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Reviews
Latter Days (2003)
So much potential, so little realized
I wish I could gush positive things about this film, but I can't live a lie.
If you want a simple, superficial love story that's predictable ad nauseum and treats the characters as mere stereotypes, then this ought to be one to see. But it falls short of its potential - way short, and that was disappointing. I have lots of gay, ex-Mormon friends who loved this film, but when asked further as to why they liked it, it usually had less to do with the actual quality and caliber of the film and more about them feeling like a portion of their own stories finally got told. In other words, the subject matter - regardless of the quality of the film itself - is what made a lot of these guys like it. If that's a viewer's criteria for judging a good or bad film, then go for it. But when you put that aside, and take a hard look at the quality of writing, believability of the events, the lack of deeper characterizations than could have - should have - been achieved, and even the technical side of the filming process, this film is not up to snuff. It's amateurish. It has a superficial story, a superficial set of stereotypical characters, and little more than one man's fantasy put on celluloid. It really fails to handle the more serious aspects of this film, dealing with a Mormon kid coming to terms with his sexuality, and brushes past the real issues at stake in that situation. This is a movie that many people will rave about, that many people will buy when it comes out on DVD, and that many people leave on their shelves collecting dust when the initial wave of interest has passed. It keeps promising to go deeper with the real issues, and then keeps failing to keep that promise. It's not true to any reality I have known or experienced, and being an ex-Mormon missionary who is gay, I think that says something. I could never recommend this film to anyone without first warning them of its superficial nature and lower standard of quality.
Daniel's Spark (2004)
Movie with Meaning
Daniel's Spark was a pleasant surprise. This short film proves that the heart and success of any film is found in its story. The film avoids cliches and sentimentality, and reaches to a deeper and more meaningful level. Sky Soleil's acting shows a finesse and quality one doesn't often see: his easy-going manner gently pulls the viewer into the story, and by the end of the film his impact on the audience is both subtle and profound. It will be interesting to see his future work. The camera and editing work is also very well done, and a higher caliber than one might expect with a short. In all, the various elements of this film come together to make a really enjoyable movie. This is one to see.