Rating: 
Summary: Early Russell Crowe Gem
Review: "Aussie" Film Stars Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe as father & son "best friends", looking for lasting love/companionship with a life partner. The aging "dad", who is a widower, habitually tries to play cupid for his gay 20-something son, seemingly spoiling all chances of "success", and eventually starts a search for his own second love. This film is hilarious, filled with great gags throughout. The deeper message of tolerance towards gays and lesbians, as well as loyalty to a loved one in need (when the father suffers a stroke, the son refuses to abandon him, caring for him like a parent would care for a small child) is not deminished by the brilliant humor which surrounds it. "Sap-lovers" will get their fill as well! Honored with many International Film Awards, "The Sum Of Us" adds up to a big winner! Highly recommended!*****
Rating:
Summary: Review of "The Sum of Us" by Cheri
Review: "The Sum of Us" is a beautiful story about the unconditional love between a widowed father, Harry (Jack Thompson), and his openly gay son, Jeff (Russell Crowe). The movie shows a rare glimpse of a father's acceptance and willingness to try and understand his son's sexuality. When Jeff has a date, Harry is there to make sure his son practices safe sex, and when Harry has a stroke, Jeff is there to assume sole responsibility for his care, preparing his meals, helping him get around, and taking care of all his needs. They may drive each other crazy at times, but their unselfish acts of love for each other are heartwarming without being sickeningly sweet. I love this movie because it is honest, funny, wonderfully acted, hopeful, and real. Russell Crowe gives a brilliant performance early in his career. He is so believable you forget you are watching a movie. Jack Thompson is perfectly cast as his father. He is warm and funny. I recommend this movie to anyone that has ever loved or has ever been in love. It is a feel good movie. If you have trouble with the thick Australian accent, you can always use the subtitles.
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Summary: Young and Brilliant Russell Crowe in a Special Film
Review: "The Sum of Us" offers comedy and heartfelt drama in spades, and features a young, charming Russell Crowe in an early role as a gay son living with his straight father, played beautifully by Jack Thompson. Aside from being a character study that blends intimate family moments with universal truths ANY audience will relate to, the film dares to stretch further than most literate "gay themed" movies, and succeeds on all levels. It also features several heartwrenching scenes that deserve a place in cinema history for being truly affecting, irrespective of issues or morals surrounding human sexuality. Specifically, a relationship between two elderly women - Crowe's grandmother, and her longtime companion Mary - is etched in a powerful, human way that defies categorization. The women grow old together until each of their families decide they can no longer care for each other and separate them against their will. There are moments between the two actresses that will literally take your breath away - that is anyone who has a pulse will find themselves ripped apart by a sequence where Thompson describes what it must have been like for the two women to spend a final night together, holding on for dear life, knowing they only have a few moments left on the planet as a couple. It's a brutal eloquent moment, rarely captured in film, and far surpassing the crocodile nature of tearjerkers like "Terms of Endearment." If you've ever loved someone with all your heart, you will quickly put yourself in the women's shoes, contemplating what life would be like without your significant other at your side. Unlike death, the separation of these two soul mates ranks among the most startling, affecting moments of pure sadness any filmmaker has ever fully realized. This is a vivid look at relationships and families that deserves a wide worldwide audience. The DVD is available only in Canada, but the video version is worth the price - not only for Crowe and Thompson, who shine in what could've been run-of-the-mill roles, but for the eloquence with which it captures true, undying love. A very special movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Wait For The US Release
Review: ...
But here's the rub. Due to a SERIOUS manufacturing flaw these DVD's are bogus. (I say DVD's plural because at one point the supplier acknowledged they had recived an entire shipment they returned due to .. you guessed it a manufacturing flaw.) When you load the disc into a DVD player it often will spin up start and then freeze on the "do not copy this disc" warning. If you can get it to play there's a "pit" in the disc about the size of a small pea ( swear it's the truth...under the reflective surface...I mean they just mirrored over this big DING in the disc and shipped them on out.
Some Quality Control Eh?) So at about 41:00 minutes into it the movies stops dead and gets kicked out by the player... Now I know a flaw in a disc when I see one. Especially if it's unlike anything I've ever seen in 20 years of buying CDs/Computer Software/DVDs ect; but I understand the seller has to beware of folks trying to pull a fast one...P>The Movie? What I saw of it was fun and I'd give it a solid 31/2 stars, reccomend it to those interested in the subject and I'll pick up a copy once it's released here in the States. So there ya go
Buyer...Beware ...
Rating:
Summary: GREAT
Review: A gay film about a caring gay man. AMAZING. It really is, considering all the crap about gays.
The father in the film is the father we all would want if we were gay. Caring, understanding, and full of love.
This father didn't exist for me. That is unfortunate, but the film is inspiring.
michael
Rating:
Summary: If you want to know Crowe's genius, see this movie!
