s been a while since I watched a low budget (this one cost $20,000 and took just 2 weeks to shoot) indie movie.  Also the last film I saw before this was All Over The Guy which possibly was a hard act to follow. 

Whatever, I just couldn’t get passed stilted dialogue, bad acting, and a general awkwardness that made the film hard to watch. 

There’s more crying than I think I’ve EVER seen in a film.  The whole thing is so overwrought, melodramatic and clumsy I actually got the giggles at emotional moments where I should’ve been empathising with the characters’ pain.

It’s far too sentimental.  I don’t know, maybe it’s a cultural thing, cynical Brit that I am.  But lack of subtlety means every scene is milked for emotion by the actors until you cringe with embarrassment for them.

Billy and Dean are childhood friends on a camping trip.  Late one night both struggle to tell the other a secret each fears will jeopardise a relationship that means everything to them.  Dean finally admits to Billy he’s enlisted in the military for 4 years, while Billy decides his revelation can wait until morning.  Billy is so shocked by Dean’s announcement he doesn’t ask why his friend suddenly wants to go far away to risk his life and fight for his country.

Of course WE know what Billy is afraid to admit, that his feelings for Dean aren’t just friendly.  The irony is Dean obviously feels the same, which presumably is why he’s running away- also perhaps to prove his manhood.  This tent scene with its restraint and tension is probably the highlight of the film.

Flash forward and Billy has to return to his family home to look after younger brother Johnny after their parents are killed in an accident.  Johnny is slightly mentally handicapped so acts younger than his age.  Their relationship as they deal with loss and grief is actually quite well drawn, with some nice tender moments.

Billy continues to fantasise about Dean returning home though he’s troubled by his fear that his friend won’t return home alive.  It’s never stated but I think Dean serves in Iraq so that’s a real danger.

Then one day Dean turns up looking for a place to stay while putting his life back together.  He’s been wounded and forced to leave the service.  Billy is delighted to welcome Dean into his home, and soon the three of them have made a new family, Johnny’s presence helping defuse the tension of Billy’s desire for Dean.

Of course secrets can’t remain hidden indefinitely, and it emerges Dean has a devastating one of his own.