Latter Days

Rating:
Summary: A terrific love story...not just another gay movie
Review: I really loved this movie. Admittedly, I was able to relate to both main characters - having similar seasons of my life when I was trying to find myself. The thing is, this isn't just another gay movie. So many of the movies for gay audiences don't care about plot or production values. Actors need not be talented as long as they are attractive and willing to show some skin. In this movie, it is obvious that the actors really care about the roles that they are portraying. They provide what I believe to be an accurate, non-stereotypical representation of both lifestyles. (Well, I guess there is some stereotyping, but a lot of the story seems to convey an attempt to overcome those "norms".)
What makes this film even better is the amazing love story that is represented. It's not a gay love story...it's just a love story. Any two people in love could tell tales similar to those shown in the movie.
All in all, a great buy. Not the best movie of all time, but definitely a major leap forward for gay cinema. I rode the emotional rollercoaster during the entire film.

Rating:
Summary: Not a Classic, But It Will Have a Powerful Impact on Many
Review: I saw this movie on a Sunday; couldn't stop thinking about it Monday and Tuesday and finally HAD to go see it again on Wednesday. No, Latter Days will not be remembered as a classic film. But for many of us, this movie has provoked a bit of soul searching about gay identity and the prejudices and vile judgments gay people are still subjected to. More importantly, Latter Days affirms the profound joy and genuine love gay people can and do find with one another.

The storyline in short, a closeted LDS Missionary from Idaho, Aaron Davis, moves to LA where he ends up living next door to a hot swinging gay boy, Christian, who has all the depth of reality TV. Christian's interest is initially motivated by a bet he makes with his friends that he can bag this "missionary boy." Aaron and Christian are quickly attracted to one another and begin to struggle with their emotions, sexual needs and the painful limitations of their respective lifestyles.

Wes Ramsey, does a great job as the shallow but beautiful Christian. But it is Steve Vandross, as the LDS Mormon missionary with everything to lose and for that matter, a life to gain, who really makes this movie something special and memorable. I doubt that there is a gay or bi-man alive who can see this movie and not fall in love with Vandross' character, Aaron Davis. This is incredible acting for a first time screen appearance! Vandross is totally believable as a loving, spiritual person whose humanity is more life affirming than his religious mentors or the most sophisticated free-thinking idealists can appreciate.

The plot and its various twists sometimes come off as a bit far fetched and some of the direction and dialogue is weak. The bottom line though: if you are the kind of person who believes in romance and can allow yourself to get caught up in this film, it will leave you with a lump in your throat if not a tear on your cheek. If you are struggling with the challenges of being gay, it will remind you that you're OK and are as entitled to love and happiness as anyone in this world. And oh yes.... it will leave wanting to see more of Steve Vandross. Maybe it's time for me to see it a third time.

Rating:
Summary: Best film I've seen in a LONG time
Review: I've only seen a total of 3 or 4 "gay-themed" movies, mostly at my friends' insistance. The reason I don't go to see these movies is because the people the actors portray are absolutely NOTHING like me. Sure, they struggle with similar problems (growing up gay, finding a boyfriend, etc.), but always on what I would consider a superficial level. I don't have a small group of gay friends that my entire life is based around and I have aspirations other than my body (or someone else's). Latter Days was a big change from that type of movie (for me at least). Although I couldn't really identify with Christian, Elder Aaron Davis's struggle to decide what was most important in his life and to gain his family's acceptance while keeping his faith in the goodness of the world was quite inspiring. All of the actors played well together (I thought Aaron and Lila were the best). Latter Days kept the charm and intimacy of an independent film while doing away with the shotty filming that I usually expect from a low-end budgeted film.

Rating:
Summary: A Refreshing, New Angle for Love Stories
Review: LATTER DAYS is a classy little film that holds its own among the light love stories out today. And yet it is more: some unique phobias and prejudices are examined very genuinely and the result is a movie that gives us not only characters about whom we care but enlightens us as to both sides of an ongoing issue: homophobia.

Bright, crisp writing and directing by C. Jay Cox, LATTER DAYS presents a tale of a West Hollywood effervescent young man who plays the bar scene and one night stands joie de vivre to the hilt. Christian (Wes Ramsey) lives in a bungalow apartment setting with his roommate Traci (Amber Benson) who is a singer (and a fine one!). Into their rather wild life atmosphere enters a group of Mormon missionaries, out from Utah to spend their requisite two years converting the world to the Church of the Latter Day Saints. All but one are homophobic, redneck types, but one of them, Aaron (Steve Sandvoss), is a closet case gay man. Julie and Christian establish a bet about Christian's able to seduce Aaron and the games begin. The courtship is actually mutual and once the two have been together it is Aaron who feels the anguish and Christian who re-examines his motives and feelings. The rest of the story is tender, deals with many interpersonal issues not at all restricted to the gay world, and revealing the ending would be unfair to the complete enjoyment that this movie offers. Suffice it to say that the cast is excellent and includes wonderful roles as Jacqueline Bissett as owner of the bar/restaurant were Christian works, and Mary Kay Place as Aaron's died-in-the-wool Mormon mother. The pacing is brisk, the acting is top notch, the cinematography is first rate, and the music score is well integrated. But the overall reason to see this film (and see it again) is the sophisticated manner in which C. Jay Cox explores one set of religious issues in the complex pattern of same sex relationships. This is an intelligent, funny, tender, and inspiring movie. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: View It Several Times
Review: On first viewing, I found this movie enjoyable and interesting with pretty boys and a brief sex scene. However, I felt and knew that I was missing something--the nuances of complexity and coincidences. I got the big picture but desired to understand what was stimulating memories and deeper feelings. After seeing it on three occasions, I am impressed that this movie is more than just a boy-meets-boy--attraction follows--and then you know what--story. Importantly, one need not be a gay Mormon to understand this movie; it addresses spirituality in a universal fashion. Also, the movie aptly addresses topics of death, yearning, gay-male to male intimacy issues, transformation of character by love, and coming out by a rather religious and serious person. The movie creates a certain urgency to move one's life beyond the confines of family and culture in order to achieve a greater truth and a more meaningful existence.

The movie also introduces two actors who provided not only eye- candy but moving performances. They seemed to fit their characters to a tee.

Yes, this is a low-budget thing with a cluttered script in need of editing, too many sitcom one-liners, and a few bloopers. Do oneself a favor and look beyond these imperfections.

In summary, this is an enjoyable, and thought (maybe soul?)-provoking, little movie with more to it than a first visit reveals.

Rating:
Summary: A Must See Gay Romantic Comedey and Love Story for all.
Review: This is a must see movie for any gay man in the world. It is funny, romantic and will make you cry. It deals with two men, a shallow HOT gay playboy and a very HOT morman missionary coming to terms with his homosexuality. These two newcomers are great together on the screen. Steve Sandvoss, in his film debut, plays Aaron, the missionary and Wes Ramsey from Guiding Light, plays Christian, the playboy. The chemistry between the two is wonderful and the acting superb. Watching these two on screen will make you believe that there is someone out there for everyone and that true love can overcome anything. Extra added performances by Mary Kay Place as Aaron's mother. Oh she is so mean to him, but softens a little. Erik Palladino makes a great appearance as an hiv positive man who goes head to head with Christian. And the big screen is ALWAYS blessed with beauty when Jacqueline Bisset is on it. She is absolutely wonderful and as always, BEAUTIFUL! (...)

Rating:
Summary: Love this film
Review: This is a must see movie. I've viewed it several times and can't stop thinking about it. A perfect mix of drama, romance, and comedy. The acting is brilliant and the chemistry between all the characters very believeable. Strong performances from the cast makes up for the brief moments that the plot falters. But over-all the script is excellent and boldly takes on the self-hatred and homophobia that religious teachings have been brainwashing people with for centuries.

Wes Ramsey ("The Guiding Light") gives a wonderful performace as shallow party boy Christian who accepts a bet with his friends that he can seduce his new neighbor, closeted Mormon missionary Aaron Davis, wonderfully protrayed by Steve Sandvoss. Sparks soon fly and romance ensues between the sincere, naive Aaron and the carefree Christian. Aaron is both drawn to and disgusted by Christian, who he sees as shallow and vain. But the audience and Aaron soon learn that there is more to Christian than his party boy ways and one-night stands. Of course it all hits the fan when the budding romance of Aaron and Christian is discovered by Aaron's fellow Mormon missionaries. Aaron is sent home in shame to face his family and church while a serious misunderstanding leaves Chris devastated, his life forever changed by the encounter with Aaron.

