By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Thomas Bezucha
Starring: Ayre Gross | Eric Schweig | George Coe | Louise Fletcher | Tim DeKay
Country: united_states
Year: 2001
Running time: 100
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0212815
Trent says: “Ayre Gross, looking like a cross between SNL veteran and THREE KINGS actress Nora Dunn and a strangely attractive aardvark, stars as a gay artist who must return to his roots in the gentle movie BIG EDEN. This movie will not change the world and not everyone will enjoy the gentle tone, but it was enjoyable. It reminded me a little of the television show “Northern Exposure” only the characters were a little more grounded and real.
“Sure there are too many coincidences such as the artist and his high school crush both returning to town during the same month and as one of my viewing companions put it, ‘I like to see an occasional movie where the happy ending is apparent after the first hour.’ People seemed real and other than a WAY OVER THE TOP rush thru an airport it kept a nice mood throughout.
“Along with Gross and his very good performance there was character actress Nan Martin, not to be confused with Canadian lookalike Jackie Burroughs seen in the preview to LOST AND DELIRIOUS before the movie, Eric Schweig as an overly shy Native American, the always underutilized Corinne Bohrer, and wonderfly sharp support by Veanne Cox as Gross’s agent in New York. It has some laughs and jerks some tears.
It is realistic and too good to be true. At least it was a hundred times better than THE BROKEN HEARTS CLUB.
Oh, keep in mind that I love CHOCOLAT all you members who disliked that.” 4 cats
Michael says: “This film started of poorly, then somehow ended up being a pleasurable experience for me. For the first half hour or more, this film just couldn’t seem to get it right. Ayre Gross plays Henry, a 30-something year-old artist, about to enjoy his first exhibition in New York, when he must return to Big Eden Montana to see to his grandfather, his only living relative, who has had a stroke. There, he finds he may have the chance to tackle an unresolved issue from his high school days… his best friend, lifelong crush, Dean, who also has returned to Big Eden, sans wife (but with two kids in tow.)
“I’ve never been one for people who carry high school crushes beyond a year or two… before it starts to get pathetic. Still the introduction of Pike, a shy, Native American who also went to school with Henry and Dean, drew me in. I could have jettisoned Dean from the story, and thoroughly enjoyed the quiet moments that revolved around Pike.
“Yes, as Trent said, this one had laughs, and jerked the appropriate tears as well… it was also fairly cliche-ridden, but somehow pretty satisfying as the credits rolled. Good performances were evident, including Louise Fletcher (did she do her own singing?) as a family friend. And Eric Shweig was touching as the timid Pike. I enjoyed Veanne Cox as well, as the stereotypical, quirky New York agent.” 3 cats