Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-23 18:24:36

get a grip

Just wanted to say that I think all of the personal attacks against each other by gays and non gays is immature and ignorant. Both sides need to chill out. As for the movie....STUPID!! Id rather see brokeback mountain.

2012-05-23 01:47:07

Good, but not great

This is a must see movie. 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. Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Ryder, one of Aaron's fellow missionaries. 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.

sunmoonstars 2012-05-22 08:11:32

Deeply symbolic... grossly intellectual... highly recommended

I am a Sociologist/Anthropologist specializing in the field of SymbolicInteractionism, and I must say that this film exhibits high quality inthe symbolic context throughout the entire film. To anyone who has notyet seen this, I recommend that you also read "Man's Search ForUltimate Meaning" by Victor E. Frankl. I think you will be able to drawsome amazing correlations.That being said, I would like to say that despite the fact that themain characters are gay, this is not a story about being gay. This is astory about seeking out and finding meaning in life, despite thedifficulties and challenges, the pain and terror that stand in yourway. This is a story of seeking and finding balance and wholeness andhappiness.

2012-05-21 18:21:10

Must-See

I'm a huge fan of independent films in general, and gay indies in particular. Anyone else who knows the genre knows that while many scripts have excellent stories...many of the movies fall short. But as with all indie genres...there will always be a core of brilliant directors/writers/actors who can take any story and turn it into something unforgettable. Latter Days did this brilliantly.I, like many of the reviewers above, didn't expect much from this movie - at least not the level of quality and content that is delivered. I can honestly say this is one of the best gay romance stories I've ever seen. Too often many GR indies fall short of emotional content and development. And while I think this movie could have still drawn that out, it still did an excellent job of helping the viewer began to internalize both sides of the journey presented.The acting was superb...for once I didn't feel like I was watching a community theater troupe with a camera in their midst.In my opinion this even takes the cake over Brokeback Mountain for it's ability to draw you in and put you in the midst of the inner conflict both characters are enduring.I highly recommend this movie.

Bob 2012-05-18 03:02:02

I can relate...

I've seen the movie twice at this point. Go see it, especially if you come from a conservative Christian background and have reconciled your faith and orientation. Overall, I think the story is great, and realistic. While I did not grow up LDS, I grew up in Evangelicalism and the struggles between faith and orientation were severe and arduous. At one point, Aaron tells Christian that he doesn't understand the significance of what he (Aaron) is going through - he would have to give up everything he holds profoundly important in his life. To a degree it is true because of how others respond, but I think it is sad that the prevailing attitude among many is that people has to give up their faith (relationship with God) in order to be reconciled with their orientation, and that simply is not true!Having done missions work, I often ran into LDS Elders and know of the struggles many of them go through (gay and straight) during their mission.

