MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: Shakespeare Gems to Icelandic Tragedies (With Some Crap Along The Way)

A mix-bag of movies this weekend. Let’s get right to it…

For More Mini Movie Reviews, check out:
MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: From Rom-Coms to Serial Killers
MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: A Bit of Drama and Some Hokey Vampires

---

I Want To Get Married

Just six days before the vote on Prop 8, the sweet and geeky Paul attends a wedding and decides he wants to get married to the man of his dreams. At the same time, he’s assigned to work for a conservative client who’s campaigning against gay marriage — and he’s too strapped for cash to say “no.” In the week that follows, Paul embarks on a hilarious and heartwarming personal journey to find the man of his dreams, test his moral limits and reconcile with his estranged parents.

An awkward movie with awkward acting. Awkward could be adorable but this totally lacked the charm. Shame. I expected better from Matthew Montgomery.

---

The Seminarian

A closeted student at a conservative theological seminary, struggles to come to terms with his nurtured beliefs and coming out to himself, his friends, and his only surviving family member. At this low point mentally and emotionally, Ryan ends up in a troubled online relationship which leads him to question everything he has known about God and Love.

Philosophizing about God and Love while dealing with a closeted sexuality should have been profound and moving but this movie has the personality of an oatmeal. The lead actor lacked charisma. Do not waste your time on this.

---

Getting Go: The Go Project

A shy young man schemes to meet a hunky dancer known as ‘Go’ under the pretence of filming a documentary about him, and New York’s nightlife. As the two grow closer the line between subject and filmmaker become increasingly blurred.

A so very not safe for work movie shot entirely with hand-held cameras and cellphones. The documentary style made it seem the whole thing was real. So real that I sometimes had to remind myself this was completely fictional. This was raw and honest. The bittersweet ending was very apt.

---

Rift (Rokkur)

Two men in a secluded cabin are haunted by their dead relationship.

A movie that simultaneously affirms my belief not to live smack dab in the middle of nowhere and made me want to go to Iceland. The gorgeous, sweeping landscapes served as a back-drop to a dark suspenseful plot that kept me riveted to the screen. This is one of those movies where the timeline of events could be confusing. Also with some surreal scenes that made you question reality. I love how the two lead actors brought out the palpable post-breakup tension and chemistry between MC’s Einar and Gunnar. This is not romance though so you know what to expect.

---

Leather

Birch, a young man living in the Catskill Mountains, reunites with Andrew, his childhood friend from the city.

A movie that was for some reason tagged as comedy although there was nothing remotely funny about it. The attempts at humor fell flat. This has so much potential to be good instead it was all over the place. I love friends-to-lovers stories but even Birch’s more hipster than hipster, old-school lifestyle and cool soundtrack couldn’t save this movie.

---

Private Romeo

A modern take on Shakespeare’s `Romeo and Juliet’. When eight male cadets are left behind at an isolated military high school, the greatest romantic drama ever written seeps out of the classroom and permeates their lives.

Saving the best for last with this brilliant Shakespeare interpretation I completely went gaga over. Never had Romeo and Juliet been done so differently yet totally made sense. The actors outdid themselves here. The chemistry between MCs Sam (Romeo) and Glenn (Juliet) was off the charts! But they were nearly upstaged by Josh (Mercutio) whose intensity radiates off the screen. Watch this now!!!

---

Hope you enjoyed this week’s Mini Movie Reviews. Have a great Saturday!