Rating: 
Summary: Smells like an Afterschool Special
Review: The Greeks have a word for itSet in the all-male world of college fraternities, this film's premise sounds more like the set-up for a porn flick than a sensitive coming-out drama: John "Griff" Griffith (Daniel Chilson), a deeply closeted college student, harbors a secret crush on his frat brother and best friend, tall, blond hunk Todd (Niklaus Lange). Todd, Griff and the rest of the boys of Lambda Kappa Tau share overcrowed bedrooms, shower together and accuse each other of using up all the Vaseline. But Todd has a girlfriend, and so does Griff - or so he leads his homophobic fraternity brothers to believe: Griff's "she" is really a he, a former fellow Greek named Pete (Don Handfield) who now lives off-campus, where he and Griff can tryst without arousing suspicion. Pete wants something more than no-strings-attached sex with Griff, but Griff can't even admit to himself that he's gay. After a disastrous attempt at a date, Griff leaves Pete in the parking lot behind a local gay hang-out, where he's later found beaten half to death, obviously the victim of gay bashing. Griff is faced with a difficult choice: Go to the police and reveal what he knows and, by extension, his relationship with Pete, or keep quiet and allow his lover's attacker to go free. The dilemma is interesting, but it's hard to maintain an engaging level of sympathy with Griff for very long, especially when life in the "straight" world of Lambda Kappa Tau seems so unappealing. But what really undoes writer-director John Keitel's admirable intentions is the general lack of artistry on virtually every level: The acting is generally amateurish, the writing shrill ("You're nothing but a big fat liar!" is a characteristic retort) and scenes appear to end whenever the actors ran out of lines or the camera ran out of film.
Rating:
Summary: Defying Gravity
Review: As much as I liked this film, I think that the dvd presentation would have benefitted from a commentary by John Keitel who wrote and directed the film. I would have liked to have heard his views on the how's and why's of the film, the characters and the actors. Despite a few continuity issues, editing glitches and stiff performances, this is a pretty good film that tells an important and timely story.
Rating: 
Summary: Predictable but Wonderful
Review: If you are looking for something unexpected, don't watch this movie. If you are looking for something that is going to make you think, don't watch this movie. If you are looking to be entertained, you might want to give this movie a try. After the first time of watching this movie. I decided that it was a nice piece of fluff - no substance. But then two days later, I found that I was still thinking about the characters. I had to rewatch it. The plot isn't anything wonderful, but I found that I really began to care about the characters. I still find myself thinking about them.
Rating:
Summary: The entirely level-headed review of...
Review: Ok, so here it is: as subjective a review as possible of the coming-out film "Defying Gravity"... it's a real mix of good and bad.
BAD: Much of the film is amateurish, specifically the dialogue. Fratboys spout off 2-D anti-gay epithets and guzzle beer; the inevitable lesbian character strikes up a friendship with our hero, even though there's nothing truly drawing the two together.
GOOD: The overall theme and plot are handled nicely and believably, without any major, over-the-top dramatics.
BAD: The bulk of the acting is mediocre at best.
GOOD: The exceptions here are Don Handfield (as the hero's secret lover), who completely out-acts the remainder of the ensemble by just playing it natural; and Linna Carter (the aforementioned lesbian confidante) who could be the next-big-thing... only she doesn't have nearly enough to say in this film, nor enough lines to say it.
BAD: Clunky editing... but I've seen far worse.
GOOD: Hey, this film was shot on $120k in 13 days... and for that it looks really quite good. Compare the quality here to, say, "And Then Came Summer" and you'll see what I mean.
BAD: The film tends to skirt around the more intense scenes, always a little afraid of opening up.
GOOD, AND MOST OF ALL: The film's heart is in the right place. Writer/Director John Keitel exhibits a kindness to his characters and to the coming-out process itself. Yes, a violent act takes place... but it's all handled with thought and reason.
THE VERDICT: In the end, I liked this movie... I've seen enough first-time films that turn out catastrophically bad (i.e. Wally White's...nasty "Lie Down With Dogs") to appreciate one that doesn't. I'd like to see John Keitel direct more... maybe someone else's script next time?
Rating:
Summary: Solid, if unspectacular
Review: Griff and Pete are fellow students and lovers. Griff wants their affair to be a secret, playing the straight game, while Pete wants the opposite. Then, one night, a brutal assault takes place.. Defying gravity has many strengths, among them a levelheaded script and some very restrained acting by Daniel Chilson and Niklaus Lange. It strives to be more than just a [homosexual]teenage movie by keeping the emotions in check, stearing clear of provocative scenes. This is admirable, even if the result often looks like a TV-movie of the week. The danger just isn't there.
Still, all the characters are interesting, even the bad guys. The script holds back enough information to keep you guessing, and the ending is quite acceptable. Note: The word "[homasexual]" isn't used at all in the script! Other defamatory expressions for [homosexual] people are frequent, though. There is a scene right after the end-credits which you shouldn't miss. Don't turn off until you get there!
Rating: 
Summary: One evryone needs to see
Review: This is one of those movies thats makes you feel good at the end. Almost unheard of, a gay movie with a happy ending. It shows that it really wouldn't have been that difficult to come out during college. Defying Gravity shows how your true friends stick by you through what ever you do and who you are. I recommend this movie to people who are just coming out or if your helping someone come out.
Rating: 
Summary: How bad was it?....................................It stunk!
Review: Did you see the long pause in my title. Expect that throughout the film. It's like the actors were struggling to read the cue-cards in the backround. Several statements and scenes make no sense whatsover...
Rating:
Summary: Great video
Review: Ever felt you didn't belong in ANY group? This movie shows how our main character finds ways to balance the two - or at least make peace with himself. Very touching video!
Rating:
Summary: A Simple Pleasure
Review: DG presents a cinematic fantasy-of-sorts, which seeks to capture something like the experience of (we enjoy visualizing it with the director, anyway!) a handsome straight-acting frat boy in love with another HSAFB. We are gingerly confronted by problems of violence, prejudice and fear that lie at the heart of the Collective Coming Out Story, but we are sheltered from too much pain by the ever-present flash of frat-boy teeth, sworl of frat-boy hair, and pleasure-inducing photography. With its tender moments, some pitiable moments, and many moments of poignant emotionality, this well-dressed, low-bucks MOVIE delivers a sweet savory message. It is not a gritty portrayal of gay frat-boy experience. It is an idealized scenario in which problems are raised and then resolved in a relatively sanitized, pleasurable way. Precisely what I love seeing!!!
Acting sometimes a little shaky, but nonetheless I love to LOOK at this film. Lange and Handfield's blue eyes at times shamelessly dazzle the camera. Overall, you can tell that the settings were carefully chosen, impeccably lit and then shot.
Recommended for anyone who needs a cinematic cappucino cappricio.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice story, dreadful acting
Review: While the story is a heartwarming one, the skill of the players and the direction is severely lacking. Scenes jump from one to another and the viewer is left to figure out the transition. Not even subtle clues are given as to what may have taken place between the scenes. This story of a frat boy coming to terms with his gayness is one that has been lived by many a young man. The emotions displayed by the actors came across as disingenuous. I'm not aware of the actual sexual orientation of the cast members, but if they are indeed gay, you'd think they'd be able to put together a more realistic performance of what it's like to come out to your friends and to yourself. Overall, not worth the price of the DVD, but if you can borrow it from a friend, it's worth the time to view it.
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