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Review of Gay Themed film "Shelter"

W_L

Entry posted by W_L

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Alright this will be my last review, unless people really like reading my critiques.

 

The last movie I am reviewing is usually found in the top 10 lists of gay films that both heterosexual and gay audiences seem to enjoy. The American indie Film "Shelter" was made in 2007, but it holds an interesting quality about it; something nostalgic, but not dated. The best way to describe it is classy, which ironically is one of the themes of this movie that I have rarely ever scene touched upon in gay film making.

 

(Yes, to my conservative friends, I do ascribe to class theory. Only a fool or a beverage named group would believe that poverty does not create a self-sustaining population, if given the wrong materials, like an emphasis on short term "jobs" to no where and welfare without a care for the future. However, I am not here to debate the merits of using Marxist analysis from a different viewpoint. I am here to review this movie).

 

The plot is simple, a young man, Zach, with a sister that epitomizes California's "White Trash" and an adorable little nephew, who views him as a surrogate father, struggled to make a "living" by working odd jobs at diners and supermarkets. He has dreams and ambitions too, but he also has obligations, which pushes him down into the same social crap hole his parents were likely born into. He has an off and on girlfriend, who he emotionally supports as well. His friend use him to catch free rides to parties and he hears about how life is so simple and good for them. They're living the California dream, while he is struggling to keep his life together.

 

Then, his best friend's older brother, Shaun, comes into town from his Hollywood life of writing and a broken relationship with a guy. Shaun and Zach grew close throughout the film culminating in a kiss between them, which challenges Zack to his own sexual needs.

 

Zach eventually breaks into a mad rush to Shaun's home and they have wild, fun, and mutually satisfying sex with a heavy So Cal Rock theme (Rock On!). As the story unfolds, Zach must deal with his nascent sexual awakening and his re-awakened amibtion to go to college. He is a talented artist, but he fears that if he leaves, no one will take care of his nephew. Shaun and him have a heated argument over his overzealous need to provide for everyone else's happiness, but not his own, and they break up. (sobs)

 

After some soul searching and a deep subtle conversation with his now ex-girlfriend, he realizes that he needs Shaun in his life and begins the path to self assertion. There's a happy ending in the end.

 

Alright, my thoughts:

 

First:

 

Let me point out, I do think Zack is gay, not a bisexual, because Zach has a giver or provider type personality that resists selfishness that is involved in personal pursuit of happiness. In love and especially gay love, there is an understated selfishness that must be obtained or else you cannot pursue it, because the world will always have responsibilities. Zach's girlfriend understood that about him; even before he understood it himself, he did not love her, but he wanted to provide for her. He had no time to ask the deeper questions about himself, Who was he? Who does he love? and What does he want?

 

He never considered a better life until Shaun came into it and brought his hidden urges to the surface. Zach is not a closet case in this sense, he is an overly responsible man.

 

Second,

 

You got to love the plot's nuances on an old theme. Self discovery is not a new idea, nor is coming out after a gay experience. The character of Zach made this movie, because seldom in gay films do you see a person so crushed by the world, not for his sexuality, but just for who he is and where he comes from. He admits he's white trash more than once, he admits to himself that he will probably amount to nothing, and he is fine with that, because he loves his family (specifically his surrogate son and nephew Cody).

 

This movie won me over, because the character was understandable, likeable, and even engaging to think about. While Shaun is fun as the romantic interest, Zach points out exactly why they're a perfect couple in the argument that broke them up; it boils down to money.

 

Shaun and his brother Gabe can live whatever life they want, since they were from a wealthier family. Zach struggles for everything in his life.

 

Let's be honest here, being gay is difficult enough being a salaried drone, imagine how hard it would be as a poor guy with half a dozen jobs. When survival is more important than needs; it is harder to just walk away from everything and be a gay artist.

 

That truth is what really carries this movie for me.

 

Third,

 

Let's face it, this is really our gay Cinderella story :P

 

Zach is just a modern day update to a classic fairy tale, but I still love it. To be honest, I rather a contemporary Cinderella story like this, where Zach refuses his needs; even being offered the chance to ride off into the sunset with his prince, As gay authors, we too often fall back on the fairy tale "prince saves the day" story of a man just walking into someone's life, getting them to awaken their gay urges, and then runs off with him to happy American suburbia. (Ugh!) There is nothing wrong with the fairy tale formula, but you can't just rely on it. Realism is something that this movie offers.

 

That my friends is novelty and it gives this story a lot of credibility in my book, because despite everything else, it maintains Zach as a strong character and a gay man that can be admired along with being pitied.

 

Lastly,

 

The music was fantastic. Modern rock is my favorite genre and this movie has it in spades. There are a few pop songs as well, but the most intense emotional scenes needed a strong rock chord, which was provided wonderfully.

 

I personally love this movie and despite my dislike of certain aspects of Souther California from a recent visit, I will still give this movie 10 out of 10.

 

So what do you think?

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MJ85

Much as I do like what was put into this movie and the potential it had...it strikes me as too short. At only 88 minutes, I can't help but feel like it really could have benefited from an extra half hour to flesh the plot out a little better.

