Here! provis ‘Shelter’ for gay-themed movi – The Hollywood Reporter

Contents:

• HERE! PROVIS ‘SHELTER’ FOR GAY-THEMED MOVI
• REVIEW OF “SHELTER”{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY ALEXANR STEVENSONMARCH 26, 2008/10:45 PMBY ALEXANR STEVENSONMARCH 26, 2008 / 10:45 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"REVIEW OF “SHELTER”","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-03-27T02:45:21.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-03-27T02:45:21.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"ALEXANR STEVENSON","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TTH IS, SHELTER IS AS MUCH ABOUT SURFG AS BROKEBACK MOUNTA WAS ABOUT ANIMAL HBANDRY. BUT FORTUNATELY FOR GAY FILM LOVERS STARVED FOR A CENT GAY ROMANCE, MUCH LIKE BROKEBACK, IS A WELL-MA, H, AND GENUELY TOUCHG STORY OF FIRST {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ZACH (TREVOR WRIGHT) SPENDS HIS DAYS AFTER GRADUATG HIGH SCHOOL FLIPPG BURGERS, TAKG RE OF HIS NEPHEW, AND WORKG ON HIS ART. WHEN HE’S NOT BABYSTG, ZACH SPENDS MUCH OF HIS TIME ALONE THE SUN-BLEACHED, LOWER CLASS DTRIAL NEIGHBORHOODS OF HIS CALIFORNIA TOWN, SKATEBOARDG, TAGGG WAREHO, AND THKG ABOUT HIS UNSPIRG FUTURE. ALL HIS IENDS ARE OFF TO LLEGE, HIS FATHER IS SLOWLY LOSG HIS ABILY TO TAKE RE OF HIMSELF, HIS UNMARRIED SISTER TAK LTLE RPONSIBILY FOR HER OWN SON, AND HIS RELATNSHIP WH HIS GIRLIEND IS ROCKY AT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ZACH’S PE IS THE OPEN SEA, WHERE HE RIS THE WAV ALONE. BUT WHEN PICKG UP A BOARD AT HIS WEALTHY BT IEND’S SUPPOSEDLY EMPTY BEACH HOE, HE NS TO OLR BROTHER SHN (BRAD ROWE), A WRER WHO HAS E DOWN OM LOS ANGEL TO OL OFF AFTER A BAD BREAKUP. THE TWO LONERS HAVEN’T SEEN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS AND THEY STRIKE UP A UT IENDSHIP SUPERFICIALLY ROOTED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TREVOR WRIGHT (LEFT) & BRAD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THOUGH NEHER OF THE MEN MENTNS , SHN IS GAY AND THE FACT IS GENERALLY WELL KNOWN AROUND TOWN. ZACH REVEALS THAT HE READ SHN’S FIRST NOVEL AND LIKED , WHICH TAK SHN BY SURPRISE. HIS UT ADMTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SHN’S SEXUALY AND TERT HIS LIFE CHANG THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR RELATNSHIP, AND BEFORE LONG THE TWO SHARE A DNKEN BUT CHASTE KISS AT THE BEACH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTER THIS TENTATIVE NNECTN, ZACH PANICS AND WHDRAWS. AND TO FURTHER PLITE MATTERS, HIS SISTER JEANNE (PLAYED BY SIX FEET UNR ALUM TA HOLM), WHO HAS HEARD THAT HE’S BEEN HANGG OUT WH SHN, MANDS TO KNOW IF HER BROTHER IS “A FAG” (ZACH NI ) AND SAYS THAT SHE DON’T WANT