Newcastle

This is going to have to become a gay cult favourite given the array of pretty boys on display here romping around with each other and the only remotely heterosexual action being a guy failing to satisfy his prospective girlfriend while his pal gets a blow job from her pal under the covers. I mean, at a couple points near the end one is left wondering whether or not the twin brothers are going to end up making out.

This movie could have probably done with a bit of tighter editing with some scenes such as the campfire scene and the trip out to the pivotal surf site dragging on a bit long, but the in-water scenes are particularly good though essentially limited to two fairly brief but crucial points in the film.

Shane Jacobson has a touching turn as the father, but unfortunately it is very difficult to picture him as anyone other than his legendary alter-ego Kenny and sadly for me this somewhat overshadowed his performance.

I'd give this a 6 out of 10 and several people at the screening I saw left part way through, but for the reasons stated above there may be those for whom this film is a lot more appealing.

This is one of the few movies that really leave me full of doubts whether I like it or not.

It's about an angry teen boy, Jesse, who is a surf promise, and his difficult relationship with his two brothers. The older one, Victor, used to be a surf champion, but he had to quit and now he is a frustrated young man, who bullies his younger half-brothers. The other one is Fergus, he's Jesse's tween and he is gay. Around them there are a lot of other characters. All of them got some potential, but they are definitely too many. The parents are two good people who try to be there for their kids, but sometimes they just can't reach them. The grandfather is just adorable, wise, funny and comprehensive. And then there are Jesse's friends: Nathan, Andy and Scotty.

Let's put it in his way, it is definitely enjoyable and pleasant, the cast is good-looking and the landscape awesome (dispite industrialization hang over the waves in each scene).

Moreover, the characters and the story are quite catching and interesting, yet everything seems to be just skimmed. There are a too many characters, so none of them can get the depth he deserves. The same material used in a different way (maybe with a different format, like a TV series), may have lead to something much better.

So, my suggestion is to watch the film if you are into this kind of staff, but do not expect too much, otherwise you'll be disappointed!

Urged by a film director I admire, I decided to attend a 9:30 screening of "Newcastle" by a director new to me, at the Los Angeles DGA theater. I left the screening in a daze. I dreamed about the film and it was the first thing I thought of this morning. I've never met any surfers in my life - although I've seen "Big Wednesday" - but I have the feeling now that I know them and I was compelled and surprised by how much we have in common. The human drama attached to the waves is what sets this film in a category all its own. Unique. Coming of age in another planet, primitive and futuristic at the same time. A stunning cast of unknowns helps the feeling that we're peeping into something really private. The photography and the score contribute immensely to make this a phenomenal experience. Highly recommended.

While I've seen some over-the-top homophobic comments of two 'reviewers'. This is not a "gay-themed" film. There's a small, but bright facet that is gay-themed.

Family, sibling rivalry among brothers, loss, teenage high-jinx, and a lot of surfing overshadows the fact that one brother is gay. The few PG moments of sex are between two older teen boys and their girlfriends. If seeing a male butt, (in a non-sexual context), makes you squirm, you better stay away from a ton of "regular" movies and museums too.

Anyway, "Newcastle" is the story of how a tragedy enables a family to overcome nagging internal tensions. There are no villains, just victims of their own fear and disappointment. The performances are all topnotch. A minus for US viewer: occasionally the Aussie accents are a little hard to understand.

I just saw this film in LA at Outfest and I loved it. This film is well directed, acted, and shot. The subject matter may be challenging for some but the relationships were very real and contemporary. Young people are more open-minded about sexual identity and its many challenges and the director presents the issue of homosexuality in a way that makes it seem so natural to the situation. Mr. Castle elicits some strong performances from his neophyte cast which reminded me of Coppola's work with his young actors in The Outsiders. I also thought the adults were integrated into the story in a very real way--these aren't absent parents but people in their kids' lives. The surfing camera work is stupendous. Don't miss!