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Get Real

Get Real

List Price: $29.95
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: True to life
Review: Alot of people feel this movie is untrue, or not like it is. Being a gay teen, I know this is untrue. Every word, every fright, every joy, echo what I have gone through. Steven Carter is a gay teen, comfertable with his sexuallity, but not with how people may react. He falls in love with John Dixon, who hates homosexuals, inculding him self. When they find out each other's secret by chance, what follows is what every gay teen goes through: Denial, partial acceptance, trying to change, then finally, acceptance. It's heart wrentching, it's loving, it's happy, it's amazing. I get as many straight friends to watch it as I can, because Get Real tells them exactly how I feel. Anyone, gay, lesbian, bi, transgendered, or yes, even straight, should see this. It's amazing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A beautifully layered movie.
Review: This is the first time I've ever liked a movie enough to want to publicly post my opinion of it. I am a straight woman, but there is no need to be gay to love this film. Let's start with Ben Silverstone's stunning performance as Steven Carter, the shy, sweet 16-year-old who has a major crush on the school's track star, John Dixon (Brad Gorton). Silverstone was only 18 when he made this movie, but the depth of his performance is truly remarkable. His ability to translate emotion in a low-key, believable way is really quite rare for any actor, not just young ones.

Some reviewers have said that there was little chemistry between Silverstone and Gorton, but I disagree. Although Silverstone clearly carries the emotional load of this film, Gorton does a fine job of portraying a fearful, conflicted teen who desperately wants to hold on to the love he's found, but can't summon the courage to do so. The beauty of such a richly layered movie is that there are always new things to discover on repeated viewings. For instance, it wasn't until the 3rd or 4th viewing that I heard Steven saying through his sobs, "Love you, you bastard," right before he rips up John's shirt in the locker room. It's little emotional touches like these that make this film sing. The ending is heartbreaking, but realistic. Love often does not and cannot conquer all.

Anyone who has ever felt like an outsider (and who hasn't?) will enjoy this movie. I am a bit obsessed with it, and with Ben Silverstone in particular. Why he is not a major star, I have no idea! I cannot recommend this film highly enough.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: an absolute winner!
Review: Oh, my! What a wonderful film! I just saw Get Real for the first time about a week ago and I certainly was not disappointed. Ben Silverstone as Steven and Brad Gorton as John will steal your heart! And Charlotte Brittain as Linda is absolutely delightful.
One of the better coming-out movies. It is right up there with Beautiful Thing. The only fault is the ending as many of us wished that Steven and John didn't have to say good-bye. Highly recommended. If you are ... or at least compassionate there are many moments that will find you in tears. Enjoy!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Get Real isn't
Review: While watching this movie, I kept looking for the release date: surely it must be 1952, not 1998! It's about some alternate-world Britain where Stonewall never happened, so there are no gay organizations, no gay publications, no gay pride festivals, nothing except anonymous encounters in public toilets. Ben Silverstone plays the only gay student in his large urban high school, an extremely feminine young man who plasters his bedroom with pictures of football jocks, yet is horrified by the idea that his parents might find out he is gay (surely any parent would have figured that out years ago).

He begins a relationship with the local jock, who is so horrified by the idea of anybody "finding out" that he won't acknowledge Ben's presence in public, continues to date his old girlfriend, and even beats Ben up to prove to his high school cronies that he hates gay people. Of course, he does: he hates himself. But Ben is no model for gay pride either, since after all no gay pride exists in this weird alternate world, just furtive encounters and worries that someone might find out.

In the U.S. and in Britain, there are gay-straight alliances in hundreds of high schools, chapters of PFLAG and MCC in even the tiniest of towns, hundreds of organizations for gay teenagers. So why does this movie live in some weird twilight zone? It is a slap in the face of gay teens everywhere, their parents and teachers, and just about everyone else who devotes time and energy to fighting homophobia and anti-gay oppression.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Very Real Coming Of Age Movie!
Review: If there is anyone on earth who likes gay movies who hasn't seen this movie by now, he should buy or rent this one immediately. I have been burned so many times over the years when I went to see another "gay" movie just because of the subject matter, that I hesitated on this one. Not to worry. This is as good as any coming of age, coming out movie I have ever seen. Movie is set in a British school; Steve is a 16 year old kid who falls for the handsome school athlete John who also falls for him but can't afford to be seen talking to the obvious one at school. You get the picture. Ben of course has the obligatory female chum, the only person initially who knows of his secret. She is described as "cuddly" at best and fat if you're being blunt. She turns out to be a real friend of Ben, however.

My favorite lines occurs when Ben's mother tells two school jocks that if they harm her son, she will wear parts of their genitalia as earrings.

This movie will make you smile. And if you aren't a real man, you may get misty. A really great movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Addictive movie
Review: If you can listen to british accents, you'll love this movie! Though a comedy, it observes many realities of gay adolescence. The writers know when to be funny and when to be serious. Many other movie producers would not dare to film such many of these movie scenes. I hope the "Get Real" producers film more movies like this in the future. Every actor expresses the characters' life challenges delightfully. This is a wonderful movie for a teenager who can relate to their lives, and an adult who lived through that. If you rent this movie, make extra sure that you have more than one day to return it. You'll want to watch it more than once.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Hopeless High School Jock Fantasy Comes To Screen
Review: There really is not a heck of a lot to praise about this movie. The plot could have been any third-rate teen 'romantic comedy' with a gay twist and of course, some melodrama. ("Oh Steven, I'm so scared!") - the words of John Dixon, the jockboy fantasy of a more brain Steven Carter. Of course, it turns out John is gay and they have a secret affair. Throw in some more melodrama, some really cheesy gay jokes and failed attempts at 'sexual' scenes, and you have 'Get Real.' Not particularly funny, not particularly romantic, not particularly touching, and definitely not worth watching.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: This was a pretty good movie!
Review: What I liked about this film is that it's not just a coming of age story or even just a coming out story. It's about self-acceptance, something that we all struggle with no matter what age we are. Plus, I loved that all of the women in this story were strong and stood up for both themselves and those they loved. I don't see much of this at all in cinema--women who have self-respect and who are also respected by others for it. An all-around great story. Good for Patrick Wilde!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT FILM
Review: This is one of the best films I have ever seen. If Ben Silverstone mimics aren't the greatest, then I don't know what is. Funny, charming, sweet and heart-breaking this film is, without being too much of anything. The acting is fantastic and though Steven's best friend Linda might be the typical gay sidekick she is a VERY charming and funny character that shouldn't be missed. Realistic despite all the laughter.

Straight or gay, boy or girl, you should really se Get Real! You will not regret.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Movie Worth Watching
Review: I enjoyed this movie, especially for it's unique take on familiar theme, but it lacks the heart of the similarly themed Beautiful Thing. This coming-out tale is very well written and acted. It explores the prickly world of gay adolescent love very capably and believably. Especially worthy of note is the star of the movie, Ben Silverstone. A little predictable at times, but a powerful ending.


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