Gypsy 83

I had been wanting to see this movie since I first heard it was being made. Being a huge Stevie Nicks fan, I figured there'd be something in this movie for me. I even remember when they were inviting extras to come to New York City to be in the club for filming (of course I couldn't go at the time). At any rate, this DVD is actually pretty good. I wasn't really sure how I'd like it. It does kinda remind me of my younger days of trying to find some kind of acceptance in a world full of morons. I'm from the West Virginia/Ohio area, so I could relate to the idiots that were in this movie who were so clueless that you just wanna smack the hell out of them. I was bummed that they couldn't get the rights to use Stevie's music for this movie...I think that would have made a slight difference. But with or without her music, I thought the movie was really good. I wasn't so crazy about Karen Black's character, but that's just my opinion. I think the two main characters tho, Gypsy and Clive, gave a really good performance in this. Good acting.

I stumbled upon the 2001 movie "Gypsy 83" by sheer random chance here in 2021. And since it was a movie that I hadn't already seen, of course I picked it up and gave it a shot.

And rightfully so, because "Gypsy 83" turned out to be a rather entertaining movie. I must admit that I hadn't expected it to be something in this magnitude. Writers Todd Stephens and Tim Kaltenecker definitely nailed it right on the head with the story they concocted for this movie.

The storyline is an emotional journey of growth, friendship, transitioning into adulthood, coming to terms with loss and the past, and of not being ashamed of who you are. I am sure that there are many more levels to the movie, but these are the main focus points I think. And writers Todd Stephens and Tim Kaltenecker most certainly wrote this one well.

Not only was the storyline a moving and emotional one, but the characters in the movie were also amazingly detailed and fleshed out. So writers Todd Stephens and Tim Kaltenecker came up with very real characters with dimensions, qualities, quirks, etc. And you immediately take a liking to the characters and bond with them. Thumbs up to the writers on that accomplishment.

But a movie with a great script and story is only so much without having a proper casted selected of actors and actresses to perform in the movie. And I must say that "Gypsy 83" definitely had a great ensemble of actors and actresses. Especially Sara Rue (playing Gypsy) and Birkett Turton (playing Clive), the two lead performers, they really carried the movie phenomenally well and put on very realistic and emotional performances. And it was a blast to see legendary Karen Black in the movie, just a shame she didn't have a larger role.

"Gypsy 83" was a movie that definitely entertained me genuinely, and it was a rather nice surprise of a movie - one that I am very happy that I sat down to watch.

If you haven't already seen "Gypsy 83", and if you get the chance to do so, I recommend that you spend the time to watch it, because this was a good and wholesome movie.

My rating of "Gypsy 83" lands on a seven out of ten stars.

Who knew that Sandusky was another Oz? Not since Sherwood Anderson made Winesburg, Ohio THE place to be FROM, has Ohio seemed such an exotic backdrop! Todd Stephens once again shows us that being different in Sandusky may be the crucible out of which our most solid character values are forged. Sara Rue and Kett Turton--with a little help from Karen Black, John Doe, and Anson Scoville ( as the sexiest Amish man since Harrison Ford)--make being different ( Goth, fat, gay, whatever)seem like redemption.

A little road picture becomes, with good writing, direction, and superb performances, a modern-day Canterbury Tales, where the "Night of a 1000 Stevies" is as important a destination as St Thomas Becket's grave.

The journey is itself the important part of the story, and each character that Gypsy ( Rue) and Clive (Turton) meet helps to change them as they, in turn, alter the lives of those they meet.

Do not expect true love and happy endings because like all journeys of self discovery, nothing is perfect and believing, opposite from the adage, is finally seeing.

Rent this DVD; see this movie. Todd Stephens gets better and better. EDGE OF SEVENTEEN was far from being just another teen movie, just another GAY teen movie; so GYPSY 83, too, is far from being another coming of age film. I think it says that we are all essential: frat boys, rednecks, broken-down karaoke singers, Stevie Nicks impersonators, fat girls, hunky Amish farmers, Mary Kay sales queens, and Foto Hut booth girls.

Sandusky, Ohio IS Oz. Todd Stephens knows it.

Oh, and don't miss Karen Black's incredible sultry jazz singing. Why the hell isn't she on Broadway?

I really enjoyed this movie. The two main characters had incredible chemistry and I especially loved the story itself. The acting is in top form, all the actors did a wonderful job bringing a realness to their character.

I feel Stevie's management made a big mistake by not allowing ANY of her songs in the film. It would've added a little bit more to this otherwise perfect tale.

I bought the DVD yesterday and watched the extra features, I especially loved the "Battle of the Stevies" (although, there is no audio), it brought back memories when I went to "The Night of 1000 Stevies" several years ago. 10/10

This movie is REALLY cute. It's sort of a coming-of-age film which covers love, loss and sexuality. I wasn't expecting much of this movie but was pleasantly surprised. It's been awhile since I've seen a movie like this, it's a refreshingly off beat, funny, romantic drama. It was unpredictable and I actually cared about the characters (a big complaint for me with today's dramas is that the characters are unlikable or uninteresting, not the case here). Kett Turton's character Clive really steals your heart. I recommend watching the deleted scenes as they showcase more of Clive's back-story and Kett's acting skills. The characters and their relationships were very realistic, which to me is vital in movies. I could relate with their behavior in their situation, unlike a lot of young-adult characters, they didn't make decisions ridiculous and stupid enough to make me hate them (the actions of teens in main-stream films such as How To Deal and the likes are so stupid they anger me if I am ever forced to watch them). For those who are interested in this movie I also highly recommend Saved! also with Kett Turton, plus Mcauly Culkin and Jena Malone.