Most Helpful Customer Reviews
72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
VERY real, March 11, 2000
This review is from: Get Real (DVD)
No wonder this film has prompted so many positive appraisals. The cast is perfect and comely. The story is gritty, witty, funny, touching, and true. It's about being in the closet (whether you're married or just in high school), and the painful process of deciding to come out -- or not. Steve (Ben Silverstone) knows he's gay but, isolated by his feelings, only has secretive, anonymous sex. Johnny (Brad Gorton) is the handsome high-school hero headed for Oxford. He is paralyzed by fear and loneliness, being so deeply in the closet. They accidentally hook up in a public bathroom and, despite Johnny's misgivings, eventually get together. Their moments of private happiness -- understated, gentle, and sweet -- are among the loveliest on screen. Affectionate and comfortable when they are alone, the jock is also terrified that their 'secret' will come out, and he has a very hard time dealing with Steve's gradual emergence from hiding. One hopes for their union but can, at the same time, see the fall coming. Johnny is ultimately a coward, his heroics on the sports field notwithstanding. The straight men, in general, do not come off at all well. Steve's father is withdrawn and unsupportive, though we are given to believe that he will come around. The high school boys are, without exception, mindless jerks. Certainly, Pre-Stonewall, Steve could never have 'come out' on film, much less at his high school awards ceremony! But, that having been said, it is apparently just as dangerous and terrifying for young people now -- in a still-repressed, still-suppressed, and violently homophobic society -- as it ever has been. That is the sad message of this film, along with the one of hope for Steve.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
59 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perhaps the best "coming out" movie ever made...., April 1, 2000
"Get Real" combines a terrific script with superb acting. Steven Carter is one of the best gay teen characters ever written, portrayed touchingly and realistically by Ben Silverstone. He is simultaneously geeky and sexy, awkward and self-assured, yet underneath his fears and self-doubts there is always a ray of self-acceptance and sense of humor about his predicaments that comes shining through. You will marvel at Steven's courage, empathize with his pain, and just simply fall in love with this complex and totally adorable young man. His love interest, another complex character, is also brilliantly played. Steven's next-door neighbor and (female) best friend is the only character who comes across as somewhat stereotypical (an overweight fag-hag type), yet her performance avoids the pitfalls that the stereotypical characterization could've created. The quirky humor the director interjects throughout the film will catch you off guard at times - during the scene inside the park men's room, when the soundtrack started playing The Troggs' "Love is All Around", I had to supress an urge to laugh uproariously and at the top of my lungs (I first saw the film in a theater). "Get Real" is a "must see" for anyone who knows what it feels like to be young, gay & in the closet, and also for straight folk who wish to understand the difficulties GLBT people have to face, even in our contemporary, allegedly "enlightened" world.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A funny, moving gay coming-of-age story, November 12, 2002
"Get Real" is a great gay coming-of-age story. This British film has a screenplay by Patrick Wilde and is directed by Simon Shore. It stars Ben Silverstone as Steven Carter, a teenage schoolboy who's looking for gay love and sex. He's only out of the closet to his friend Linda (played by Charlotte Brittain), who feels like an outsider herself because of her large weight. The film follows Steven as he deals with the joys, pain, and frustration of being a gay youth. "Get Real" certainly touches on some controversial issues, such as teenage sexual activity and public "cruising" for sex. But I believe the filmmakers handle these and other issues with intelligence and sensitivity. Stephen is a writer, so the role of the student press is also a factor in the story. Wilde's script has some really engrossing dialogue, and Shore directs his scenes with grace and skill. Classic songs are cleverly used throughout the film to underscore the characters' emotional states. It's the outstanding performances of "Get Real" that really make this film excellent. Silverstone shines in the title role; he brings a rich blend of strength, vulnerability, impishness, and sexual energy to his character. Much of the film rests on his shoulders, and he succeeds totally. Silverstone has great onscreen chemistry with gal pal Brittain, who brings a nice dash of spice to her character. Other strong performances are turned in by Brad Gorton (as the school jock who is the object of Steve's affection) and Jacquetta May (as Steve's mother). "Get Real" is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining film, but it is also a film which deals with serious sociological issues in a compelling and compassionate way. The film vividly explores the burdens faced by gay youth: homophobic harrassment from classmates, internalized homophobia, etc. But ultimately I found this to be an uplifting and hopeful film. Highly recommended, especially for high school teachers and counselors.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