HER SON BEG AROUND A GAY MAN LIKE SHN — THIS, OF URSE, SPE THE FACT THAT SHN AND ZACH ARE FAR MORE ATTENTIVE TO THE CHILD THAN SHE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ASI OM HIS CLEAR ROMANTIC TERT ZACH, SHN ALSO ENURAG HIS NEW IEND TO PURSUE HIS ART AND TO REAPPLY TO CALIFORNIA INSTUTE OF ARTS, WHERE ZACH SAYS HE WAS NIED A MUCH-NEED SCHOLARSHIP THE PREV YEAR. AS ZACH STGGL TO NAVIGATE HIS EPENG RELATNSHIP WH SHN, HIS FAY DRAMA, AND HIS OWN AMBNS AND DREAMS, HE GRADUALLY TRANSFORMS OM A DUTIFUL, QUIET, AND PUT-UPON YOUTH TO A VIBRANT, TELLIGENT, AND LOVG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROWE (LEFT) & {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHELTER STANDS HEAD-AND-SHOULRS ABOVE MOST OTHER FILMS S GENRE (GAY ROMANTIC DRAMAS, NOT “GAY SURFER MOVI”) THANKS TO S SOLID ST, S TIMATE, KCHEN-SK FEEL, AND S RELUCTANCE TO PLAY TO THE CLICHéS THAT GENERALLY PLAGUE “G OUT” {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROWE PARTICULAR SH HERE AS THE OLR, WISER, AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLY GOOD-NATURED SHN. HE’S SEXY, EASYGOG, AND DIGNIFIED, AND SEEMS CREDIBLY AT EASE HIS OWN SK, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS THE SE WHEN STRAIGHT ACTORS TAKE ON GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND RELATIVE NEWER WRIGHT’S TACHED, POLE MOODS MELTS AWAY BETIFULLY AS HIS CHARACTER VELOPS, GIVG ZACH A SATISFYG ARC. SUPPORTG PLAYERS LIKE HOLM AND ROSS THOMAS AS GABE, ZACH’S STRAIGHT BT IEND AND SHN’S YOUNGER BROTHER (THE SCENE WHERE ZACH RELUCTANTLY OUT TO GABE IS FELY A HIGHLIGHT), LEND THE FILM AN THENTIC, UNRSTATED BEACH-TOWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHELTER’S AVOIDANCE OF THE STANDBYS OF G-OUT MOVI MAK AN OTHERWISE FAIAR STORY FEEL H. THERE ARE NO GAY BARS, NO DGS, NO DRAG QUEENS, NO CIRCU ANTHEMS, NO GAY-BASHGS, NO AIDS SR, AND NO SCREAMG PARENTS TO SPEAK OF. SURE, SOME OF THE ELEMENTS WILL LIKELY ENTER ANY GAY MAN’S LIFE AT SOME POT OR ANOTHER, BUT SHELTER’S FOC ON ZACH’S FIRST LOVE AND HOW FS TO HIS WORKG-CLASS SURROUNDGS LENDS A WONRFUL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO BACK TO THE SURFG: DPE THE TWO LOVERS’ MUTUAL TERT THE SPORT, ’S REALLY OF VERY LTLE IMPORT TO THE STORY, SO DON’T BE TURNED OFF FOR FEAR THAT THE FILM WILL BE RAILED BY A THIRD-ACT SURFG PETN OR HOBBLED BY AN OVERABUNDANCE OF WATERLOGGED SLOW-MO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THIS ISN’T KARATE KID OR FIGHTG TOMMY RILEY; ’S A STRAIGHT-UP ROMANCE THAT THE MOTIF OF SURFG AS A REPRIEVE OM URBAN SQUALOR AND EVERYDAY ISSU LIKE WORK, FAY, AND AMBN. SURE, THERE ARE SOME HOT GUYS AND OUT OF WETSUS AND A FEW SURFG SEQUENC, BUT THEY DON’T OVERSTAY THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SURFERS ON THE SET OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHELTER IS CERTALY ABOVE AVERAGE, BUT DO HAVE S FLTS. ONE, SHN IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLY ACMODATG TO ZACH AND AT THE LEAST IMPROBABLY NVENIENT HIS AVAILABILY. SURE, HE’S JT BROKEN UP WH HIS BOYIEND LOS ANGEL, BUT WH ZACH BEG SO HOT-AND-LD DURG HIS STAY, WE’RE REALLY SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT HE WOULDN’T PURSUE ANY OTHER TERTS? HIS CHARACTER SEEMS TO HAVE VERY LTLE TO DO OTHER THAN WA AROUND FOR ZACH TO NEED HIM, WHICH DON’T FEEL ENTIRELY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WRIGHT (LEFT), ROWE & JACKSON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LIKEWISE, HIS WILLGNS TO TURN HIS ENTIRE LIFE UPSI-DOWN FOR ZACH ( SOME MAJOR WAYS, AS WE LEARN BY THE END) SEEMS UNLIKELY AT BT, AND PSYCHOLOGILLY IMBALANCED AT WORST. Y, THIS IS ZACH’S STORY FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT SHN IS MALLEABLE TO THE POT WHERE RGS FALSE, AND FEELS LIKE THE CENTRAL ROMANCE ULD E A B MORE NFLICT OM HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SPEAKG OF NFLICT, A FEW OF THE ARGUMENTS (BETWEEN ZACH AND JEANNE AND ONE BETWEEN ZACH AND SHN) DON’T FEEL ANIC, PARED TO THE MOVIE’S MEASURED LM. THEY DON’T DIP TO MELODRAMA, NECSARILY, BUT PARED TO THE WONRFULLY EVEN TONE OF THE RT OF THE FILM THEY ARE A B {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHILE ’S A MOR QUIBBLE, THE TLE OF SHELTER ISN’T QUE A LOCK FOR ME. NOT ONLY HAS ALREADY BEEN ED MULTIPLE TIM (WH TWO MORE FILMS PRODUCTN WH THE SAME TLE), NJUR A DARKER FEEL THAN THIS FILM HAS AND REALLY BEARS NO DIRECT NNECTN TO THE STORY. I WISH THE TLE HAD A LTLE MORE TRACTN AND GAVE A B MORE DITN AS TO WHAT THE FILM IS ABOUT, AS CERTALY SERV TO BE NOTICED AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHELTER GIV HOPE THAT GAY ROMANCE HAS E OF AGE. IT’S A GAY LOVE STORY THAT IS BEG TOLD NOT JT FOR A GAY DIENCE, BUT FOR ANYONE WH AN TERT HUMAN NNECTN. IT DON’T FEEL NICHE, OR CLICHéD, OR TARGETED, AND S FOC ON THE CENTRAL LOVE STORY STEERS THE FILM AWAY OM UNNECSARY MP. NOT THAT THERE’S ANYTHG WRONG WH MP, BUT HERE THE ANIC CENTRAL RELATNSHIP IS TERTG AND THENTIC ENOUGH TO STAND ON S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IS THIS A SIGN OF THGS TO E FOR GAY ROMANC POST-BROKEBACK? FILMGOERS WHO HAD BURNED OUT ON GAY CEMA N CERTALY HOPE SO. IT’S A SHAME THAT SHELTER ISN’T GETTG THE WI THEATRIL DISTRIBUTN THAT CERTALY SERV, AS ’S A RARE GAY FILM THAT DON’T PREACH, PRS, MARTYR, OR BLDLY EMBRACE STEREOTYPE. BUT THOSE WHO HUNT DOWN WON’T BE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

