Customer Reviews

Redwoods

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Whaddya know... a gay-themed movie where no one comes out, no one is in drag, no one gets beaten up and no one has AIDS. For that alone, "Redwoods" deserves at least a star or two.

The story centers around Everett (Brendan Bradley), a late-20s guy who has found himself in a very comfortable, but horribly static, life in small-town Northern California. His seven-year partnership with Miles (Ted Coughenour) has eroded to that way-too-common place where love (or lack thereof) is expressed by which coupon to use at the store and who will scrub the mold in the shower. The only life left in the relationship is in the form of their son, Billy (Caleb Dorfman), a special needs child who demands much of their attention.

It's clear from the onset that Everett is miserable with the current state of affairs, but his love for Billy prevents him from actually doing or saying anything to the cold and neglectful Miles. So, like many people, he shuts up, puts up and trundles along without rocking the boat.

Miles and Billy leave for a week to visit Miles' parents in Seattle. Right on cue, a handsome stranger appears on Everett's cul-de-sac, hopelessly lost and looking for directions... it's Chase (Matthew Montgomery), a writer from Minnesota who has come to redwood country to get inspiration for his latest novel.

The sparks between Everett and Chase are immediate. Soon, as this is a small town, the inevitable not-so-chance meeting occurs. A friendship grows. Everett becomes more and more conflicted about his feelings for Chase until it all finally uncorks into a fairly well done love scene. Of course, this just makes matters worse for the love-starved Everett... does he abandon everything for true love or do the responsible thing and stick with his existing relationship?

The idea of this film is a tremendous one... I mean, how many people out there have this kind of mid-life crisis, where they question everything they have? And with a better writer (director David Lewis also scripted) "Redwoods" could have been a helluva film.

Unfortunately, Lewis doesn't give us much of screenplay and gets too caught up in the romance of this romance. He expects us to immediately buy into the Chase/Everett affair and not question anything else. And there are a lot of questions here... where did Billy come from exactly? Why is Miles so unaffectionate? If this is such a small town - where everyone knows everyone's business - why would Everett parade Chase around for all to see? Why would he introduce Chase to his family, for heavens sake? How could such a monumental, life-altering, oh-my-god relationship gain full-bloom status in the matter of just a few days? And are either of these guys aware that there's a whole lotta cheatin' going on?

Sure, we can draw our own conclusions, but it would have made for a better film if the characters did it for us. Annoyingly, the script also never really allows anyone to open up and say what's on their mind. Instead we get lots of pauses, lots of drawn-out, ponderous one-line statements, and a lot of nothing being said.

Most of the casting (and subsequent acting) doesn't help. First, Bradley is way too young to play someone in a seven-year relationship and with a ten-year-old kid. Second, he doesn't have the acting chops needed to carry the film. He's likeable - with his cherub face and goofy smile - but most of his deliveries suffer from massive over-elocution, and most of the acting choices he makes are way too deliberate.

Likewise, none of the supporting characters seems to make any sense in this story, and none do anything to really drive things forward. Note to all gay film writers out there: Please, please, PLEASE ditch the straight brother or best friend who uses the word "dude." Please.

The exception here is Montgomery, who is quickly becoming the Meryl Streep of gay indie romances. He knows how to turn in a thoughtful performance and does so here, eking out richness and depth from a script that provides almost nothing for him to work with. Look out for the day that this guy gets a solid script and co-star who can really act.

All this isn't to say that "Redwoods" doesn't have its finer points. Although the analogy between the redwood trees and the theme of the film is insanely weak, the nature footage is lush and beautiful. And if romance is really your thing - and you're the kind of person that doesn't mind chucking reality aside to get your romantic fix - then this film is definitely for you... `cuz kids, this is some serious sweetness devoted to celluloid here. Realists: Run away.

Me, I'm halfway between the two camps. That said, there was one beautifully realized moment in the film that really won me over: while Chase is hanging out with Everett, Miles calls. Everett takes the call and begins chatting, wandering behind the sofa where the patient Chase sits. Absently, Everett puts his hand on Chase's shoulder... a first sign of affection between the two. Everett rubs Chase's shoulder lightly, completely unaware that he's doing it. Why? Because it's the kind of thing he's probably done with his partner of seven years a million times over. This one tiny moment speaks more than any other scene in the movie, showing how comfortable Everett has become with Chase and how absently the two have fallen for each other. Now, if the rest of "Redwoods" was as well-conceptualized, it would have been worthy of a bunch more stars.

Where to start?

First off, this is one of the finest gay films I have ever seen! It is romantic, poignant, humorous, uplifting, sad, involving, and a totally thought-provoking, engrossing film that sucks you in from the first scene and does not let the viewer go until the surprisingly haunting ending!

The main character, Everett, is in a long-term go-with-the-flow relationship with his husband Miles. The two of them are raising a young boy and their relationship seems to be in a rut. While Miles and Billy (their son) are away on a family trip, Through chance, Everett meets Chase, a writer who is lost (in more ways than one).

Like the best of Charles Dickens' plot elements, coincidence plays a part in the two meeting not once, but twice and from there a poignant love story evolves and sweeps us, the viewer away.

Everett, a very moral man, yet dissatisfied with where life is leading finally succumbs to his feelings that have been building for Chase throughout the film.

