The Twilight of the Golds

Rating:
Summary: Much better than I expected
Review: I usually buy lots of "gay" DVDs from [here] at the same time, to view them at my home in Paris, France.

I must confess that "The Twilight of the Golds" was the last DVD of the set I received that I chose to play. I feared it might too intellectual or not fun at all.

I was wrong! The acting is good and the topics still relevant : if genetics could determine that your future child wil be gay, would keep it or not ?

It is not over melo-dramatic and the subject is treated with sensitivity.

Rating:
Summary: Not Perfect, But Important
Review: I was about to turn the video recorder off after about 10 minutes, but something kept me going, and I'm glad it did.

Yes, Feye Dunaway should NEVER, EVER again try to play a Jewish Mama (talk about an unfortunate piece of casting! Sorry, Ms. Dunaway - you've done brilliant work in your life, but you shouldn't have taken this role - you're not Anne Bancroft, so why try?). Garry Marshall should also stick to producing and directing and not venture in front of a camera. Thanks to the talented Brendan Fraser and Jennifer Beals I stayed with it, despite the - at times - heavy-handed writing and the over-the-top acting of Ms. Dunaway and Garry Marshall.

The script is a disaster, but at the end of the day, it actually has something very important to say for itself. I have never seen the subject of homophobia dealt with so directly and with such bravado as in this film. It's in your face; you can't escape it...and that's exactly the intent of this film. It asks uncomfortable questions, and gives uncomfortable answers. I just wish that Jonathan Tolins and Seth Bass had given their script to a good script doctor. They were definitely going in the right direction, and deserve praise for the effort - just didn't quite capture it on the page.

Again, Fraser and Beals are brilliant, and there are additional bon bons: Rosie O'Donnell and Jon Tenney also give memorable performances.

Bottom line: an important film that should be seen, although not perfect, but hey, what is?!

Rating:
Summary: Not Perfect, But Important
Review: I was about to turn the video recorder off after about 10 minutes, but something kept me going, and I'm glad it did.

Yes, Feye Dunaway should NEVER, EVER again try to play a Jewish Mama (talk about an unfortunate piece of casting! Sorry, Ms. Dunaway - you've done brilliant work in your life, but you shouldn't have taken this role - you're not Anne Bancroft, so why try?). Garry Marshall should also stick to producing and directing and not venture in front of a camera. Thanks to the talented Brendan Fraser and Jennifer Beals I stayed with it, despite the - at times - heavy-handed writing and the over-the-top acting of Ms. Dunaway and Garry Marshall.

The script is a disaster, but at the end of the day, it actually has something very important to say for itself. I have never seen the subject of homophobia dealt with so directly and with such bravado as in this film. It's in your face; you can't escape it...and that's exactly the intent of this film. It asks uncomfortable questions, and gives uncomfortable answers. I just wish that Jonathan Tolins and Seth Bass had given their script to a good script doctor. They were definitely going in the right direction, and deserve praise for the effort - just didn't quite capture it on the page.

Again, Fraser and Beals are brilliant, and there are additional bon bons: Rosie O'Donnell and Jon Tenney also give memorable performances.

Bottom line: an important film that should be seen, although not perfect, but hey, what is?!

Rating:
Summary: Very kewl...
Review: I was flipping through the channels not long ago, and noticed a movie with Brendan Fraser (one of my favorite actors). I loved the movie! It was great! The interaction of all the actors and some of the lines stuck with me. It's also the only movie I've ever seen with this premise, so it's extremely interesting to me.

Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful and gut wrenching drama
Review: Not all plays should be made into films as they existed on stage. This is one that happily was.

The premise is a telling one that could apply to many other situations:
What if you could tell whether your unborn child was going to be gay? Would you abort it?

With actors as powerful as Faye Dunaway, Brendan Fraser, Garry Marshall, and others, this is not only a well made, wonderfully scripted film, but one that is powerfully acted.

Because of its subject matter, films of this ouevre do not get wide theatrical release. It is for connisours of "little" films, like me, to realize their greatness and discover them on our own. (it's usually a 50/50 shot as to whether they're any good).

Rent this film and see what you think. It's is a bit talky, but that's because they used the stage script for the film. It doesn't detract from the film, but because there isn't any gratuituous violence or neat CGI effects, you may find it a bit distracting at first.

Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful and gut wrenching drama
Review: Not all plays should be made into films as they existed on stage. This is one that happily was.

The premise is a telling one that could apply to many other situations:
What if you could tell whether your unborn child was going to be gay? Would you abort it?

With actors as powerful as Faye Dunaway, Brendan Fraser, Garry Marshall, and others, this is not only a well made, wonderfully scripted film, but one that is powerfully acted.

Because of its subject matter, films of this ouevre do not get wide theatrical release. It is for connisours of "little" films, like me, to realize their greatness and discover them on our own. (it's usually a 50/50 shot as to whether they're any good).