HERE! PROVIS ‘SHELTER’ FOR GAY-THEMED MOVI

Work, which bills self as "Gay, Lbian, Bisexual & Transgenr Televisn. Zach's ma problem is not that he's overburned and nflicted about his rponsibili or that he's gay or that his ambns are beg thwarted, 's that he lacks a personaly.

A simple film that reli on the chemistry between Wright and Rowe, tellg a sweet g-of-age story about a young gay man tryg to figure out what he wants life. I hate g the term "gay themed film" bee very often most of the "them" the films are jt as relevant to all this is the story of a guy disverg that he is attracted to a man and attempts ( a very homogenized "movie of the week" way) to exprs all of the challeng that e wh that disvery. It's a sweet film to spe 's stereotypil plot pots (sadly there is always some tth stereotyp), but bee never gets to ep to the emotns of the ma ("gay") characters I don't thk serv as anythg other then "light entertament'.

REVIEW OF “SHELTER”{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY ALEXANR STEVENSONMARCH 26, 2008/10:45 PMBY ALEXANR STEVENSONMARCH 26, 2008 / 10:45 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"REVIEW OF “SHELTER”","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-03-27T02:45:21.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-03-27T02:45:21.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"ALEXANR STEVENSON","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TTH IS, SHELTER IS AS MUCH ABOUT SURFG AS BROKEBACK MOUNTA WAS ABOUT ANIMAL HBANDRY. BUT FORTUNATELY FOR GAY FILM LOVERS STARVED FOR A CENT GAY ROMANCE, MUCH LIKE BROKEBACK, IS A WELL-MA, H, AND GENUELY TOUCHG STORY OF FIRST {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ZACH (TREVOR WRIGHT) SPENDS HIS DAYS AFTER GRADUATG HIGH SCHOOL FLIPPG BURGERS, TAKG RE OF HIS NEPHEW, AND WORKG ON HIS ART. WHEN HE’S NOT BABYSTG, ZACH SPENDS MUCH OF HIS TIME ALONE THE SUN-BLEACHED, LOWER CLASS DTRIAL NEIGHBORHOODS OF HIS CALIFORNIA TOWN, SKATEBOARDG, TAGGG WAREHO, AND THKG ABOUT HIS UNSPIRG FUTURE. ALL HIS IENDS ARE OFF TO LLEGE, HIS FATHER IS SLOWLY LOSG HIS ABILY TO TAKE RE OF HIMSELF, HIS UNMARRIED SISTER TAK LTLE RPONSIBILY FOR HER OWN SON, AND HIS RELATNSHIP WH HIS GIRLIEND IS ROCKY AT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ZACH’S PE IS THE OPEN SEA, WHERE HE RIS THE WAV ALONE. BUT WHEN PICKG UP A BOARD AT HIS WEALTHY BT IEND’S SUPPOSEDLY EMPTY BEACH HOE, HE NS TO OLR BROTHER SHN (BRAD ROWE), A WRER WHO HAS E DOWN OM LOS ANGEL TO OL OFF AFTER A BAD BREAKUP. THE TWO LONERS HAVEN’T SEEN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS AND THEY STRIKE UP A UT IENDSHIP SUPERFICIALLY ROOTED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TREVOR WRIGHT (LEFT) & BRAD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THOUGH NEHER OF THE MEN MENTNS , SHN IS GAY AND THE FACT IS GENERALLY WELL KNOWN AROUND TOWN. ZACH REVEALS THAT HE READ SHN’S FIRST NOVEL AND LIKED , WHICH TAK SHN BY SURPRISE. HIS UT ADMTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SHN’S SEXUALY AND TERT HIS LIFE CHANG THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR RELATNSHIP, AND BEFORE LONG THE TWO SHARE A DNKEN BUT CHASTE KISS AT THE BEACH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTER THIS TENTATIVE NNECTN, ZACH PANICS AND WHDRAWS. AND TO FURTHER PLITE