patrick_bateman_77401 2012-05-17 06:33:29

A Surprisingly Well Done Film

Latter Days isn't the kind of film I normally see, but I went and sawit because I had tickets for an advanced screening of the film andsince I'd never heard of it and when it came out, I probably wouldn'tend up seeing it, I just went. And I was in for a surprise: I liked it.The plot revolves around two exact opposites – insecure Mormonmissionary Aaron Davis (newcomer Steve Sandvoss) and gay party animalChristian Markelli (Wes Ramsey, ABC's "Guiding Light" and the failedsitcom "Luis") - who meet after Aaron moves into the apartment acrossfrom Christian's with some other missionaries. In a retread of theromantic comedy genre, Christian's friends bet him $50 that he can'tget one of the Mormons into bed (especially since he's so famous forgetting "straight" guys to bed him). And here's where the plot makes acomplete 180 in turning from the typical romantic comedy to a moving,dark drama. Once Aaron discloses his sexuality to Christian and turnshim down, Christian attempts to become a better man just to prove tothe world he isn't some, for a lack of better words, shameless whore.It's not long after that Aaron's missionaries discover his true colors(during a rather embarrassing, if intimate, moment with Christian).Aaron, who has finally disclosed his feelings and longing forChristian, is shipped back to his BEYOND disapproving family andChristian begins a search for the one who got away that captured hisheart...Like I said, I had never heard of this film and if I didn't end upgetting free passes for this, I probably wouldn't have seen it. My ideaof an excellent love story on celluloid is something along the lines ofZeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet or Bram Stoker's Dracula. But in the end,I'm glad I did. To me (and possibly others), Latter Days was either A)A twist on the conventional love story, B) An attack on the Mormoncommunity or C) A little bit both both. And while, as a drama, itfailed in some places, but shines in moments of comedic brilliance.The cast (and the music) is probably the best thing about it. BesidesSandvoss and Ramsey (whom I believe both have big futures before them),the cast includes Jacqueline Bisset as a sympathetic restaurant owner,Mary Kay Place as Aaron's once loving, now bitter and unforgivingmother (though at times, mainly because of the way she looked, I wasreminded of Piper Laurie's over the top Oscar nominated performancefrom Carrie), Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Aaron's homophobic missionarypartner, Amber Benson as one of Christian's friends, and Erik Palladinoas a dying AIDS victim that Christian befriends.The music is the other best thing about it. While the score is good,the original songs are some of the best original songs I've heard froma movie so far this year. Three of the songs sung by singer/actressRebekah Jordan, who appears in the film as Christian's roommate, has anextremely gifted voice and delivers three songs – "More," "AnotherBeautiful Day," and "Tuesday, 3:00 a.m." – quite successfully. Theother songs are well-written, but it's my belief that the producers ofthe film should promote the Jordan-sung songs for Best Original Song –specifically the heart wrenching "Tuesday, 3:00a.m. – in this year'sAcademy Awards race.Is "Latter Days" a great movie? Not really, but it serves its purposein showing that true love isn't always between a man and a woman andthat it's OK to be who you really are.

2012-05-15 01:42:11

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!

This is an awesome movie. I am currently working in Afghanistan, totally separated from this aspect of my life. I bought this movie online, and fell in love with it the first time that I watched it. Now I watch it every chance I get. I'm now waiting on the Soundtrack. I hate to see this movie end, and thank C. Jay Cox for creating such a wonderful movie. Thank you...

RLDAVIS70 2012-05-14 12:16:40

Uplifting and Beautiful

Latter Days is a heartfelt movie in which you will both laugh and cry.Arron and Christian at first glance are so opposite but in the end yousee that they come together in the middle where Love truly can overcome anything.Arron,being Mormon,has a deep desire which until he meets Christian,aparty boy,goes unfulfilled.Just one kiss sets off a chain reaction thatno one sees coming.Arron,betrayed by his family,is sent off to a hospital where he can"recover" from his gayness.Meanwhile Christian longs to reconnect withthe Love of his life.Uplifting is too small a word to describe the feelings one has watchingtrue acting and a heartfelt Love story.

2012-05-12 18:18:03

A Touching, Moving Love Story - A Masterpiece of the genre

Being Mormon and gay and having served a mission for the LDS church made me very interested in seeing this movie. I had high hopes that the storyline and characters would be believable, but even with those expectations I was unprepared to be as moved and as touched as I was by this masterpiece. C. Jay Cox has captured the essence of finding love in today's difficult world. Whether you are gay or straight, Mormon or Jew - as long as you're not a closed-minded bigot, you will love this film. The characters are superbly developed and extremely well-acted. Being an 'indie' type, lower budget film, it does have a few minor drawbacks as compared to a major studio billion-dollar blockbuster, but believe me when I say that whatever small flaws there are will easily be overlooked or missed entirely by those who 'get' the message of being kicked in the ass by life-altering love found in the most unexpected ways.Kudos to Cox, Sandvoss, Ramsey and the others in this outstanding, untraditional love story. I stand all amazed!

Jeffrey Bruner 2012-05-12 12:26:05

The screenplay is efficient to a fault, populated with stock characters.

rich-228 2012-05-11 13:25:10

Flawed but worthwhile

Despite a really annoying and overdone soundtrack and otherheavy-handed devices which can only be described as the worst of "MTVstyle", and problems with storyline and pacing, Latter Days isworthwhile viewing. Sometimes you may not know if you're watching a movie or just an overlylong video, and the movie sometimes seems it won't end, but the acting,especially by the 2 main characters, and by Mary Kay Place, is quitegood. There are a few really great scenes. The plot is at timesconfusing, but its saving grace is that it doesn't rely on pat answersto some troubling questions about gays and the Mormon church.

