webmaster-1476
****** WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD ******** The story of Stevie. An out-of-control kid who's own mother won't tell him who his real father is. He's a kid from a religious conservative family living in a trailer that was shown "tough love" or no love at all during his childhood. He was put up for adoption and that's when his big brother came into his life. The happiest year. Ten years later the big brother is a film maker come to find out what happened to Stevie.This is where the movie begins. In my humble opinion Stevie turned into a red neck petty criminal with a heart of gold. He tries to act tough but as the details of his life are revealed a picture of a loveless existence is revealed. It makes me think what Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh might have become without money. He's funny at times but the things he says are so extreme that they keep getting him in trouble. I feel for him but the comments about hurting people push me away.Excellent movie but sad. I wish I knew where he was today or what happened to him after going to jail.
tomq5p
This film is about a kid named Stevie from rural southern Illinois who was abused, neglected, and bounced around between various homes as a child. As an adult, he acts as we might predict: he is unstable, has a skewed moral compass, is child-like, and commits serious crimes. The filmmaker was a mentor to Stevie while at college and returns to catch up with him years later. He finds out that Stevie has been indicted with a serious crime and faces a long prison sentence. He uses this film as a way to investigate the root causes of Stevie's current behavior and to alleviate some guilt about not 'being there' for Stevie - after college, he moved to Chicago and didn't have contact with Stevie for many years. This film is a discussion-starter and brings up many questions about how children are raised and how a child's upbringing will affect his/her life. The editing job is mediocre and I think the film starts to get long-winded and boring toward the middle. Also, I can't help but feel that the director's somewhat warped, voyeuristic vision of what the film is or what it will do is ethically questionable. However, the film is honest and straight-forward and will elicit good discussion afterwards, even if you do end up pretty depressed. 6 out of 10
legg848
I have not seen this film from the very beginning but caught it pretty near the top. My first gut reaction is that Stevie is a manipulative opportunist with serious problems. The film was very long, editing about forty minutes would have been prudent. I found it difficult to even feel empathy for Stevie but truly warmed to his sister and brother-in-law. One of the highlights of this film was the interview with his two buddies from the "brotherhood." All that was missing were the white sheets. All I could think of was "I hope these people don't vote." If Stevie were someone you could even feel sorry for, like Tanya, it I would give this film a higher ranking. The subject matter was interesting, it provoked emotions in me, and I guess I may be a little judgmental. My bad. Still hope they don't vote.
mark blanton
"There but by the Grace of God go I". Stevie never had a chance...at least not at first with his birth mother. It all starts in the womb. He was never wanted. Except for his story as sad and tragic as it is Stevie would have been better off not to have made it out of the womb. Certainly the little girl he molested would be.The real tragedy is he did have a chance with the Hubers and his Big Brother Steve...both abandoned Stevie and knew it. You just can't trip in and out of children's lives and expect them to be "OK". Mrs. Hubers comment "well life goes on" was so trite. What she meant was HER life goes on. Stevies just stopped.....again.All Children, especially the Stevies, need a lifetime of commitment. Commitment is what transforms the promise into reality. IT is the words that speak boldly of your intentions. And the actions that speak louder than the words. It is the making of time when there is none. Coming through time after time after time. Year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.
AD