MATTERS, HIS SISTER JEANNE (PLAYED BY SIX FEET UNR ALUM TA HOLM), WHO HAS HEARD THAT HE’S BEEN HANGG OUT WH SHN, MANDS TO KNOW IF HER BROTHER IS “A FAG” (ZACH NI ) AND SAYS THAT SHE DON’T WANT HER SON BEG AROUND A GAY MAN LIKE SHN — THIS, OF URSE, SPE THE FACT THAT SHN AND ZACH ARE FAR MORE ATTENTIVE TO THE CHILD THAN SHE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ASI OM HIS CLEAR ROMANTIC TERT ZACH, SHN ALSO ENURAG HIS NEW IEND TO PURSUE HIS ART AND TO REAPPLY TO CALIFORNIA INSTUTE OF ARTS, WHERE ZACH SAYS HE WAS NIED A MUCH-NEED SCHOLARSHIP THE PREV YEAR. AS ZACH STGGL TO NAVIGATE HIS EPENG RELATNSHIP WH SHN, HIS FAY DRAMA, AND HIS OWN AMBNS AND DREAMS, HE GRADUALLY TRANSFORMS OM A DUTIFUL, QUIET, AND PUT-UPON YOUTH TO A VIBRANT, TELLIGENT, AND LOVG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROWE (LEFT) & {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHELTER STANDS HEAD-AND-SHOULRS ABOVE MOST OTHER FILMS S GENRE (GAY ROMANTIC DRAMAS, NOT “GAY SURFER MOVI”) THANKS TO S SOLID ST, S TIMATE, KCHEN-SK FEEL, AND S RELUCTANCE TO PLAY TO THE CLICHéS THAT GENERALLY PLAGUE “G OUT” {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROWE PARTICULAR SH HERE AS THE OLR, WISER, AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLY GOOD-NATURED SHN. HE’S SEXY, EASYGOG, AND DIGNIFIED, AND SEEMS CREDIBLY AT EASE HIS OWN SK, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS THE SE WHEN STRAIGHT ACTORS TAKE ON GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND RELATIVE NEWER WRIGHT’S TACHED, POLE MOODS MELTS AWAY BETIFULLY AS HIS CHARACTER VELOPS, GIVG ZACH A SATISFYG ARC. SUPPORTG PLAYERS LIKE HOLM AND ROSS THOMAS AS GABE, ZACH’S STRAIGHT BT IEND AND SHN’S YOUNGER BROTHER (THE SCENE WHERE ZACH RELUCTANTLY OUT TO GABE IS FELY A HIGHLIGHT), LEND THE FILM AN THENTIC, UNRSTATED BEACH-TOWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHELTER’S AVOIDANCE OF THE STANDBYS OF G-OUT MOVI MAK AN OTHERWISE FAIAR STORY FEEL H. THERE ARE NO GAY BARS, NO DGS, NO DRAG QUEENS, NO CIRCU ANTHEMS, NO GAY-BASHGS, NO AIDS SR, AND NO SCREAMG PARENTS TO SPEAK OF. SURE, SOME OF THE ELEMENTS WILL LIKELY ENTER ANY GAY MAN’S LIFE AT SOME POT OR ANOTHER, BUT SHELTER’S FOC ON ZACH’S FIRST LOVE AND HOW FS TO HIS WORKG-CLASS SURROUNDGS LENDS A WONRFUL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO BACK TO THE SURFG: DPE THE TWO LOVERS’ MUTUAL TERT THE SPORT, ’S REALLY OF VERY LTLE IMPORT TO THE STORY, SO DON’T BE TURNED OFF FOR FEAR THAT THE FILM WILL BE RAILED BY A THIRD-ACT SURFG PETN OR HOBBLED BY AN OVERABUNDANCE OF WATERLOGGED SLOW-MO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THIS ISN’T KARATE KID OR FIGHTG TOMMY RILEY; ’S A STRAIGHT-UP ROMANCE THAT THE MOTIF OF SURFG AS A REPRIEVE OM URBAN SQUALOR AND EVERYDAY ISSU LIKE WORK, FAY, AND AMBN. SURE, THERE ARE SOME HOT GUYS AND OUT OF WETSUS AND A FEW SURFG SEQUENC, BUT THEY DON’T OVERSTAY THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SURFERS ON THE SET OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHELTER IS CERTALY ABOVE AVERAGE, BUT DO HAVE S FLTS. ONE, SHN IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLY ACMODATG TO ZACH AND AT THE LEAST IMPROBABLY NVENIENT HIS AVAILABILY. SURE, HE’S JT BROKEN UP WH HIS BOYIEND LOS ANGEL, BUT WH ZACH BEG SO HOT-AND-LD DURG HIS STAY, WE’RE REALLY SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT HE WOULDN’T PURSUE ANY OTHER TERTS? HIS CHARACTER SEEMS TO HAVE VERY LTLE TO DO OTHER THAN WA AROUND FOR ZACH TO NEED HIM, WHICH DON’T FEEL ENTIRELY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WRIGHT (LEFT), ROWE & JACKSON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LIKEWISE, HIS WILLGNS TO TURN HIS ENTIRE LIFE UPSI-DOWN FOR ZACH ( SOME MAJOR WAYS, AS WE LEARN BY THE END) SEEMS UNLIKELY AT BT, AND PSYCHOLOGILLY IMBALANCED AT WORST. Y, THIS IS ZACH’S STORY FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT SHN IS MALLEABLE TO THE POT WHERE RGS FALSE, AND FEELS LIKE THE CENTRAL ROMANCE ULD E A B MORE NFLICT OM HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SPEAKG OF NFLICT, A FEW OF THE ARGUMENTS (BETWEEN ZACH AND JEANNE AND ONE BETWEEN ZACH AND SHN) DON’T FEEL ANIC, PARED TO THE MOVIE’S MEASURED LM. THEY DON’T DIP TO MELODRAMA, NECSARILY, BUT PARED TO THE WONRFULLY EVEN TONE OF THE RT OF THE FILM THEY ARE A B {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHILE ’S A MOR QUIBBLE, THE TLE OF SHELTER ISN’T QUE A LOCK FOR ME. NOT ONLY HAS ALREADY BEEN ED MULTIPLE TIM (WH TWO MORE FILMS PRODUCTN WH THE SAME TLE), NJUR A DARKER FEEL THAN THIS FILM HAS AND REALLY BEARS NO DIRECT NNECTN TO THE STORY. I WISH THE TLE HAD A LTLE MORE TRACTN AND GAVE A B MORE DITN AS TO WHAT THE FILM IS ABOUT, AS CERTALY SERV TO BE NOTICED AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHELTER GIV HOPE THAT GAY ROMANCE HAS E OF AGE. IT’S A GAY LOVE STORY THAT IS BEG TOLD NOT JT FOR A GAY DIENCE, BUT FOR ANYONE WH AN TERT HUMAN NNECTN. IT DON’T FEEL NICHE, OR CLICHéD, OR TARGETED, AND S FOC ON THE CENTRAL LOVE STORY STEERS THE FILM AWAY OM UNNECSARY MP. NOT THAT THERE’S ANYTHG WRONG WH MP, BUT HERE THE ANIC CENTRAL RELATNSHIP IS TERTG AND THENTIC ENOUGH TO STAND ON S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IS THIS A SIGN OF THGS TO E FOR GAY ROMANC POST-BROKEBACK? FILMGOERS WHO HAD BURNED OUT ON GAY CEMA N CERTALY HOPE SO. IT’S A SHAME THAT SHELTER ISN’T GETTG THE WI THEATRIL DISTRIBUTN THAT CERTALY SERV, AS ’S A RARE GAY FILM THAT DON’T PREACH, PRS, MARTYR, OR BLDLY EMBRACE STEREOTYPE. BUT THOSE WHO HUNT DOWN WON’T BE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

"Shelter" may feature a gay romance but 's a far cry om one of those chey gay movi. Shn è il atello gay più anziano l miglre ami di Zach,. Primo film prodotto dal work gay Here!

Zach has to al wh and master an unfair world, and part of that iquy is himself, bee he's gay. Kudos to all volved.It's odd that we need straight actors to nvce that gay folk are actually human, but the guys do whout apologi. gay, sexual, relatnships, feelgs or homophobic surfg, teenager, iendship, adolcents or kids teenager, iendship, sad, adolcents or g of age fay, emotnal, emotn, touchg or kids sex, sexual, relatnships, erotic or sensual.

Was the first 'gay themed' movie I've seen, I was like 14 and beme such a big al for me - felt like fdg my own ltle fairytale - sorry disney, you were never gay enough for me.

I love a healthy gay domtic relatnship!!

The gays gettg their happy endg? Easily one of the bt gay movie of all time. Don't know who needs to hear this but sometim movi whout unnecsary homophobic btaly and meangls osr-bay twists ARE better.