Ramsey and Sandvoss have great chemistry and both do a wonderful job of bringing their roles to life on-screen, making Christian and Aaron complex and rich characters. Completing the cast is Jacqueline Bisset as Christian's motherly and compassionate boss Lila. Rebekah Jordan as Chris' roommate and best friend Julie, a would-be singer. Amber Benson ("Buffy: The Vampire Slayer") as Chris' friend and co-worker Traci, a struggling actress. Scene-stealer Khary Payton gives a funny performance as the HIV+ Andrew, another pal of Christian's. Erik Palladino ("ER") appears as a man dying of AIDS who Chris befriends. And Mary Kay Place gives a strong performance as Aaron's unforgiving religious mother.

I highly recommend this film and applaud the cast and writer, C. Jay Cox, for bringing this controversial movie to life.

Rating:
Summary: Praying and Playing: Love with a Proper Stranger
Review: With no preconceptions---- no knowledge, actually --- of this movie before I saw it, I found Latter Days to be much better than it had to be, and more universal than a romance about two very different gay men falling in love ("opposites attract" says the tag line) might appear to a general audience.

The depth of the cast is jaw-dropping: Jacqueline Bisset, Mary Kay Place, Amber Benson (recognizable from her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Erik Pallidino (familiar to ER viewers as Dr. Malucci), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (from Third Rock from the Sun) and Michael Moriarity in supporting roles.

Obviously, this movie is a "labor of love". And I mean that in every sense of the phrase. This "course of true love never did run smooth" for these two characters, but this is a tale of true love laboring to realize itself.

Four Mormon missionaries who move to his Los Angeles apartment block represent a challenge to a licentious and gorgeous gay hedonist, ironically named Christian (played by Wesley A. Ramsey). He makes a bet with his fellow waiters to seduce one of the four. The Elder named Aaron (played by Steve Sandvoss) seems the most receptive. There is no doubt that Christian is attracted to him--- even perhaps beyond his usual flavor-of-this-sixty-seconds attraction.

Aaron is miserable in his fascination with Christian: it confirms what he has known about himself and resisted, but it represents sin beyond forgiveness or understanding in his missionary world. It represents the end of life as he has known it. Naive and wise at the same time, he tells Christian that relationships have meaning, must have meaning beyond a handshake. Aaron tells Lila (Jacqueline Bisset), the restaurant owner who employs Christian, that even if we can't see the connection between the dots, there is meaning and connection from God's view. Aaron can't give up that belief even when his faith is stripped from him.

Meaning in relationships is a new concept to Christian, our pilgrim in this movie. Aaron's view of him as shallow shocks him, and so Aaron has already made a difference in Christian's life which pushes the bet very far down in his priorities, almost out of his consciousness. Finding any serious chord in himself is a disturbing surprise to him, and stimulates his growth into something more than a pretty party animal.

The script begins with ribald wit, and might have maintained that wit throughout with a bit more production money and time for a few more re-writes. The transitions become a little rougher as the movie goes on. There are some dramatic sequences (especially one significant plot point between the two main characters outside in the snow at the Salt Lake City airport) quite obviously awkward, which in a bigger budget production, would probably have been re-shot.

But this movie's profound and universal messages are about prejudices, about love, and about miracles. The movie has its agenda: just as it is very controversial in its depiction of the Church of Latter Day Saints as grotesquely intolerant, it will shock some with its fairly graphic depiction of homosexual sex. It is not a movie which is gentle with everyone's sensibilities.

The story briefly reminded me of Longfellow's "Evangeline", where the lovers worked so hard to find each other again, and also more tellingly of an excellent book about a deeply moving love story between two gay men, my introduction to the idea of real romantic love between men: The Charioteer by Mary Renault. Very much as that book enlightened mine and my friends' preconceived notions about the depth of emotions possible between homosexual men, this movie has something universally applicable to say about love's fostering our growth into the people we are meant to be.

My companion said "another small-but-smart movie not to be heard of at next year's Academy Awards", but it is entirely possible this one may find a nomination in a musical category. The score was good, and some of the songs really first-rate. Rebekah Johnson---aka Rebekah Jordan---, playing Christian's roommate Julie, gave those songs a real chance to be memorable.