 

I also really didn't like how all of a sudden around the 60-minute mark (about the two-thirds point of the movie, really), Zach suddenly gets ambushed with first his sister's initial bad reaction to his and Shaun's budding relationship, then Gabe gets on his case because somehow he just knows what's going on and how dare Zach keep it from him?

 

It's like either they had something even better going with the film initially, then suddenly realized their own time constraint, or parts of it that were going to be there got left on the cutting room floor. Either way, it makes the later part of the movie feel rushed.

 

Still, for the original plot and for the really fantastic pairing :D, I'd give this no less than an 8 out of 10.

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W_L

Indie productions are different than traditional Hollywood productions, I get that the time constraint and plot leakage happens.

 

Gabe reminds me of a friend I used to know in business school, just a carefree silver spoon kid, who really had no issues or problems except smoking a joint or getting laid, because he had family connections and a nice analyst job waiting for him. A guy who thinks everything in the world is great, will find slight disturbances in the norm interesting.

 

As for the sister, she has been hinting at it for a while that she relies on Zach too much. Even at the start, she complains that he needs to watch her son and couldn't do it without him. Having a sister, who is jetting around Australia with her boyfriend, I get that kind of mentality too. Just enjoy my life and let everyone pick up my crap mentality.

 

Still, I can see your point, it was rushed especially towards the end. A little more building in relationships between Gabe and Zach or his sister  would have been interesting. However, the story's real focus was on Zach, so he basically carried the movie for the audience (another irony)

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MJ85

I would think a more "traditional, Hollywood" film would be more prone to having to fit its plot into a certain time limit than an indie film would be.

 

Oddly enough, this is a perfect example of a film that could otherwise be left as is (flaws notwithstanding) and still work as a mainstream Hollywood film when gay films are finally able to come out of Hollywood more often (though shouldn't this be happening already? :P).

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W_L

I would think a more "traditional, Hollywood" film would be more prone to having to fit its plot into a certain time limit than an indie film would be.

 

Oddly enough, this is a perfect example of a film that could otherwise be left as is (flaws notwithstanding) and still work as a mainstream Hollywood film when gay films are finally able to come out of Hollywood more often (though shouldn't this be happening already? :P).

 

Budgetary constraints I guess I am just used to gay shorts :D

 

There are big Hollywood movies for gays, but I am not a Brokeback fan (Personally, if I have to give a 5 or lower rating to a movie, I'd give Brokeback Mountain a 4, I just don't want to write a really negative review).

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MJ85

True. I'm talking about "gay movies" coming a bit more often though, and/or coming from bigger studios. :)

 

Incidentally - I've yet to see Brokeback, and I honestly don't care if I never do. I'd only begun to accept myself (that I was gay, that is) for a couple of weeks before its theater release and hadn't come out to anyone else yet. I probably could have still snuck in to see it then if I really wanted to...except that I'd also spoiled its story for myself, and really didn't want to go see a movie with a gay story that was going to end in tragedy. :(

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asamvav111

8/10 for me too. I liked the non fiction treatment of the story and especially the character of Zach. I don't think he will make a good Cinderella cause he holds his ground well. His turmoils ultimately left him for the better of it and it's all thanks to his responsible nature. Shaun is lackluster typical prince. Wish he had more dimensions. But undoubtedly class politics is the major mover here.

 

I liked Brokeback Mountain btw.   

 

Please do Maurice(1987) next. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093512/

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Zombie

I didn't discern any Marxist agenda, merely a film set in a social group that seems to be a commonplace in the US. There is nothing political in showing life as it is by planting the story in reality since this is the reality of the "American Dream" for many - most? - in the US.

 

As for the storyline, well it's pretty much a package of the usual gay cliches but still, I enjoyed it because it's competently produced and acted, has a decent script and looks good on screen except, as asamvav111 pointed out, Shaun is just a cipher with no depth at all and it's hard to understand what Zach sees in him. Although I'd recommend anyone to rent this, buying is another matter - unlike the best European gay cinema, this film will not stand repeated viewings. There's nothing subtle here, no complex levels of meaning to explore with repeated viewings - I've seen it twice and I think that's enough - it's just a simple story reasonable well told. But maybe that's the point. So, 6 out of 10

And I know I've banged on about this but it's a great shame you insist in relegating these movie reviews to your blogs - these deserve a wider audience and discussion :)

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MJ85

Although I'd recommend anyone to rent this, buying is another matter - unlike the best European gay cinema, this film will not stand repeated viewings. There's nothing subtle here, no complex levels of meaning to explore with repeated viewings - I've seen it twice and I think that's enough - it's just a simple story reasonable well told. But maybe that's the point.

 

LOL. A quick YouTube search for the film itself reveals four links that match the length or a bit longer on just the first search page.

 

Initial thought is that they...probably shouldn't still be there? But if there's that many all up, methinks it must not be a high priority to have them pulled. :gikkle:

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Zombie

LOL. A quick YouTube search for the film itself reveals four links that match the length or a bit longer on just the first search page.

 

Initial thought is that they...probably shouldn't still be there? But if there's that many all up, methinks it must not be a high priority to have them pulled. :gikkle:

 

yeah, in fact you often find gay movies on Youtube - which is great for us, not so good for the film owners who presumably don't have the money / resources to stop it... or maybe they're just happy for their films to be "out there" :P:funny::gikkle: [er, sorry]

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