MO - December 2008 - (Page 25) p/reviews FEATURE FILM REVIEW Save Me Offers Salvation From The Average Gay Film Reviewed by Matthew McQuilkin Directing: B+ Acting: B+ Writing: A Cinematography: AEditing: B+ Overall: ASave Me opens in a particularly memorable way, introducing us to the characters prior to the opening titles by alternating between shots of decadent, drug-addled gay sex in a hotel room and shots of the comparatively mellow singing of Chad Allen and Robert Gant in the film Save Me. hymns by a church congregation. It poses a provocative idea So, of course, does much of the acting. Allen and Gant, as the leads, from its very first moments: this young man overdosing on the floor clearly have an unexpected chemistry, but it’s Judith Light (Ugly Betty), as the is in need of saving. Genesis House matriarch, who provides Save Me with its emotional It’s the manner of saving that gets called into question, but, refreshweight. As a woman who is increasingly obvious in her guilt over the ingly, director Robert Cary never does so by casting judgment on the death of her gay son, she offers some nuance and gravitas that she has enthusiastic Christians offering the help. Every major character here is not had the opportunity to demonstrate in a lot of earlier roles. misguided in one way or another, and they all have something to offer There’s some pretty heavy stuff here, and all the actors handle it well. each other as well. It’s possible that anyone—particularly straight people—who is far removed Anyone who has from the whole idea of reparative therapy (and thankfully, the overdone undergone any kind of term “ex-gay” is never uttered here) might find it difficult to connect to this “reparative therapy,” no movie. But when it comes to gay audiences, Cary speaks a fundamental matter how seemingly truth about countless people’s experience as they struggle to reconcile their subtle or minor, will find sexuality with their faith. And he does it with a truly compassionate eye on something to relate to those who look upon homosexuality as so-called “brokenness” (a word that strongly here. Chad Allen is used here, repeatedly). plays a gay man who sufSave Me offers an engaging story that is by turns riveting and heartfers a drug overdose, and breaking, and it challenges preconceived notions of people on both is given the options of eisides of the aisle in many debates, gay or straight, religious or not. It ther living on the streets all adds up to a big picture presentation of character development that or staying in “Genesis is really unlike anything ever seen in film before, and that’s what truly House,” a sort of ex-gay elevates it to the realm of great movies. conversion retreat. As Save Me opens December 19 at the Landmark Varsity Theatre, 4329 Cary presents the characUniversity Way N.E., Seattle. ter getting sober with the help of the Genesis staff, Read more of Matthew’s reviews of current and past films on the Web at http://cinema-holic.livejournal.com. he forces us to consider the implications of deeply ingrained homophobia in Judith Light (Ugly Betty) plays otherwise truly good and “Gayle,” who runs the ex-gay honorable people. conversion house in Save Me. This is not something often seen in movies about “gay struggles,” and it’s a nice surprise to encounter a tightly polished script that refuses to vilify anyone involved in these issues. Granted, when Allen’s character falls for a fellow housemate (Queer as Folk’s Robert Gant), it’s patently predictable, but that’s inconsequential. It’s the unique way in which a person is seen on his journey toward recovery that makes the difference. moseattle.com 25 issue 22 | december 2008 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4l1qzffGQM http://cinema-holic.livejournal.com http://www.seattlemuscle.com http://www.moseattle.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.