2012-05-10 17:40:18

Surprising romantic gay drama blazes new trail

Somehow I missed the press reviews of this film when itcame out and I only discovered it at the video store,which is always full of lousy movies. Would it be anotherdisappointment, as so many gay-themed movies are?What a nice surprise. While it starts out with scenesof tired gay banter among stereotypical gay guys and theirfriends in West Hollywood, when some Mormon missionariesarrive in the neighborhood, the film turns into a movingstory of self-discovery for the not-yet-jaded "Christian",already decidedly gay, but just youthful enough to be undecided about how he wants to be gay, and the newcomerMormon kid from Idaho, Aaron, very well played by a newcomerto the screen, Steve Sandvoss. Aaron seems closeted fromthe start and we know what is going to happen, or at leastwe know that there is going to be a lot of tension and perhapsa resolution before the movie ends. And though there are someformulaic developments here, there are also some surprises. Steve Sandvoss (probably not a stage name) plays the part of a scared Mormon beautifully and convincingly, and whileI guess I got the the (presumably cut) R rated version,rather than the unrated version, the love scenes are all themore moving and exciting by their not being explicitly sexual,unlike the mechanical and casual scenes and references we seein Christian's personal life early in the film.On balance, though I know films and novels need not serve associal tools to advance causes or even tolerance, I see this film, along with just a handful of others, as presenting a positive model of relationships for serious people, gay or straight. With all the focus on AIDS, death, gay-bashing,etc. in many plays, films, and books over the past two decades,however necessary and appropriate that may have been, it's nice to see a love story that touches peripherally on thosesubjects, rather than centering on them. As we see Christianadministering help to an AIDS patient, we sense him realizingthat he has a choice, especially as the dying man tells himthat he had been just like Christian not too long ago.And we see Christian turning away from the busy, dizzy lifestyle,and wanting something more, and different.There are some familiar faces and players in the supporting cast, including Jaqueline Bisset, Mary Kay Place, and JosephGordon-Levitt (who might have been an equally good choice forthe protagonist, and in any event might have had a biggerpart). It also would have been nice to see some flashbacksof Aaron's growing up in Idaho or the other Mormon boys' life experiences. That could have taken only a few more minutesand made for a better film, I think.Having some acquaintance with the issue of homosexuality inthe Mormon church, I can say that the characterization of the reaction of Aaron's friends, family, and church are notin any way exaggerated in this film.This is one of the best gay-themed films of the past two decades.

2012-05-02 15:47:38

Lovely adaptation of a great book!

This review is from: Latter Days (Unrated Edition) (DVD) I loved the book and the movie kept to it wonderfully. The shallow-documentary-type feel of the camera was obvious at the beginning, but after the first 10 minutes, I was too engrossed in the story and the acting to notice. The actors were just perfect for their roles and I felt like everything clicked. I was slightly dissappointed that they did not leave in the more "graphic" suicide scene, but can understand their reasons - and am glad the producers included it as an extra.Overall, the only reason I don't give this a 5 out of 5 is for that lack of scene. The acting was great and the movie was simply lovely! I am glad I purchased it and it will be one of the movies I watch over and over again!

Ed Halter 2012-05-02 00:14:28

Pilots its culture-challenging raison d'être through an increasingly insufferable collection of gaysploitation conventions.

J. R. Jones 2012-04-27 23:58:55

This sitcom setup is as bad as it sounds, and Cox never really surmounts it.

2012-04-27 15:16:05

Finally some hope for gay movies!

I realize that low-budget productions have their share of quirks. There are a few scenes in need of editing and so on....but the acting, cast and message are GREAT! I loved the characters both of which were endearing in opposite ways.Steve Sandvoss and Wes Ramsey are future stars!Finally a gay movie with a message, hope and love, and... ends positively. So many gay films are bummers with the usual wicked queens, misery, AIDS and eternal loneliness.I recommend this movie to everyone, gay or straight. I am gay but enjoy touching and well made love stories of any kind.Keep your hankie ready...

