Edge of Seventeen

8/10 - a small indie gay film that leaves quite the impression

"Edge.." takes on a huge challenge as it takes the audience on an compromised guided tour of homosexuality in bloom while maintaining its entertainment value. The film features some excellent acting by some very unfamiliar faces and strikes an appropriate balance between gay sex and gay love. Kudos.

Liked this film and felt it was a nice try at giving us more of an understanding of the teenaged gay coming out. Lead actor playing Eric, was excellent in portraying all the inner problems that lead to his willingness to admit to himself what he wants for a sexual partner. And who wouldn't with Rod and Jonathan offering their hot little bodies to him for a night of passion. The one thing I feel he missed was the first kiss. It could have been played up more. It sort of came out of the sex thing. But then, a view of Rod's butt soon made that disappear. I liked the mother and her scene with Eric's admission he was gay. She showed not only the pain and confusion, but offered her arms and love to her needing son. Great acting, great scene. The bar scenes bored me, but, then, bars do bore me. I wish more could have been made between Eric and Jonathan. Here I felt there mnight have developed a relationship and Eric might have found some love in his quest for the truth. But, it seems love was not to happen. At least at this stage of his coming out. Too bad. See this movie, if only for the rare look of a teen coming out all by himself.

Anyone who grew up gay in the 70s and came out in the 80s can relate to some aspect of this wonderful film. The music, the clothes, and the look are perfectly recreated. The performances are honest, tender and intimate. The awkward conversations and situations only add to the realism. The complexity of Eric and Maggie's relationship is truthful and very emotional. Eric's internalized homophobia is something most of us go through...especially when we are not ready to "come out" to our parents and ourselves. I can recall dressing outrageously and experimenting with my hair to make a statement just as Eric does and then denying that I was gay.

Yes, some men are portrayed as "queenish" and "promiscuous", but that's because some real men are. QUEER AS FOLK should be this good.

Chris Stafford shines, Tina Holmes is incredible, Andersen Gabrych is seductive and Stephanie McVay is the mom we all wish we had. The fabulous Lea Delaria belting out "Blue Skies" is an added bonus. Looking forward to more greatness from the talents involved here.

A great gay companion piece to THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN.

This is definitely one of the best gay "coming-of-age" films that I've ever seen. Screenwriter Todd Stephens' choice of era (80's) to showcase his story can not be any more appropriate, drawing a parallel between the struggle of a young gay man in coming to terms with his sexuality and a nation in realizing "all that glitters is not gold." Both required the courage to honestly looked at the truth, and this is ultimately what "Edge of Seventeen" managed to accomplish. Quite often in the world of celluloid, being gay is reduced to being comical, sacchrined, or "romantically" bleak. Director David Moreton knew better. He chose to give us a multi-faceted depiction of gay experience instead. There's a bit of tears, some heartaches, a tinge of angst, a sense of loss, and a healthy dose of laughter; Kudos to the entire cast for their wonderful performances. The lead character could not have been played better by Chris Stafford, who has the incredible ability to convey such wide range of emotions/reactions, from being speechlessly moved with a sense of implicit pressured in realizing how hard his parents have to work to send him to college, to being awkwardly "pleasured" during a post-clubbing front-seat rimming session. Tina Holmes also delivered an outstanding performance as the "girlfriend" of the lead. Instead of playing it like a stereotypical witty and I've-got-ten-thousand-comeback-line faghag, Holmes' Maggie is every bit as complex as the young man in the spotlight. At times, she reminded me of a young Meryl Streep, with her dead-on display of subtle emotional shifts.