Review: A very heartfelt story! This movie is living proof that love is a universal emotion. Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe showcase their brilliance as dramatic actors with a comedic heart! This movie will have you singing along, make you cry, make you laugh, it will twist and turn every emotion in your soul. One of the earlier Russell Crowe films that all must see for all to realize his sheer genius as an actor who is willing to explore all boundaries within a character. Superb cast overall!
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Summary: An unexpected pleasure
Review: At first "The Sum of Us" seems like a familiar variation on the bossy parent-rebellious child theme, albeit a fairly entertaining one. The twist here is that the child (Russell Crowe) is a strapping gay man and the parent (Jack Thompson) is a widowed father entirely sympathetic to his son's lifestyle and need for romance. The early, farcical going has plenty of low-voltage laughs, as the well-meaning Thompson inadvertently breaks up a planned hot evening between Crowe and a new potential lover, and Thompson utilizes a dating service to meet an attractive divorcee. The two principals address the camera in knowing asides a la "Shirley Valentine." Halfway through, though, the story takes unexpected, darker turns and "The Sum of Us" attains a new level of profundity, becoming a moving meditation on the enduring strength of love, both familial and romantic, in the face of adversity. Crowe, caught here before the calcification of Hollywood superstardom, is loose, just buff enough, and charming; Thompson's turn as the father, by turns overbearing, loving and finally dependent on his son, is superb. Their fully-formed, utterly convincing relationship is what carries the picture. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Powerful! Brilliant! Extremely engaging!
Review: For starters: This was a play before it was a film. Both came out of Austrailia where both are set. The play is brilliant (I directed a community theatre version several years back) and the movie remains very true to the play. If I had to make a comparison, it would be to Steel Magnolias - and that's not really fair to either play/film. My comparison is not so much on the content as it is to the theme and the way it plays out during the course of each. The first act (and yes, films can have acts) sets up the characters for the audience. It allows us to get to know these people. This is an effective mechanism if the characters have any substance and bear getting to know. It is also the act where the humor is rapid fire (think the dialogue in Truvy's hair salon). In The Sum of Us, the first act is filled with heartwarming knowledge and second hand stories that will have you laughing yourself sick. The second act (most plays today only have two) is tragedy lightly peppered with humor (the graveyard scene after Shelby's death - and here the grocery store after the father's stroke). There is not a single bad performance by any actor in this film. In fact, it's full of top notch Austrailian actors of both stage and screen. It was this film that introduced me to Russell Crowe (who would go on to win an Oscar for Gladiator and deliver wowing performances in L.A. Confidential and others). Russell Crowe as the gay son who has no luck in the romance department has a very cool father who, while he would prefer his son were straight, knows that what he really wants is his son to be happy. His father, in fact, constantly tries to push his son into a relationship with one or another of his dates. This has varying hilarious results. (In a second hand story we are told that the father interrupted the son and a date while they were "coupling". The response to the son from the father upon seeing this: "Mind the sheets."). I've already given too much away, although this isn't a film to be watched for surprise, but rather an elegant and eloquent character study that shows us that love and patience can truly conquer all.
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Summary: Awesome Movie (and Yes! I got it on Original DVD!)
Review: I am not sure why Amazon is saying this movie has not been released and is not available on DVD as I just finished watching this movie on DVD (and no, it is not a bootleg, it is actually released from the Seville Pictures studio). It obviously has been released, but maybe not here in the states. But the DVD is in English and is out by Seville Pictures in Canada). Regardless, this was a fabulous movie! I loved the interaction between Russell Crowe's charcter (Jeff) a [homosexual] man that is not real successful finding love, and his 'overly accepting' father, Harry, played incredibly well by Jack Thompson. I laughed, I was touched, by this movie. I cheered that Jeff would find love, that his father would also find love too. All appeared to be on track until tragedy strikes, and the real love comes out. Without giving away the ending, you will be left fulfilled, but wondering what really happens. The director lets you do the final thinking for yourself. Russell Crowe is awesome! This is not a role you would be expecting for him and he does it perfectly. I highly recommend watching this film on VHS or if you can find it, on DVD as there are some great special features like talent profiles, bonus trailers, etc.)
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Summary: True to the other life
Review: I don't have much to say but this: if you ever wanted to see how the other half, those who choose to be gay men out in the real world rather than safely tucked away in some gay wonderland of a city, live, this is the movie to see. It's beautiful to see a reflection of my own life, where I am embraced by my family and friends for who I am and not who I choose to love. In the end I came to realize that I didn't care whether Crowe's character was gay or straight, I only cared that he found the love that he deserved, that we ALL deserve, as a kind and loving creature on this planet. I was truly moved. To those who scowl at his daring (the character's, not Crowes),
you shouldn't take the film so personally. It's a glimpse at the TRUE meaning of unconditional love. The scene at the hospital where Crowe's character is trying to communicate with his father
(I don't want to give too much away), was some of his finest acting, far surpassing "Gladiator". This movie is killer.
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