Customer Reviews

Big Eden

5 star:		(162)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Big Eden is a romantic fantasy for mature souls. This warm, wonderful film taps into the universal emotional drives for family, love, and a place to call home. Audiences at numerous film festivals have taken to heart the Everyman characters created by some exceptional performers, guided by the writing and direction of Thomas Bezucha.

The story revolves around Henry Hart. He's a transplanted New Yorker - an artist on the verge of major success in the big city. As he readies for his big gallery show, a call comes from his hometown. His grandfather, the man who raised Henry after the death of his parents, has had a stroke. Henry, despite the protests of his friend/agent, hops the first plane back to Montana, and quickly becomes thrust back into the lives of the small community he had left years before.

As he integrates back into the Big Eden community, Henry has to cope with helping his grandfather adjust to his medical condition, as well as dealing with the curiosity and interference of the well-meaning locals. The standout is the Widow Thayer, who is enlisted to do the cooking for Henry and his grandfather, but who takes it upon herself to play matchmaker for Henry.

Henry's most-anticipated reunion is with Dean, his best friend from high school, and not-so-secret crush. Dean has also recently returned to town following his divorce, and is very happy to rekindle his friendship with Henry. Other familiar faces from Henry's past include Anna, the mayor of the town, and Pike, the painfully shy, enigmatic owner of the general store.

As Henry and Dean begin to re-explore their relationship, another potential romantic partner surfaces, and the whole town becomes aware of the situation. Rather than exploding with intolerance and homophobia, the townsfolk become conspirators and cheerleaders for everyone to wind up in happy relationships, regardless of orientation.

Much of the criticism of this film involves the unlikelihood that small-town America would be as open-minded and supportive as the members of the Big Eden community when it comes to the issue of same-sex relationships. This would be a valid point in a documentary, but Big Eden is a fictional location. It should not be any more difficult to accept this dramatic convention than it is to accept that Dorothy can visit Oz after a bump on the head, or that Julia Roberts can be rescued from a life of prostitution by a mogul who looks like Richard Gere.

Big Eden is the type of wonderful surprise that keeps me returning to the Outfest film festival year after year. Many of the movies I see there are formulaic and forgettable, but every now and then a fresh new perspective pops up on screen, and reminds me of how an enjoyable film can create a world filled with characters and relationships that entertain, and stay with you. This was my reaction to Big Eden, as well as many other audience members at Outfest, judging from our conversations afterwards.

If your idea of the perfect gay film involves near-naked gym bunnies looking for their next sex partner or drug high, do yourself a favor and skip Big Eden. If, however, you are interested in adult stories that explore the complex emotions that guide (and sometimes misguide) human relationships, you'll be in for a treat when you enter the world of Big Eden.

I bought this movie on the recommendation of a friend and I'm really pleased that I bought it.

First of all, the plot is really unlike any other gay movie I've seen. It's not set in the city (NY, LA, SF etc) and has zero muscleboys in the cast, but it's one of the best-cast and acted movies in a long time.

A great date movie, for sure, but also an interesting view into what life could and will be like one day in the not-so-distant future when being gay is just another part of the cultural makeup of society.

The DVD has a lot of nice bonus material including information on the production, the beautiful location used for the film's setting, the actors and the evolution of the film from idea to celluloid.

I really can't recommend this movie enough - it's not earth-shattering by any stretch of the imagination, but it has rich, well-developed characters, a beautiful setting, and a lot of heart and soul.

