Twoyoungmen, UT.

This little jewel of a film really covers a lot ground, literally, it's a road movie that takes place in the back country of Utah where two young men are heading to some clandestine rave. Road trips are great and it's even better when it's a buddy film that goes gay. But first I should cover the look and feel and the tolerability of it outside of a queer film festival screening. Twoyoungmen, UT is a beautiful shot and well written story. The dialogue is sparkling despite some moments when you can see that actors are reaching a little too much, but short films are supposed to be about trying something that is hard to do. Kudos to everyone involved with this flick. This movie is worth watching because it has heart..it'll surprise you.

I find it hard to explain which specific elements of the film made me like it so much. But I know that I liked it and the characters enough that I didn't want it to end when it did.

I agree with another reviewer about some of the weak motivation, but I thought both actors were strong and engaging. The action was understated. The scenes between the 2 young men played out quietly.

The scene of them driving across the desert in the middle of the night seemed full of foreboding or promise. (Just noticed that someone else mentioned "foreboding," too!) I couldn't tell which. I'm not sure there is a single answer.

I am looking forward to seeing more films from these actors and director.

I spoke with some in the audience after this screened at Cinequest. People were definitely polarized about it. Some singled it out as worthless. Others loved it. I think you'll notice that the reviewers on this site are just as split.

This is typical of powerful works of art. Something that many people strongly admire tends to have another set of people who hate it. And that's why lots of radio is middle-of-the road.

Will (Will Loomis) a high school kid meets Eli (Art Gager) at a gay bar in UT. They ride around for the whole night talking. What they talk about is completely uninteresting and boring.

Pretty bad gay short. Gager as Eli overacts to a degree that's almost embarrassing. Also his character is a jerk--always grinning and cocksure of himself. Will is just a judgmental wimp. The dialogue is terrible--NO ONE talks like these two. It all leads to an ending that had people around me saying, "What was that all about?" It gets 2 stars for some nice cinematography but this has bad acting, bad dialogue and a pointless script (what WAS the point of this all?). Not worth your time.

Director Sam McConnell has crafted a poignant story of two young men on the verge of finding themselves. With an undercurrent of foreboding, he expertly captures the mood of the fated night where these two characters first meet. Note the use of darkness and shadow, how it reflects the uncertainty faced by the two leads. Honestly, it's some of the most striking imagery you'll ever find in a short film. But more than that, the film does a great job of illustrating the connection between two people who are "neither here nor there," both literally and figuratively. While we don't get to see the relationship develop between them, there's no doubt that neither character will ever be the same again. It's far more powerful than what you'd expect from a 17 minute film.

This poignant short truly captures the unsettling first steps and the emotional turmoil surrounding coming out. It's easy to gloss over, or stereotype such pivotal moments in a person's life, but Director Sam McConnell successfully showcases the inevitable fumbling of youth and false bravado involved with the quest to find oneself. I found the interaction between the characters to be quietly unique, authentic while utilizing a common setting, (gay bar). The eye-catching and skillful cinematography further sucks you into their world, transporting the viewer out of the bar and into the beginning of their unfolding journey. Bravo.