Shelter
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Movie Reviews of Shelter
Movie Review: A gay love story that makes you feel good for a change!
Summary: 5 Stars
Sure "Shelter" had its moments of conflict and drama, but this is one of a very few gay love stories I have seen that doesn't dwell too much on the dark side of gay life in the 21st century.
Zach is a talented artist from the wrong side of the tracks who has to take care of his "family": A neglectful and self-centered sister, her 5 year old son, and his disabled father. Zach often dreams of leaving it all behind and pushes away his best friend and girlfriend, brooding and resigning himself to a life supporting all those around him while neglecting himself. He finds "shelter" so to speak in his art, surfing and skating, spending time with his young nephew who calls him "daddy", and eventually in the arms of an older wiser man named Shaun.
Shaun is a struggling writer visiting the beach to recover from a breakup. He is Zach's best friend's brother, and the two hit it off when they bump into one another on the beach. What follows is a touching, sexy trip as Zach realizes who he is and finds a way to break out of the rut he is in with the help of his lover and two best friends.
"Shelter" isn't perfect, but it is a huge step forward as far as gay love stories go in my opinion. Zach and Shaun are believable characters. Self-loathing, panicking parents, and stereotypes are washed out to sea in this gay film that focuses mainly on the drama and struggles of everyday life. Zach especially is a great character, trying to hold it together and do what is best for everyone he loves. The film also features a great soundtrack, which grows on you every time you hear it.
"Shelter" pulls at your heartstrings and makes you smile, something I wish more gay-themed movies would do.
Movie Review: One of the best LGBT movies ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not fond of a lot of the current LGBT movies that are around these days, but Shelter was one, if not THEE best movie I have seen in a long time. It was perfect all around and no amount of gushing from me will be able to praise how good this movie is.Movie Review: A Must See
Summary: 5 Stars
A truly moving and beautiful film. Great script and great acting. I highly recommend it.Movie Review: AWESOME!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is one of my favorites! I loved the character development and the journey that each of them went through. I thought that this movie did a good job of making a movie about gay characters falling in love (and paying respect to that) without pandering to the "shock value" of two guys kissing. It respects gay life more than most main-stream productions, something I find harder and harder to find in most media.Movie Review: Best romance and character development for gay themed film
Summary: 5 Stars
Jonah Markovitz gets an A+ for this project. Lead actors Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe also get an A+ for creating amazing yet believable chemistry between two gay men rarely seen before on the American silver screen. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal did so with Brokeback but they also had a powerhouse director Ang Lee in an epically long film. Trevor and Brad deserve extra credit points on their permanent record cards. These men know how to express themselves with their eyes when words are pointless. Trevor Wright is a young Kathy Bates in the making.
Others have been critical of Brad's character Shaun saying that he was too patient. I disagree. This guy was rebounding from a split up in L.A. but as a writer he had the awareness to see the potential in Zach as a keeper. He saw the young man's selflessness and his freedom from the typical gay baggage.
The supporting actors also contribute greatly and are almost equally developed for their smaller roles. Tina Holmes' portrayal of the alcoholic sister is well played in her desperation not to be abandoned by another man. The role was dark and non-glamerous for the actress but she, along with the direction of Markovitz, create empathy and understanding for the character. Tina Holmes's character Tori shows emotional intelligence beyond her age and beauty. Ross Thomas as Gabe is adorable and comedic yet he too is developed to show admirable depth in his care for his best friend Zach.
The production quality is a standout for a low-budget indie thanks to the dollars invested by here! Films. The soundtrack is perfect and plays a key role in the film. Shane Mack's tracks define the tone of the film.
My only quibble is that the film could have been 15 minutes longer giving us a few more dialogue scenes with Zach and Shaun.
The story is perfectly set up for a sequel. I truly hope that Jonah will pitch the idea to here! Films and we as viewers can see how the characters lives evolve near CalArts.
I bought 3 copies of the DVD for family and friends who didn't see it in its short theatrical run. I also downloaded the soundtrack from iTunes.
PS: Producer J.D. Disalvatore is a hoot with her fun blogsite The Smoking Cocktail. Her dogs are in the film in the beach scenes in San Pedro and Malibu.