Sort of a lite, gay Jane Austen novel set in the lush landscape of backwoods Montana, "Big Eden" is sweet, gentle, and warm enough to overcome its many rough edges and decidedly low aim. Successful New York artist Henry (schlebby Arye Gross) moves back to Montana to take care of his ailing grandfather, and begins of veritable marathon of romantic matches, mistakes, and misunderstandings. Hijinks ensue. It's all very silly, a little confusing, and highly engaging. It's no wonder festival audiences and DVD renters have responded so favorably

The major critical complaint about "Big Eden" seems to be that it isn't "realistic" enough--that is, it's a gay movie without bashing, AIDS, or self loathing. Ok, ok. Big Eden isn't an entirely real place. But I've never heard "Pretty Woman" criticized for not having enough cancer, or "Ghost" ridiculed for it's lack of wife beating. Perhaps those who see gay men and woman as essentially tragic figures may be disappointed by "Big Eden." But those of us who know our lives run the gamut from silly to sublime should enjoy our very own date movie moment.

Oh, that there were more gay movies like this one! It is a lovely, gentle story, one that flows and tugs at your heart. It's a movie that bears watching more than once. Oh, by the way, if you were looking for naked bodies and raw sex instead of an intelligent, gentle, beautiful movie, get something else. It doesn't need raw sex to make it an excellent gay movie!

The only reason I saw this movie was to see Eric Schweig. Prior to seeing it, I had no idea it was a gay film. It took me by surprise how touching the love story is. No matter how straight you are, as long as you are not homophobic, you will laugh, sigh, and get frustrated along with Henry and Pike. I personally no longer saw two guys in love, but rather two people in love. They're so adorable!

The community portrayed in the film is the ideal world where no one judges the other in his/her sexual orientation. Here, senior citizens, church going members, and macho cowboys all root for these two men to get together! On top of it, these two men are of different ethnic backgrounds (Caucasian and Native American). Can there possibly be a more tolerant and ideal society as this?

It's truly a beautiful film. Recommended for gay/lesbian people (naturally), people who enjoy "chick-flicks", people who are stressed in the city and need a "time-out" by watching a relaxing and touching movie, Eric Schweig fans,etc.

How is it that I missed this movie when it played the theaters? Just rented the DVD and LOVED it (and watched it twice).

I admit its viewpoint of rural life is a little romanticized - but who cares? Wouldn't YOU want to live in a town like Big Eden - I know I would. In the accompanying featurette on the DVD, the filmmakers said the reaction during location shooting was very accepting - so who knows.

It definitely has shades of the TV series Northern Exposure and mirrors movies like Chocolat/Big Night/Like Water for Chocolate/Tortilla Soup/Frenzy (compare the Widow Thayer's dishes with those of the Inspector's wife) and any other food oriented film. Why are films that elevate food preparation to an art are so whimsical... and good?

It is refreshing to see a gay oriented film with excellent writing (good story with fully developed characters), great production values and an accomplished and well rounded cast (too bad Veanne Cox's role was a little pared down). Be sure to watch the deleted scenes - a few of which I thought should have been included in the final movie.

Rent this movie, or better yet buy the DVD (I am going to). Movies like this deserve to be supported.

It's been interesting to hear and read comments about this film, from fellow reviewers and friends. Some of them center on "unbelievable, unrealistic, no small town in Montana would ever act that way." But they miss an important point about this film. If our goal someday is to build a society that accepts all people for who they are, then we need to support those positive images on our movie screens as much as possible. Thomas Bezucha's vision provides us a beautiful fable and beautiful images in the film called "Big Eden".

"Big Eden" is about Henry Hart, struggling to find the important things in life, realizing those things are in the community that raised him as a child. Traveling back to Big Eden, Montana, to care for his ailing grandfather allows him to confront issues in his life that he spent many years running away from. Landing back home, surrounded by people that devotely love him, becomes emotionally overwhelming for him, and his struggle only intensifies. Throw in his best friend/unrequited love, and new potential love in Eric Schweig's incredible performance as Pike. As Henry falls deeper into Big Eden's web, he finds himself discovering answers, and even more questions.

