Red Dirt

There are several holes in the story of this movie... if you're one of those people who gets hung up on that, move along. If you're able to immerse yourself into something and just enjoy it, then I would recommend this movie... quite enjoyable.

I'm not a fan of it being billed as a "gay" movie; when Lee Todd enters the world of Griffith and Emily, and their slightly crazed Aunt Selma, Griffith for the first time has someone that he can consider a friend (besides his beautifully controlling cousin Emily, who desires more than mere companionship and will try anything she can to keep him in their native small Mississippi town).

I don't think the words "gay", "queer", or "homosexual" ever enter this movie; while the characters develop a love that is self-admittedly stronger than friendship, that's really what this movie is about. Griffith's frustrating love and sense of responsibility for his crazed aunt, Emily's obsessive blinding love for Griffith, and Lee's protective love of Griffith...

Add in an interesting subplot of a dark family secret (that had so much more potential that it actually delivered) and it's an interesting concept.

Having grown up myself in a very small rural town where few people ever leave, I related to the movie and thought that even if the story was a bit weak, it was still beautifully delivered.

Red Dirt takes place in a tiny rural community in southern Louisiana along the banks of the Mississippi River and revolves around Griffith. Full of angst, Griffith longs to leave this seething cess pool after graduating from high school, but feels he should stay and watch after his Aunt Summer (or as he says, 'Summuh') who raises him like a mother after Grif's parents. Summer is mentally ill...perhaps depression or bi-polar...and mostly stays cooped up in her room listening to depressing opera music. When he's not working around the farm or taking care of his aunt, Griffith hangs out with his cousin, Emily. Things change when a young drifter, Lee, strolls in and befriends Griffith.

The southern accents are slathered on a little thick to put it nicely. Normally, I can understand someone with a deep southern accent, but I frequently had to stop and replay the DVD to catch some of the dialogue. Some scenes are portrayed a bit over-dramatic as well...mostly the ones with Summer. There were several times I couldn't help but bust out laughing over the contrived dialogue and acting which is not necessarily a good thing for a dramatic movie such as this. Maybe this particular rental DVD had some scratches on it, but I came across some very noticeable jump cuts.

You have to wade through a lot of character development to get to see anything remotely gay, and then, seemingly, Griffith comes to terms with himself overnight. We see a quick male-on-male kiss and that's the end of that. To Tag Purvis' credit, the controversial issues are presented very matter-of-fact.

What can I say about the ending without giving it completely away? The characters that are complacent enough with living here move out, and the characters who long to leave wind up staying. No real explanation is given.

Overall, the ending seemed hasty and unsatisfying after sitting through a lot of beautiful cinematography. If you have ever longed to get out of the place and situation you are in and discover your true potential elsewhere, but kept coming up with excuses to stay...probably due to the fear of the unknown..., you will see yourself in this movie. Otherwise, move along. There is nothing to see here.

This film is getting a lot of (-) comments, and I can see their point of view, BUT, it's better than the're saying. True it's slow moving, but that captures the essence of the story. These are frightened and careful people, trapped in a backwater, and, though unstated, the brutality of Conservative Christian bigotry has great influence on their behavior. The love between the two guys didn't come from nowhere: from the first time they saw each other there was an electric current between them. The shower scene was almost explicit: Griffith COULDN'T KEEP HIS EYES OFF LEE!!!!. and the gay shop-keeper knew instantly there was something. And while the ending was overtly disappointing, I believe that, down the road (pun intended) they're going to get together. Acting was mostly good, but Walton Goggins was HOTTTTT. Watch him on "The Shield" and see what a good actor he is. All in all, I enjoyed the film, but WHAT WAS that short on the DVD?

I saw this film in New York after reading a good review in "The Village Voice." Like the film, I was raised in Mississippi and it seems that way too often Southern depictions lack the sense of place that is so much a part of life there. With this film, the thick air is not missing. You could clearly taste its presence here. It was wonderful to see it portrayed in a way that had the courage to be slow.

Karen Black was amazing, and her performance should have really received attention from the Academy. I know that her past work has included many fine Southern roles, including perhaps most notably in "Five Easy Pieces" and Altman's "Back to the Five and Dime" but truly this had to be the performance that really showcases her talents and the blindness of Hollywood. Are people crazy? Why don't we see more of the legendary Karen Black!

The look of the film is outrageous (as is the Soundtrack.) Very much like a painting.

I was also not surprised to find that the director was from Mississippi as well. I am just amazed that this is his first feature. There are subtle pieces of culture, cleverly tucked here and there, that I really got tickled at.

This film is not for everyone. It is not an action packed, violence drowned, produced piece of garbage. "Red Dirt" is a quiet, little gem that reminds me of home. And of the power of stories about real people and the complicated lives we can create within them. It is a film that could have easily slipped by me, but I am truly glad that it didn't.

While I do agree with many of the comments others had on the subject they have little affect on the overall impact of the film. Even the actors accents which all sound different - a cross between Australian and Bostonian and are often labored become less obstructive as the plot progresses.

Some would probably have liked this film to be more overtly gay or a Cinderella feel or the very least more nudity, might mask their disappointment by nitpicking about the pitfalls of the story,dialogue, characters and technicals. That's the only reason I can see for this film getting such a low rating and the ranting by some.

I don't disagree with many of the other comments made on the technicals of the filming, editing or characterization, but I was not disappointed in the end by any means nor do I think any of these technical drawbacks ruin one of the best love stories I've ever seen.