Rent this film and see what you think. It's is a bit talky, but that's because they used the stage script for the film. It doesn't detract from the film, but because there isn't any gratuituous violence or neat CGI effects, you may find it a bit distracting at first.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic, outstanding film!! did I mention it's good?
Review: The other reviews describe the story line and what I would have to say beyond the basics is how fantastic every aspect of this film is. The acting in top quality, the production quality is excellant and the story is magnificent. It was refreshing to see a movie that is not about HIV, coming out, sexual over activity or hiding who you are. The gay rolls are played with confidence and honor. A top quality roll model for expanding the concepts of what it is to be gay. I give this film the highest marks and strongly recommend it to everyone!! Oscar quality 100% in my humble opinion.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie! Great Performances!
Review: This is a great movie that tackles the question about what if we could determine that a child would be gay while it is still in the womb. Brendan Frasier, does a fairly descent job at portraying the gay brother. But, then Brendan is great in every movie. This is a keeper. Buy it for you library, and show your family, it will make them think.

Rating:
Summary: Twilight of the American family......
Review: This is a movie which I rented on a whim almost two years ago, and the ethical questions, family relationships and decisions which are addressed in this film have never been far from my mind. It is a movie which is thought provoking and disturbing in a personal way. My first reaction after watching it was the politically correct, "it wouldn't make a difference to me, I would never make that decision", but as I searched deep inside myself and asked myself honestly and directly what I would do in the same circumstance, I could not say for certain what I would have done. I have put myself in the mind of each of the family members, and find my answers changing each time. If you are looking for a movie that entertains and makes you laugh, this is not the one to choose. If you are in the mood for a soul searching, heartbreaking story of family life in today's society and not-too-distant future, this is definitely one to savor! Believe me, the movie will stay with you a long,long time.

Rating:
Summary: Genetic Research to What End!
Review: This is the story of a close Jewish family who knows that one of their two adult children, their son, David (Brendan Fraser) is gay. Although the parents (Garry Marshall and Faye Dunaway) obviously love both their son and daughter (Jennifer Beals), they are not overly pleased by their son's sexual orientation. In between outright denial, there are some no so subtle indications where their feelings lay. (i.e., the daughter takes a bite out of her brother's cookie and the mother gets momentarily ballistic -- indicating they should not be sharing the cookie in case ... AIDS WORRIES OF COURSE (she never says it outright but the message is crystal clear). The father chimes in that they "can afford for everyone to have their own" cookie in better check of his desire to live in a make-believe world of denial -- yet still supporting his wife's worry; while daughter's doctor-husband comes to everything involving the family, Fraser's partner is not acknowledged or invited, etc.) Yet there is still a sense of love very evident within the family but their is definite tension and disapproval around David's sexuality. All the dancing around the sexuality is explosively shattered when the daughter becomes pregnant and her geneticist husband is talked into having a full genetic screening on the fetus by his boss. He accedes and all is normal EXCEPT -- the kid has a 90% chance of turning out gay. What should they do? The story presents some very realistic challenges to the entire question of what we will do with pre-natal genetic screening as it becomes more and more available and comprehensive that is presently very close to being available. While this kind of research seems fascinating, there is a double edge to it. Will parents abort the unborn until they come up with is their idea of the "perfect" child. (If they find high dispositons toward alcoholism, drug addiction, various diseases (even potentially non-fata, sexual orientation, ADD, eye and hair color or just plain sex -- female vrs. desired male, and on and on...) become screens we place as information available to parents by which they may choose to keep the child or terminate the the pregnancy? Indeed challenging questions! "The Twilight of the Golds" brings this dilemma to life through the story and the decision whether to keep or terminate the pregnancy of the Gold's daughter and son-in-law. Despite the typical family routine of swearing everyone is to secrecy so David won't find out about it while they try to make a decision, as is the case in most families, everyone eventually knows all. David challenges his parents and his sister on even the thought of aborting the child. The result is a severe alientaion between David and the family. Ending could change that but I don't want to give it away.I thought the film was captivating on one hand and frightening on another. This is not a romantic film; I wouldn't suggest it for a date night. Yet, it is a story needing to be told and I believe the cast did a fine job of getting the point across. I applaud those who endeavored to adapt this play and actually produce it -- although for television. This is a film many people should make an effort to see, to really think about, to discuss with others. It is a film appropriate for doctors and lawyers, prospective practitioners in both fields, educators and prospective parents. The issues presented here are real ones that we all need to examine. Good cast, story might have been written moretightly, yet, the points are made. I've watched this film four or five times at this point and can't leave it feeling just a bit more uncomfortable with what comes with knowledge -- responsibility. How we integrate both has always been a tremendous challenge. What may have seemed to be futuristic quasi-science fiction possibility is coming more and more to reality. What do we so with the knowledge -- what is within the scope of our humanness to decide -- to take responsibility for?It's not a downer so don't avoid it based on the challenges it will present you. Overall, the film moves and it avoids becoming morbid. The characters are just too real and engaging and the side-events of life allow us to digest the situation more slowly than being hit over the head with it. See it with friends who will discuss it with you!