The Trip
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Movie Reviews of The Trip
Movie Review: A gay "Thelma & Louise" / "Love Story"
Summary: 5 Stars
19 year old Tommy meets 24 year old writer Alan at a party in 1973. There is a definite "spark" of interest between the two, and Tommy gives Alan his number so he can "interview" him for an upcoming book. When Alan calls and invites him for dinner, Tommy is surprised to meet Alan's lover Beverly, a ditzy hippie, and to find out that Alan is a Republican and staunch Nixon supporter. Tommy wisecracks his way through what would otherwise be a really tedious evening. (Tommy: "So what do you two have planned on the menu, a menage-a-trois?" Beverly: "No, Alan hates French food.") In time, Beverly breaks up with Alan. and the spark between him and Tommy eventually ignites (after some funny false starts) and they become a couple. Fast forward to four years later, as Anita Bryant launches her anti-gay campaign, and the couple is still going strong, until a rich older man, Peter, who was attracted to Alan, tries to drive a wedge between them by resurrecting an anti-gay book which Alan had written in his closeted Republican days. Alan is afraid to tell Tommy about it, but it eventually is revealed, and results in Tommy moving out.
The film moves ahead again to 1985, when Alan has turned into a prominent gay activist in the Los Angeles area, and living with Peter, who was conveniently nearby to console him after the breakup (Alan remains in the dark about how Peter orchestrated it). Beverly (Alan's ex) reappears to convince Alan to going back to Tommy, who is living in Mexico, but Alan fights his urge to do so. When they finally do reunite, 12 years after they first got together, they have a rather eventful "road trip" driving back to the US.
This independent film is a low budget masterpiece. The cinematography, writing/direction (Miles Swain, who says he based it on an "urban legend"), makeup (the characters actually seem to age over the 12 years), music (lots of period music from the 70's and '80s will have you singing along, with news photos of gay demonstrations added), and the acting is all first rate. Special kudos to Jill St John as Alan's mother, who steals the show (and other things), Sirena Irwin as Beverly, and the two leads, Larry Sullivan (Alan) and Steve Braun (Tommy). Alexis Arguette plays the stereotypical queeny...friend, and Julie Brown ("Earth Girls Are Easy") as a [sleazy] lesbian receptionist. David Mixner, a gay activist, appears as himself.
Only negative I can bring up is some contrived dialogue toward the end. The film covers serious subject matter in a realistic and emotional way, but never loses the good humor that is part of life, including under adversity. The film is a "keeper" for my personal library, and I believe you'll agree. Nominated for several awards at GLBT film festivals nationwide. Get the DVD if you can, as it has deleted scenes and bloopers which are interesting.
The film's website (very impressive, but requires FLASH):
http://thetrip-themovie.com/
Movie Review: The Trip
Summary: 5 Stars
So I was browsing Amazon.com the other day and found this one independent film named "The Trip" and coincidentally I'd heard about it and had heard it was really good...... Anyway so after seeing the trailer from the official site (thetrip-themovie.com) I decided to buy it online. A couple of days later it arrived and sure enough I popped it in the DVD player and watched... so what did I think about it? Well let me not oversell this...
IT'S THE BEST MOVIE EVER!!!
...
It really is so good!!! It's the story of first love for these two guys and it begins in 1973 and follows them all the way through to 1984. It's so great... the cast is wonderful, the story is beautiful and poignant... it's got a lot of substance despite it being an indie film (I love indie films). It's also hilarious... which is amazing on its own because it's got so much to tell but never get preachy or boring or even sappy... and it still manages to be freaking funny! Laugh out loud funny!
Now onto the superficial stuff... the actors are hot... ...and they have such chemistry together. It's not like you wath and say "Those two hated each other"... not at all... they're so good together.
The lead character is Alan (played by Larry Sullivan, hot and so... adorable! He's guest starred on quite a few shows including Will & Grace... for those who wanna know, he's the dancer Will dated and was embarrassed to introduce to Grace... he's a great actor) and Tommy (Steve Braun... Canadian actor... very cute... very talented). The supporting cast (the noticeable ones anyway) are Beverly (played by Sirena Irwin) and Michael ( Alexis Arquette, David Arquette's younger brother and an indie film favorite).
Alan is a "straight" republican aspiring author writing a book about the homosexual lifestyle through the ages... and he uses that as an excuse to get closer to the hot blonde he doesn't admit he's attracted to, Tommy. Tommy is an out and proud gay activist from Texas who just moved to L.A. to "change people's minds about gay people." His first friend in L.A. and roomate is Michael who is the kid you knew all through elementary school, junior high, and high school was gay. He's out there and quite flamboyant and well...... adorable and so ... funny! Beverly is Alan's girlfriend at the time Tommy and Alan meet and she is the ever evolving character in the movie. You see her change as time passes and you'll notice she's always just a tad ahead of her time... she becomes the boys' best friend despite her boyfriend Alan replacing her with Tommy.
The DVD comes with great extra features like 8 deleted scenes, bloopers, cast/director/writer commentaries even for the deleted scenes... and a behind the scenes featurette.
I recommend this movie very strongly and if you trust me enough... go and buy it...
Movie Review: A Bitter Sweet Love Gay Themed Story
Summary: 5 Stars
A Love story about "What could have should have might have been" IF ONLY... is the basic premise of The Trip. The Trip follows two gay men through young adulthood into early middle age. One a fully realized gay young man living in truth to himself with honor without shame. This first young man was doing what he could as a gay activist from the 1970's onward to champion causes of gay rights, HIV awareness and diversity. The other gay man was a conflicted deeply closeted homosexual chap from one of those hellish super religious conservative homes where father rules with an iron fist and every aspect of waking life is lived daddy's straight arrow conservative way or no way.