Where he and Miles are a calm center of a storm, Everett (once he gives into his feelings) and Chase are a passionate hurricane! The film builds to a crescendo and leads to a surprising ending that I did not see coming (make sure you have a hankie ready). The acting and directing is awesome. I think this is now my favorite Matthew Montgomery film. He gets better and better with each movie!

Each moment feels honest and true! If this movie is a low budget film, its honesty and serene setting certainly does not show! The small town setting in northern California is beautiful.. the redwood forests seems the perfect setting for such a wondrous love story.

Needless to say, I cannot recommend this film highly enough. Kudos to the cast, its production crew and writer as this is a nearly perfect love story!

But it now! You will not regret it!

Everette and Miles have been partnered for 7+ years and are raising Billy, an autistic child with a love of sailing ships. The spark has obviously gone out of their relationship as all Miles seems interested in is making sure Everett removes the mold from the bathroom ceiling, use cost saving coupons and repair the lawn sprinkler while he and Billy spend some time with Billy's grandparents. Not even a hug or a kiss for Everette when he and Billy leave on their week long trip. A chance encounter with a young writer from Minnesota, Chance (yes, that is his name), who is trying to write a novel loosely based on his life brings Everette and Chance together for one amazing week.

I thought the acting was excellent. Although there are a few gaps in the overall story that are left for the viewer's imagination the outcome of the movie is surprising in this day and age of self-centeredness and personal happiness at the expense of others.

Life isn't always fair. Sometimes we make commitments and then situations change. Billy started out a normal child but became autistic. Everette and Miles' relationship probably started out well and then deteriorated as the stress of life and raising Billy took its toll. Chance had been searching to find his real self and he found it in the redwoods with Everette -- "I'm not lost anymore."

This is a story about love, forgiveness, commitment, and life itself. It is one of the best romance stories I have ever seen.

I thought this was a great movie. Yeah, it had it's fumbling moments. I was totally engaged in these two men. I cannot address the betrayal on Everett's part, other than....his queen, anal, "everything must be clean" persona would have sent me into the forest. I loved the interaction, the Father and Mother's interaction/concern and acceptance and perception of what their very unique and beautiful son had experienced when this writer rolled into the redwoods. I must say this....and listen director/writer. When they finally "got down"....it was WAY too fast........the groping, pants unbuttoning...etc. It reinvorced and cheapend the whole relationship. It could have been done much more slowly and erotically......reminded me of the almost rape scene in "Brokeback Mountain".......all that to say. I loved this film. Kudos to the writers and actors. .....and to Humboldt County. peace out, Bruce

I saw this film at it's World Premiere in San Francisco. I was very moved by how "true to life" and romantic this film is. The film made me question my own relationships & what value they have for me. Weather you are gay or straight I think you will find some fine emotional kernels to digest here!!!

This movie could have been better, lousy acting from the 2 main actors,
the setting was beautiful, as the Northern Calif redwoods are lovely.
Watch the movie, but you have been warned, sorry just telling the truth,

When I first read reviews of this movie, I was rather disappointed in the affair protrayed in the movie. Having now watched the movie too many times to count, I understand the importance of the affair and how it eventually, although unseen, help the main relationship protrayed in the movie. The chemistry between the two main characters is very evident,the looks, the slight touches, the growing affection is very evident and suberbly acted. I will admit to getting a bit emotional at teh end, although I won't spoil it by saying why. Overall, I was very very impressed with the movie, and am extremly happy to have thsi as part of my movie library.

Everett and Miles are a gay couple, raising their learning-disabled son Billy, amid the wooded splendor of the Russian River area north of San Francisco. After seven years, their relationship has become so comfortable that Everett (Brendan Bradley) - while still devoted to his partner - is somewhat bored and misses the early, romantic days they spent together. When Miles takes Billy to his parents for a visit, Everett stays behind to work, but is soon interrupted by a stranger stopping to ask directions. Chase (Matthew Montgomery) is a writer, who left his native Minnesota to get inspiration to finish his book, and check out the giant Redwood trees of Northern California, which have always fascinated him. Everett is likewise fascinated by Chase, and they start spending a lot of time together, eventually developing a sexual relationship. Everett's family meets Chase, and are a bit concerned about the decisions Everett may face. Before Miles and Billy are due back, so Everett takes one last walk with Chase, trying to decide where his true love lies.

Screenwriter/Director David Lewis spins an interesting and highly emotional story, testing the power of love to its ultimate limits. Theoretically, the characters could have easily have been heterosexual rather than gay, but I personally feel the emotion is stronger with a gay couple, obviously not bound by any recognized legal commitment, at least on a federal level. Ultimately, it is both a sad and comforting story, and I give it four stars out of five. DVD extras include deleted scenes, a "making of" featurette, and commentary by actor Montgomery.

I'm giving this film one star because I like trees, the movie however was painful to sit through (even the full frontal seemed gratuitous), the story was stale, the majority of the acting was unbelievably bad and frankly I was a bit saddened with the whole affair. I will say that I thought Matthew Montgomery was believable and did a commendable acting job (I would be interested in seeing another performance from him). This film just bothered me...

I was kind of excited to watch this movie because of the reviews I was reading on the movie, but once I got the movie and watched it, it honestly sucked !!, couldn't get into the story, plus I didn't like the ending, I wish it had a nice ending but I guess not all movies end good.