This is the basic love story but with a twist: can a young Mormon on his church mandated mission survive unchanged in Los Angeles.
In the first few minutes of the film when Elder Aaron Davis -- the young Mormon on the mission, superbly played by newcomer Steve Sandvoss -- is in a cab on his way to his new home there is a person with a placard by the side of the road with the inscription `Entering Hell.' It may be true.
It turns out that Elder Davis' next door neighbor is a very attractive gay party animal named Christian. How's that for irony?
Christian works as a waiter at one of those trendy LA bistros named `Lila's' -- owned by Lila Montagne -- the superb Jacqueline Bisset who has one of the best lines in the whole film; she is talking to Aaron when she says `Your church doesn't like alcohol or homosexuals. Hmm. Well, I definitely won't be joining. Can't imagine Heaven without both.'
After having many doors slammed in their faces Elder Davis and his mission partner, Elder Paul Ryder -- brilliantly acted by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Third Rock from the Sun) -- encounter Lila who needs a sympathetic ear.
As Lila says at one point `I don't believe in coincidence.'
Eric Palladino (ER) is unrecognizable as an AIDS patient -- you will not believe it is he.
Through a series of twists of fate Christian discovers that Aaron is the man he has been waiting for and goes to great lengths to ensure that they will be together.
Mary Kay Place is the Mother From Hell to Aaron -- she is at her most unsympathetic best.
There are many plot twists and turns and quite a bit of suspense when you are uncertain of the fate of Aaron.
But the film does end on a satisfying note.
I saw this film with a friend that just happens to be a gay Mormon -- and while the Mormon Church no longer excommunicates people for their sexual orientation -- most of the rest of the situation was pretty much true to life.
This is an excellent film with superb music that helps to develop the story and move the plot to a final conclusion.
You really should see it.
In the first few minutes of the film when Elder Aaron Davis -- the young Mormon on the mission, superbly played by newcomer Steve Sandvoss -- is in a cab on his way to his new home there is a person with a placard by the side of the road with the inscription `Entering Hell.' It may be true.
It turns out that Elder Davis' next door neighbor is a very attractive gay party animal named Christian. How's that for irony?
Christian works as a waiter at one of those trendy LA bistros named `Lila's' -- owned by Lila Montagne -- the superb Jacqueline Bisset who has one of the best lines in the whole film; she is talking to Aaron when she says `Your church doesn't like alcohol or homosexuals. Hmm. Well, I definitely won't be joining. Can't imagine Heaven without both.'
After having many doors slammed in their faces Elder Davis and his mission partner, Elder Paul Ryder -- brilliantly acted by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Third Rock from the Sun) -- encounter Lila who needs a sympathetic ear.
As Lila says at one point `I don't believe in coincidence.'
Eric Palladino (ER) is unrecognizable as an AIDS patient -- you will not believe it is he.
Through a series of twists of fate Christian discovers that Aaron is the man he has been waiting for and goes to great lengths to ensure that they will be together.
Mary Kay Place is the Mother From Hell to Aaron -- she is at her most unsympathetic best.
There are many plot twists and turns and quite a bit of suspense when you are uncertain of the fate of Aaron.
But the film does end on a satisfying note.
I saw this film with a friend that just happens to be a gay Mormon -- and while the Mormon Church no longer excommunicates people for their sexual orientation -- most of the rest of the situation was pretty much true to life.
This is an excellent film with superb music that helps to develop the story and move the plot to a final conclusion.
You really should see it.