On his own and away from his militaristic thought police father at home the young seemingly conservative republican gay man starts writing the typical gay bashing exceedingly homophobic book his ultra conservative Dad would love. The book is shelved at the time of its writing as not ripe for its time. Through many plot twists and the passing of time the young conservative breaks the chains of his homophobic thinking and finds a gay friend who becomes in time a rtoom mate and soul mate for 4 years. The two gay lovers dream some day of taking an adventurous trip together but it remains a pipe dream for now.
Time marches on finally in the days of Anita Bryant and vile rampant homophobiia the moment is now right for publication of the ugly homo-hating book written in his more unenlightened times, poison words of a hardcore closet case who no longer exists. Needless to say rlease of this totally homophobic book strains the love the conservative and the gay activist have for each other. Time marches on, life situations change, intriques happen and life fortunes of some in our story rise as others fall.
I won't give up the rest of the story but it is ALL GOOD! Needless to say events conspire to insure the two lovers eventually get to take their adventurous trip that has become a matter of life, death and love in its most profound sense. The ending is bitter sweet the kind of ending that stays with you long after the credits roll. This movie leaves you with a wound in your heart that feels both good and bad at the same time. This Trip offers an awesome wisdom born of the deepest pain yet I enjoyed the Journey even if its ending was bitter sweet. The Trip wins my Howl of triumph tinged with sorrow. This was a painful movie to watch but I am a much better man for my experience of its like and for that I give Thanks.
Movie Review: Best gay theme film ever!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Trip is a romantic comedy that manages to show love at its best and worst, deepest and shallowest, most joyous and most tragic.It's an hour and a half in the dark after which you won't lament the price of admission. In this era of TV-show adaptations and There's Something About Mary rip-off's, this renders it just shy of a gem. The triumphs and tragedies of love, not to mention a host of uncomfortable social situations, transcend the era of the film and create scenarios with which most gay men can relate. At the start of this winning indie drama set in '73, budding journalist Alan Oakley (Larry Sullivan) is still clinging to his
het-Republican identity by penning The Straight Truth, an indictment of homosexuality--although Tommy Ballenger (Steve Braun) eventually helps him realize the folly of such denial. First-time writer-director Miles Swain demonstrates a keen sensitivity to the subtleties of developing relationships, and his pacing is lively.
Sirena Irwin is hilarious as Alan's hippie chick lover turned power yuppie entrepreneur. MTV alumnus Julie Brown turns in a totally gnarly cameo as a receptionist with a flare for eighties style. But former Bond girl Jill St. John steals the show in her supporting role as Alan's meddlesome, liberal, and alcoholic mom. The Trip is the beautifully written and directed debut film by Miles Swain. Larry Sullivan and Steve Braun are very convincing as the young couple with some hysterical and some very touching scenes. This movie will make you laugh and cry and think as well, which is the very best any movie can offer. The highlight for me was Alan's very understanding and liberated mother Mary, reminiscent of Edina Monsoon without the drug usage and Patsy. Mary is played by Jill St John. She looks absolutely fantastic and it was clear she loved the role. Every scene she is in makes you warm to her character more and more. All of the characters are believable and likeable.
The film features classic tunes such as Missing Person's "Destination Unknown" and Bruce Springsteen's "Cover Me." The Trip played gay and lesbian film festivals throughout
the United States, to packed houses due in no small part to the universal appeal of the central love story, based on the conceit: "What if this was your first love? You messed up your relationship and here was your chance for redemption." With an overall message to: Be you, Be yourself. If you get the chance to see The Trip, do it!!!! It's well worth the journey!
Movie Review: Entertaining gem of a film about matters of the heart
Summary: 5 Stars
The only reason that I rate this film a ten is because the rating scale doesn't reach 227. The Trip isn't just a film - it's an extraordinary, a true gem about everything that matters in life - people, relationships, pride in one's self, matters of the heart and soul. The film shows what can be achieved when millions aren't poured into special effects and high-priced superficial "talent". I saw The Trip on the last day of the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2002. The timing was truly fitting, because it was a fantastic grand finale to a festival which included many other fine films. The Trip, however, was by far, the best of the festival and, in my opinion, walked away with the award for Best of Everything in all Categories. The film follows the relationship between two men starting from 1973 continuing into the 80's, giving an opportunity for many political and social commentaries having to do with the times, including Anita Bryant and Ronald Reagan, and gay rights. There was also much opportunity to fill the film with with many truly hysterical fashions and one-liners inspired by those times. These qualities make The Trip a wonderfully balanced film with both genuinely funny moments along with many warm, heart-teasing scenes too, particularly because the characters are so constantly involving, as is the superbly written storyline. The cast is outstanding, to say the very least. Larry Sullivan and Steve Braun are excellent, both simply amazing as the lead characters, Alan and Tommy. Steve Braun is so charming as Tommy, and Larry Sullivan easily steals everyone's hearts - including mine - as Alan - he's truly wonderful. To portray a Republican with as much heart and vulnerability as Alan displays is no small accomplishment, and Larry Sullivan does this with commanding skill. Sirena Irwin and Alexis Arquette are terrific in supporting roles, but it is Jill St. John who steals every scene she enters as Alan's mother, reminding us that she should be seen More, More, More! It's rare that a director displays such talent and skill in a film while, at the same time and in equal parts, shows such joy and love for his craft. Only a truly talented director could accomplish this, making his hard work appear so effortless, resulting in the most fun an audience has had in years. Please see The Trip if you have the opportunity - don't let it pass you by. Please help this truly wonderful film to be seen by everyone as it should be.