Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Gay Cinema!, October 23, 2002
A lot of people may have issue with this movie because of it's content (an adult begins a relationship with a minor), but you really shouldn't let the actual story dictate your opinion of how good the movie is. To do that would be like saying that "Silence Of The Lambs" is a horrible movie because Hannibal Lechter kills people! That's not a good way to review a movie. This movie tells the story of an immature young man who returns to his parents house under some mysterious circumstances. Soon after arriving, he befriends a teen whose mother has recently passed away. The teen lives with his unloving, cruel father. It's obvious how the story ultimately unfolds: the teen falls in love with the young man and trouble begins when their respective families find out what's going on. However, this rather predictable story takes an unpredictable turn. You don't really want the couple to continue with their relationship because you know it's wrong, yet you sort of do (but with extreme reservations!) This low budget affair seemed like a foreign movie when I first turned it on, but alas, it's not. No subtitles! It's in English! The acting, direction, and writing is all top notch. The movie looks like it was shot directly on to videotape, yet the cinematographer (if there even was one) still manages to convey enough imagery through cold, rainy weather to give you the sort of feeling you need to have when watching a movie like this. The director tells the story concisely, and wisely avoids any meandering, boring added details that would have just detracted from what is here. There are too many movies made these days that are just unnecessarily way too long. There are a lot of good gay independent features, and there are a lot of bad ones. This is one of the good ones, and if you are a fan of gay cinema, you'll probably think it's good. I do hesitate to say that "you'll enjoy it"... it's not that kind of movie! But it is well done.
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A daring and disturbing love story, August 20, 2002
"Eban and Charley," written and directed by James Bolton, is a gay love story that treads into taboo waters. The film tells the story of Eban (played by Brent Fellows), a 29-year old teacher who has recently returned home to live with his parents. He strikes up a friendship with Charley (Giovanni Andrade), a 15-year old boy with a very troubled home life. As their relationship grows more intimate, the two have to deal with the legal and societal ramifications of the relationship."E&C" has a low-budget, indie feel that goes very well with the intimate story. Fellows and Andrade are very effective in the challenging lead roles; Andrade in particular is heartbreaking as Charley deals with the joy and pain of his unconventional love. Some of the dialogue is a bit too preachy and stagy, and some scenes seem a bit too melodramatic and contrived. But overall "E&C" is a well-made film that raises some troubling issues. As much as I admired the craftsmanship that went into this film, I am still disturbed by its ambiguous message and characterizations. Is a 15-year old really capable of giving consent to an intimate relationship with an adult? Should we see Eban as a dangerous predator, or a misunderstood nice guy? Does the film romanticize a type of relationship that can be very painful and destructive? In the final analysis, "E&C" is a film that is thought-provoking and ultimately quite moving.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Eye contact has never been so cinematic, August 3, 2002
What a lovely film this is. Despite its occasional pacing problems and some awkward line readings, the film's heart and the director's loving attention to the way people look and don't look at each other, shine through. I was surprised at how accessible and sympathetic the story was. Although I've never had a relationship of this sort, the idea has always fascinated me. There were moments when I could feel the filmmakers pushing the boundaries of what we will accept in our entertainment, but they never crossed that line. They never exploited the sensitive subject matter -- or either of the romantic leads -- to produce a political statement about taboos or societal norms. Perhaps most appealing to me was the naturalistic acting style (Eban and Charley and some of the supporting characters seemed like they were selected off the street one weekend and started filming the next). There are moments of protracted silence during which the story moves forward only through the interplay between Eban and Charley's eyes. And what beautiful eyes they are. Terrific casting, with all the needed chemistry that ensues. Restrained, careful, and provocative. Highly recommended.
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