Give Bezucha credit for a gutsy script. Here is a gay film that breaks many rules of "gay filmmaking": there is no sex, there is no 20 year old cute boy walking around shirtless, no club scene, no drugs, no homophobic country hicks in trucks ready to pounce at first light. He gives us straight and gay characters who believe and act as people first, who are allowed the intimate, complex lives we all should have. He gives us a town that celebrates all the good things in life: companion, love, honesty, compassion, without fear of labels. Mostly, he gives us a story, some incredible characters that we absolutely love, and sets it in some of the most beautiful scenery captured on film in recent years.

Three cheers for Big Eden, it's one step in the right direction.

I wanted to like this film a lot more than I did. It's a wonderful idea and a pretty good fairy tale, but I didn't find the relationships credible, and some of the actors don't apparently have the ability to carry off this rather brilliant idea.

I doubt very seriously that the people in a small Montana town would encourage a homosexual relationship, but that's what makes the idea of this movie so much fun. I never bought into the passion between the main character and his childhood buddy. The actor who plays Henry, the lead character, is limited in his expression. The other actors do much better. Personally, I'd never believe that a successful artist with a fabulous loft in Brooklyn Heights would give it all up to move back to a town he desperately tried to escape after high school. The cabin he returns to, where his grandfather lives, is essentially a faux rustic palace. This would be a great place to spend a summer.

Ultimately, though, the film is disappointing because the pay-off is delayed but expected. I guess you could say that I loved this film, but I didn't like it all that much.

I first saw Big Eden at the Cleveland International Film Festival in March of 2001, where it won the Best Film award. The screening was attended by director Thomas Bezucha, who fielded questions from the enthusiastic audience afterward. I saw it again during its general release and for over a year I have eagerly anticipated the DVD. Big Eden grows better with repeat viewing, a sign of rare quality.

There is a trick to enjoying this film: abandon your cynicism. There are no political statements here (except the general one that we CAN get along); there are no histrionics; the film is gratefully free of controversy and artsy pretension; and the characters are allowed to be (and look) imperfect. This is a simple story about the many ways love expresses itself, from Henry taking care of his grandfather, to Pike falling in love with Henry, and the entire town caring for one another. This film is suffused with the many kinds of human love which make life worth living. As such, this film is a welcome change from some of the depressing, lurid fare independent film fans are used to having forced upon us. Bezucha directs this film, his first, with calm professionalism and sensitive simplicity. The quality of the production values belies the fact that this film was shot on a shoestring budget.

Is this a realistic value of acceptance in small town America? Not entirely. However, this film was shot in a rural setting not unlike the fictional one of Big Eden--and the fact that the overwhelming majority of citizens supported the production augers well for the real-life Big Edens of the future.

Wolfe Video has provided a strong DVD presentation, with plenty of extras, from the usual director's commentary, to a selection of recipes from the film. The picture quality is excellent, well defined with deep color saturation. The sound is clear and dimensional, although Bezucha's insightful commentary is not always clear over the dialogue. One minor complaint, Wolfe Video has not provided subtitles of closed-captioning. Considering the large number of hearing-impaired gay people, this should be standard.

For those who wish to be shocked, angered or titillated, there are already a plethora gay themed films that accomplish that. Big Eden offers gay film's first old-fashioned, heart warming love story. If you're looking to be uplifted, Big Eden is the film for you.

I've come late to this film never having heard of it until I rented it out of the blue. I loved it and have watched it three times and have recommended it to several friends who have all loved it, too. For those reviewers that gave the film 2 stars, the same theme seems to play over and over: They didn't like the "fantasy" of a town that encouraged the gay characters to find happiness, and/or they didn't like the fact that the savvy filmaker/writer didn't spell things out by treating his audience like (drum roll please) adults. I'm sure those people that didn't get the storyline (one called it confusing) are the type of people that need everything spelled out for them. If so, then this film is not for those type of people. If you want to use your brain and your imagination, relax a little bit, and put yourself in the place of the film characters (which any good film achieves..."Wizard of Oz" anyone?) then this film will be a treat and a half. My hat's off to Mr. Bezucha. Thank you for this wonderful film that I now have on DVD.