vivalarsx

Oh, the sensitive-young-man-coming-out films--they're a genre unto themselves, and a pretty tired genre at that. But Summer Storm is really one of the better ones. Mainly because the young man at the center of the story, albeit sensitive, is not altogether virtuous or put-upon; he is a fully formed, very flawed character. So many of the things that do go wrong toward the end are his own fault. I really appreciated that; teenagers are dramatic to begin with, and gay teens probably more so--simply because walking around with The Big Secret just compounds all the other universal teen problems--angst pretty much seeps through one's pores. (A movie like this can bring back so many memories for those of us no longer teen-aged.) Very well-written, mostly well-directed, with a core of real feeling about it--like the best drama, one extends good will toward many of the characters. My heart was breaking for the wannabe girlfriend Anke through most of the movie, and she turned out to be such a strong, supportive, and important character. I expected histrionics and was pleasantly surprised by her reaction (and her resolve). Highly recommended.

I would watch it weekly without fail. The characters are 3D, their lives interesting, the dialog graceful and funny...so why was I so disappointed by and frustrated with this movie? Because there just needed to be more. The short running time compacts all the problems and situations down to bare essentials, and there is too much going on for this film to skim across the surface the way it does. I guess the point is to show us a snapshot of these people at a very specific point in their lives, and then move on. The more-than-able cast certainly helps--particularly Frances McDormand, who can do more with just her eyes and mouth than most actors can with a page of script (just watch the way she looks at everything around her--especially other people). And while I am a huge fan of 70s-style non-endings, I admit that this movie's abrupt stop (after a very convenient and pat wrap-up) left me with an "Eh" kind of feeling. While it is certainly watchable and interesting AS FAR AS IT GOES, this movie is no "Walking and Talking." Have you seen that movie? "W and T" is absolutely brilliant, another small portrait of long-time female friends, but because it narrows its scope to two characters in a particular situation (one's wedding), it achieves all the depth and poignancy and hilarity that "Friends with Money" lacks. If "F w/ M" were a TV series, if it fully explored the characters' lives and situations in some depth and detail, I'd be its #1 fan. Maybe the DVD will include deleted scenes (say about 40 or 50) and the movie will finally feel complete.