RoadKali 2012-04-25 06:56:06

Well-Intended honest and sincere story-telling

I think for a fist effort at writing, producing and directing his ownfilm, Jay Cox has done an admirable job. Coming from a Mormonup-bringing, myself, and have witnessed many of the things portrayed inthis film, it is obvious Cox knows what he is writing about. I didn'trealize Cox was from a LDS background and served a mission until afterI saw the film and read the transcripts of some of his interviews. WhenI first saw the film I remember thinking someone had done theirhomework - aside from some poetic license, most of the portrayals wereon target. Those that say this film is anti-Mormon are missing thepoint. It didn't have to be a Mormon setting (or even gay for thatmatter). It would have worked in a heterosexual and in any religioussetting where there are strong and unbendable doctrinal codes andmember expectations. Those who say this type of thing would neverhappen in a missionary setting, because missionaries are never allowedto be alone for extended periods of time, etc. are wrong. I know firsthand that missionaries do find ways of being alone. I have seenpriesthood courts and know how they work. There was some simplisticdialog; but then there are those who can only regurgitate what they aretold by their church leaders (no matter what religion), and believethat any unflattering representation of their own beliefs is from ahateful or conspiratorial source. They often don't have originalthoughts of their own, and most often come across as simplisticthemselves. Cox's talent and skill are solid, and I hope to see more ofhis productions.

bellhollow 2012-04-24 13:44:39

Through the ringer.

I thought I died while watching this movie. I fell right for what thedirector/writer wanted and I thought "Don't do this, don't make this asick ending with some introspective garbage." Instead the movie saveditself and ended solid. I have a friend whose best friend in highschool killed himself after being accused of being a worthless humanbeing for his gayness and while trying to pull a colt out of a horse,which killed both horse and colt. From a deeply religious family, hewas basically shunned and ended it all at eighteen years old. It's hardto believe how stupid parents can be about a gay child. I wonder howthe Mormon Church feels about this movie? Maybe not as bad as theythink about Orgazmo.

debi723 2012-04-24 02:42:21

Wonderful Story

I am also an X-Mormon who was ex-communicated for being gay. It was avery devastating experience. I thought this movie was true through thedepicting of the Elders and Church's hatred of gays/lesbians. I wasshocked to see it in the blockbuster and had to see it. Thanks formaking this film and i hope it helps other people. I know of two Elderswho did succeed in killing themselves over their gay struggle--that isjust so unnecessary. This movie was one of the best gay movies i haveever seen. It is a tale of 2 men, it was not about the sex. I laughedand i cried and i related so well to many of the things happening inthe movie. You would think that the Church would offer some time ofassistance to those of us who have/do stuggle with being gay--but thesad reality is that you are cut off just like the movie depicted andsadly, cut off from your family and shamed within the community. Ifthey were truly a church of Jesus Christ, then you would think therewould be love and compassion and forgiveness shown.

2012-04-23 11:30:35

One of THE best gay films!

I loved this film!I rented it first. That was on Friday. By the end of the weekend I'd watched the movie three times. On Monday I purchased both the movie and the soundtrack.There are essentially no weak points. I'm not kidding. Everything is in place to make it a classic. The story is interesting. The writing is superb and flows from one scene to the next without a single boring moment. Acting is absolutely fantastic. I've never seen two straight actors play gay with such realism, passion, and vunerability. Steve Sandvoss in particular completely blew me away. The camera work is crisp with all the gloss that we would expect from a full budget Hollywood movie. The fact that it was made low budget is amazing. Lastly, the soundtrack rocks! Cute, snappy, and fun yet with a driving edge sums up the sound. LATTER DAYS starts as a your typical boy meets boy date movie that quickly veers into serious territory. This film has the guts to tackle a very dangerous and explosive topic. In this case the mental and soul killing anguish some Christian churches inflict on gays and their family members. Throughout this turmoil is a driving love story that refuses to quit. LATTER DAYS is also a very sexy film. The actors are hot beyond belief and their chemistry is right off the scale. Even more compelling is the age of the characters. So many gay coming of age movies involve teenagers but that is not often the case in real life. In this movie the characters are in their twenties with all the mature complexities that come with that age struggle. This includes sex and yes there is a very graphic love scene but it is so beautifully shot and tastfully done that I can't see how anyone would be offended. Lastly there is how the moves ends. Often times films go for a cotten candy sweet ending or a dark dismal finality designed to shock us. LATTER DAYS doesn't do that. It serves up an obtainable resolution. Sure there is the triumph of love over adversity but it doesn't come without a high price and that is what makes this film "REAL".