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Reviews
Rock Haven (2007)
Touching movie for teens mostly!
This film is essentially about the inner struggles of Brady, 18, Christian, and yet so alone until Clifford shows up. The film has many awkward moments, the story almost lurches in sync with the shy, clumsy, and yet touching progress of the friendship between Brady and Clifford. It is worth remarking that Rock Haven seems so bereft of glibness, blasé wit, and all the affectation that tends to pass for 'dialogue' in films today. Instead it is a heartfelt attempt to capture all the angst of first love and its complications from the viewpoint of the teens involved. There are no raised voices here, no harsh words or meanness and the prominence of the landscape, beautiful as it appears, almost makes you wonder if the film was part-financed by the local real estate association - Bodega Bay, California. It is generous to all points of view and ends appropriately with a focus on where Brady now is. When he says, 'I have already made the mistake of my life,' you really feel for him. Sean Hoagland as Brady' has that awful earnestness of youth, wide-eyed, the incessant twitching and all, and I wish him a great career. His 'mother' makes a strong and impressive contrast. Owen Alabado as 'Clifford' is a dream first love and I can imaging that anyone from 10yrs+ would be very comfortable with this simple story that is effectively told.
The Big Gay Musical (2009)
A little extra
I will be generous with this film because it is a light confection that sparkles, if you watch it with a bottle off wine at hand. Angel Dorothy's big number is very well done, but Steve Hayes as God is a little underused (he was great in 'Trick') and finally, the 'I wanna be a slut' song should have been a little more salty and prominent. However, if I did have cause to buy DVD's for a troubled teen, I would certainly get this and 'Rock Haven' as both are indeed quite family friendly and unpretentious and handle the issues of 'coming out' and 'faith' in a fairly sensitive manner. I did enjoy it, and yes "As I am" is very well sung at the end.
It is a shame to say but too many people will be too jaded to appreciate this kind of movie. The age of the big musical is gone, perhaps for good, but the cast is entertaining and more than competent and I think this is well worth a viewing.