Home :: DVD :: Gay & Lesbian :: Drama  

Art House & International
Comedy
Documentary
Drama

Horror
Music & Musicals
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Eban and Charley

Eban and Charley

List Price: $24.95
Your Price: $22.46
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 >>

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pretty well done!
Review: I really liked the topic of the movie, and I must admit it was done very tastefully. The only major downside I saw was that the acting was poorly done. It was a good movie tho, and one I'd probably watch again.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pretty well done!
Review: I really liked the topic of the movie, and I must admit it was done very tastefully. The only major downside I saw was that the acting was poorly done. It was a good movie tho, and one I'd probably watch again.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: What are you all thinking?
Review: I tell you what, this was not what I was expecting and at 22$+ I am less than satisfied. Who wrote the reviews, the film makers? While the story line wasn't a complete loss, the acting and method in which the film was brought to life needed some serious help. I don't know what I expected, but I know it was more than I got. Rent it, save yourself the headache, I have a copy for sale.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: The good and the bad......
Review: I'm not sure what the point of this movie is. On one hand, there is a possible love story, between Eban and Charley-except that it's made fairly clear that Eban is a pederast who is pusuing the much younger Charly. Then there is the story about coping with a society where they are scorned-except that their only solution is to run away from it. I guess the ending is supposed to be romantic, but in the end you know that either Eban's going to get busted and sent to prison, or else he'll go after the next pubescent guy that catches his eye, leaving Charley worse off than before.
Well, as if that wasn't bad enough, the whole feel of the movie is low-budget, dark, and depressing. The music is annoyingly bad, and the actors, are mediocre. There is absolutely no chemistry between Eban and Charley to make the affair seem plausible, and actually, Eban comes off as a very creepy character. It's almost like they wanted you to hate him.
I could think of a dozen ways this story could be made better. Yes, there are instances when a 15-year old can fall in love with an older man, but why with such a pathetic character like him? In the end, you can only feel that Eban was an abuser, and Charley was a naive fool. Sorry-this movie had some potential, but the end result is extremely disappointing.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: kind of slow moving... found it a bit creepy
Review: Just a very slow moving film..... thought it would be better than it was.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: man boy love?
Review: no other film or for that mater moment in my life has touched me in the way this film touched me except maybe...well, let's not go there. but still to this day I remember my first love. we met in a cub scout meeting. I guess all I want to say is this movie gives me and my special mentor hope...keep praying brothers

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Doesn't Work.
Review: Okay, I admit it, I am not favorably inclined toward adults having sexual relationships with children. But, I also know that my standards and moral boundaries have nothing to do with the daily realities of many people in the world. So, who am I to say that an adult and child who claim to be in love should not be allowed to consummate their feelings. I guess that's why I was willing to give this film a chance. But, I must say that on most levels I think it simply doesn't work. The principle problem for me was Eban - there was just something very unsettling about him. He seemed to suffer from such an extreme case of arrested development that there was no way I could see an equal, balanced relationship between he and Charly. He was insidious and crafty, at times trying to appear adult-like and other times bringing himself to the adolescent level of Charly. I also got the feeling that he carefully manipulated his so-called "chance" encounters with Charly so that their outcome would be exactly what he calculated (which allowed him to sweep his young victim into an inextricable web). He was really creepy, in the extreme, and not the least bit attractive. I wondered why Charly would even want to be with him. The actor playing Eban was a poor casting choice.

I recently saw a film called "Our Lady of the Assasins" that dealt with pedophilia (among other things) far more successfully. Watch it to get a sense of a far more believably naturalistic approach to controversial subject matter.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: difficult subject, odd little film
Review: On the one hand, I thought the film was slow, the acting was at times good, at times forced, the story a little too timely, yet not really because there are no clergy involved, the supporting characters too black & white. On the other hand, the film was kind of hypnotic and dreamy, the emotions were fairly real between the two main characters, and the subject, while considered a taboo, was able to provoke a questioning of that taboo. A kind -of -mature 15 yr.old falling in love with a sort of not-so -mature 29yr.old. I believed it in this film. There was an underlying urgency and honesty in the relationship, two apparently damaged people needing what the other has to give. Not as good a piece of cinema as L.I.E., but strong enough to not let you hold onto your preconceived notions about intergenerational romance. There is no actual sex on screen, but there are expressions of emotion with the characters in their underwear that may make some viewers feel uncomfortable. But approach with an open mind. If this were a heterosexual retelling of Lolita, what would the preconceived notions be? Or if Eban was 34 and Charly was 20? I'm glad for films that make people stop and question their own ideas. I think I may need to watch this film again to see where my feelings are.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Their Ages Don't Matter, It's Still a Bad Film
Review: There are so many levels on which this film doesn't work. First of all, the age difference doesn't really matter. If this film *had* been about a 34 year old and a 20 year old, it would still have been bad. The two lead characters tried to deliver a convincing performance, but there wasn't sufficient plot tension or even romantic tension between the two of them to make their relationship believable. Why does Charley love Eban? They have nothing in common. Why did Eban love Charley? Merely because he saw him in a record store and, like an good album or CD, decided he must have him? Or merely because, like his film Dad announced, he is just a pedophile? Their parents threaten to call the police, once, and that is the thrust of the tension. There are no case workers involved, no police ever show up, no fights ensue. There are yard sales that are more exciting than this film. On a technical level one does expect to sacrifice big budget quality for the "indie experience". Sound is fairly good, photography is fairly good and the casting in marginal. Eban's parents are nicely cast as a 'down home' Seaside, OR couple. Charley's Dad is well cast as the selfish father and Charley's deaf buddy gives a good performance. In fact, the relationship between Charley and the deaf buddy is far more interesting than the relationship between him and the rather unattractive lead Eban. If viewers are interested in a film with an older man, younger man story line, they would be better off checking into seeing 'For A Lost Soldier', available also here on Amazon.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A SWEET LOVE STORY
Review: This film may be a little risque' in its subject....a 29 year old gay man falling in love with a 15 year old gay kid. But it is handled so sensitively, thanks to the performances of the leads...who invariably make one absolutely believe that their love for one another is genuine and not pedophilic, not taboo. The direction is slow paced but it works because of the restrained acting.

Brent Fellows and Giovanni Andrade project sympathy and one totally understands their feeling for each other. The soundtrack boasts some moody pieces and poignant touches which is an enhancement.

I enjoyed the film immensely and have watched it several times! It is touching and charming. You will root for Eban and Charley!

The only flaw I find in it is its 88 minute running time. It should have been longer.


<< 1 2 3 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates