"Boy Erased" movie!

[supportivemom]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 7:37pm

So- my daughter's good friend plays Simon in this movie.  Looks GREAT and the cast is amazing.  It opens in select theatres this Friday.  It comes to my hometown on Friday, the 16th.  I think it will get a lot of buzz!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B71eyB_Onw

 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 5:34pm

I'm very curious about this one! Thank you!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 10:36am

JUST saw a trailer on this one....looks incredible.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 9:52pm

You are most welcome!  It's also based on a true story!

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 11/8/18 at 11:00am

I saw this over the weekend and loved it. Difficult to watch at times, but very moving and important.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 11/16/18 at 9:08pm

I caught this today and sobbed my way through the second half of the film. It's absolutely breathtaking. This will put Lucas Hedges on the map, and establish him to be one of the best young actors working today. As always Nicole Kidman was so brilliantly layered and nuanced. Not to mention whoever did her hair and costumes was right on the money giving us some southern Dolly Parton housewife realness.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/16/18 at 11:33pm

I saw this yesterday and was just blown away. I wanted to cry but like with some of the most upsetting things I’ve ever seen, I just couldn’t. It was just too much for me cry, if that makes sense.

And Kidman will win the Oscar for this. She just has to.

[sondheim94]

Posted: 11/17/18 at 2:14pm

I saw this movie opening weekend and was DEEPLY disappointed. Here's what I wrote on facebook - which may be unpopular:

I just saw Boy Erased and I’m upset. While I understand that it is based on a true story, I’m upset that the majority of LGBTQ films have us killing ourselves. I’m upset that the majority of these films have us hating our selves. Having us raped. Having the villain that hates gays turn out to actually be gay himself. These images and stories are harmful and perpetuate stereotypes. Hollywood needs to do better and LGTBQ+ & ally viewers need to demand better.

I actually just finished the book it was based on and LOVED it. Everything I hated in the film was treated MUCH better in the book. I'm so disappointed what we got was a hetero-palatable version. A straight-washed Hollywood version.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 11/19/18 at 7:33pm

Wow sondheim94.  So sorry to hear this.  I have not seen the movie yet.  Just knew it was getting a lot of buzz and some conversations going.   I also hope my daughter's friend did well.  Always appreciate honest input and sorry the movie upset you so much.  Perhaps people will also see your points to discuss as well.  Have a lovely holiday season. 

Jordan- I keep hearing great things about Kidman but also about Lady Gaga as well.  Should be interesting!  Thanks to everyone else for the comments and hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

 

[Ravenclaw]

Posted: 11/26/18 at 1:36pm

 

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I had a major problem with the fact that the only act of gay intimacy on screen is a rape. The camera holds steady through a very uncomfortable and deeply upsetting sequence, which I understand is necessary for the story, but then in a later scene, we cut away as Hedges enters the bedroom for a consensual encounter. Later, we do see that encounter, and he simply lies in bed and holds hands with the boy, and the film becomes self-righteous about that fact. In a later scene, Hedges passionately argues to the conversion therapist that all he did was hold hands with the boy. I wanted to yell back at the screen, "And it also would have been okay if it was a consensual encounter in which you did more than just hold hands!" The handling of these two moments really irked me.

Overall, I thought the film was well-intentioned but misguided.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 11/26/18 at 3:45pm

I so deeply disagree with some of the "spoiler" tagged comments above.
 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

In a later scene, Hedges passionately argues to the conversion therapist that all he did was hold hands with the boy. I wanted to yell back at the screen, "And it also would have been okay if it was a consensual encounter in which you did more than just hold hands!" The handling of these two moments really irked me.

 

Reply - that was literally the point of Lucas' character, though. He does not know that it was okay to do more than hold hands. He is not only deeply conflicted about his sexuality, he truly thinks he is in that place to get better - to heal. While I know that's not a thing - Jared the character is yet to come to that conclusion. He just doesn't want to upset and disappoint anyone around him.

The "villain" turning out to be gay was mentioned probably 30 minutes into the movie. They say that everyone at the "academy" had gotten past their demons and are their to help. Is it a harmful stereotype? Potentially. But that is the actual truth of this character (and real-life person, for that matter).

I thought the movie was beautiful. I for one loved every tough scene - the confrontation scene between his father and Jared. Damn. I had that with my mother. It wasn't easy. It was every bit as hard as they show. I had the near-rape experience with my high-school friend. I didn't tell anyone about it for God-knows how long. This friend absolutely was a golden-boy for teachers at school and made my life a living hell. My dad still thinks had he intervened early enough, I'd have been straight. This movie is very very real. It's painful, and it's the truth of a lot of people out there. I'm glad it was made. It was made for parents, more than actual gay people. I hope all parents watch this.