grantss
A sweet, sensitive movie on an original topic, especially for its time.Making a movie that features a homosexual man, his relationship with his father, how his father accepts him and loves him unconditionally, and their trials and tribulations, makes for a very original and special story. In 1994, when the movie was made, it would have been even more novel.Sensitively told story, based on the play by David Stevens.Great performances by Russell Crowe and Jack Thompson as the son and father, respectively. The banter between them is one of the highlights of the movie.A timely reminder of how much of acting talent Russell Crowe has, here demonstrating his range. This was to be his last local (ie Australian) movie before hitting the big time. His next movie was a Hollywood one - The Quick and the Dead - and he got third billing...
pogostiks
Sorry to burst everyone's bubble, but personally I found this film to be an almost total embarrassment in every way.The father bursts in (TWICE!) on his son while he's trying to get it on with a new guy he's met. Is that believable? Hardly. It's the kind of thing that a ten year old brother might do, not a parent, especially a parent who is gay-positive and hoping that his son will meet someone and have a serious affair.It's almost as embarrassing to watch the father meet a woman through a dating agency. The two of them act like they are 15 years old... and totally unnatural at that. When he decides to propose to her he actually gets down on one knee. If it were done tongue in cheek, maybe I could accept it, but it's done straight (pardon the pun).This film also has the bad habit of having the actors turn towards the camera and talk to the audience directly. Once or twice, maybe, but over and over again it totally breaks up the film and destroys any possibility of allowing the audience to get emotionally into what is happening. The worst moment in the film is when the father has had a stroke and is lying almost paralyzed in his bed. The son goes to get something, leaving the father alone, and all of a sudden he stops lying there like a vegetable, smiles, and starts chatting to the audience. It totally destroys any semblance of continuity and becomes annoying as hell by the end of the film.I suppose it's nice to have a film where some of the parents are understanding and (too) helpful to the gay son for a change, but does it have to be so adolescent in its presentation? There was only one thing in the entire film that was truly interesting, and that was what happened to the grandmother and her lover at the end of the film. Strangely enough, it doesn't even seem to fit in, but it makes the loudest statement for understanding than anything else in the film. In fact, I wish the film had been about the grandmother and her lover... that would have truly been ground-breaking and intriguing.
giffey-1
Could this possibly be Russell Crowe's best movie ever? He gives the most completely natural believable performance of a young gay man I have ever seen in movies. I have read many comments that the trick that appears throughout the movie of the characters talking to the camera weakens the film. I completely disagree. From the first scene when Russell Crowe's character talks about what his visits to his Grandmother and her lover means to him, to the scenes when his father talks to the camera after his stroke, made me feel as if I were a friend of these people and they were drawing me into their lives. Watching Russell Crowe's attempts to seduce a man who he hopes will become his boyfriend were completely natural and I believe many people who do not care to see homosexual themed movies would warm to this as it comes from a place of love and shows that a family doesn't have to be nuclear to be complete and loving. You never for one moment not believe that this father and son truly love and, what is more important, respect each other. The romance between the father and his new lady is also believable and well written. Middle aged people really do act this way when they are dealing with a new romance, especially when they believe that romance has passed them by. This wonderful family drama deserves a much wider audience that it received when first released. Enjoy this film and let it change your ideas on what a family can be.
cleangirl
I have seen every movie Russell Crowe has ever appeared in and this is my absolute favourite.Forget gladiator,(which I liked,but felt he should have won the Oscar for A BEAUTIFUL MIND) and his other big Hollywood movies, if you want to see crowe at the top of his form watch this .His style is flawless as if he isn't acting at all which is I suppose the hallmark of great talent 'his ability to make it look so easy.The story is not a new one ,that elusive search for love we all have,only here the main character is gay.His dad played by Jack Thompson, is wonderful but a bit too enthusiastic about helping his son find Mr. Right which is where this movie veers off the beaten path.There are no secrets between father and son(a refreshing change to say the least) and russells date for the night seems overwhelmed that his father knows all about his lifestyle and does everything in his power to understand and help his son. John Polson plays greg(better known as Gary) russells date and his home life could not be different from that of Jeffs(russells character). I don't want to give too much away suffice to say this movie makes you laugh(dripping taps come to mind) and cry(the hospital scene for one).I have never felt so compelled to promote a movie as this one so please everyone go out and buy this you'll love it. Also heaven's burning my second favourite Russell Crowe movie.
AD
