- ROCK HAVEN tells the story about Brady (newcomer Sean Hoagland), a young, spiritual man who moves to the coastal seaside town of Rock Haven with his overprotective mother Marty (Laura Jane Coles), who is setting up a Christian school nearby. When Brady meets worldly, seductive Clifford (Owen Alabado) there is an instant attraction to each other, even though homosexuality conflicts with Brady s dev
Is faith stronger than sexual attraction? Brady, an 18-year-old devout Christian, is given that test when he and his mother move to a scenic Northern California coastal town where he falls in love with his new neighbor Clifford. There to spread the good word, Brady instead becomes hopelessly attracted to this handsome athlete who is the complete opposite of him: vivacious and free-spirited. There’s an instant sexual spark and the two young men must navigate the divide between Brady s beliefs and their budding romance.
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March 5, 2010
#1
I did not like this film main reason is because did not felt any ” TRUTH” in it , is that idiotic country people really give that much importance to religion? UAU and waht is that ” CAMP” that he talks about in the end of the movie ? i place to TEACH gay people to be heterossexual? in civilized countries like mine this tipe of facility is AGAINTS the low because of PREJUDICE against sexual orientation. Every time o see a movie and see thinks like ” gay correction camps” os separete school for grils who are pregnant, i THANK GOD on my knees i was not bourn in that pityfull country
March 5, 2010
#2
Rock Haven should have had all the ingredients of a good movie. The scenery was spectacular and the storyline was the tops but it was sadly let down by the two main actors in my mind.
Sean Hoagland is a good actor and looks the part but in this movie he was clearly too old for his role and if he had acted it more maturely he would have been credible but he tended to over act it tying to make his part a boy of 18 and in doing so he came over as if he was rather simple. This spoilt it for me completely.
Owen Alabado I had never heard of and his acting in my eyes was dreadful from start to finish. Was he so obviously taken in with his own image that it reflected on his performance? He pranced and preened all the way through the movie and was not good at all. He was expressionless in most scenes which again was distracting. This is my opinion and I will not want to see any more movies by him – has he made any??
To end, it could have been a top movie but was let down by the acting in my mind. One actor who is a good actor but played it wrong and another actor whom I didn’t know playing it as if he was God’s gift to the acting profession.
Thumbs down I am afraid for this movie.
March 5, 2010
#3
Could have been a good movie. The first half is good, but the last half hour was strained, incomplete, and unexplainable
March 5, 2010
#4
“Rock Haven”
Religious Polarization
Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride
One of the movies to be screened at this year’s Arkansas GLBT Film Festival is the soon to be released “Rock Haven” (TLA Releasing) and we owe Lewis Tice a big thank you for allowing us to screen it. It is having its world premier at the 31st San Francisco International LGBT Film Fest and we are right behind them.
Of late there has been much said about religion, sexuality and romance. The three meet head on in “Rock Haven” as a young man with deep spiritual convictions experiences his first feelings of love. Sean Hoagland, a new face on the screen, is Brady, a young man who is deeply involved in his own spirituality. His mother, Marty, moves the two of them to Rock Haven to set up a religious school near the town. Brady and his over protective mother go about setting up the school based upon their religious ideals but things come to a turning point when Clifford appears o the scene. Clifford possesses a worldliness that instantly charms young Brady who falls for his seductive charms and Clifford, likewise, is harming by the young man’s good looks and naiveté. Of course, Brady is conflicted by his feelings which go against everything he has been taught and everything he believes in. However, Clifford’s charm is overwhelming and Brady is forced into coming to terms with his devoutly Christian beliefs.
Here is a movie that many Arkansans should be able to identify with. We all know the difficulties of being gay and living in the “Bible belt”. In this sensual love story, directed by David Lewis (who previously gave us “Under One Roof”–a comedic look at a gay Chinese-American juggling tradition with sexuality), we get a look at the joys and the pains of first love. Yet there is more than that here. We also have the story of how a young man chooses not to abandon his religious and spiritual ideals but finds a higher ground in which to practice what he believes. We get a sense of unity between God and man and man and love as we take a look at the “transformative power of faith” through a spiritual meditation.
We are very lucky to have this film and to be able to see it when we do. Following San Francisco and Little Rock, the movie moves on to Philadelphia to be part of the 2007 Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival with other festivals to be added as well. We are right up there with the big ones and this is quite an accomplishment for us.
March 5, 2010
#5
I purchased this film for the description. I was so wanting to see this charming tale of two young men falling in love and being happy in spite of personal conflict and emotions that made it difficult. Something I felt I could RELATE to. The concept of this film was wonderful. However as I watched, It became very evident that the true purpose of this film was not about love between two men, but moreso to indoctrinate the viewer against traditional religious beliefs. It was not about love at all. The young men are charming, great looking and the film started out very nicely. The scenery is breath taking and makes a terrific backdrop for the scope of what the viewer is expecting to see. The acting is good, as is the casting, yet as it progresses, the viewer is duped into watching a film of propoganda that vilianizes Christianity and simply seeks to make a political statement. I expected a story about one young man’s conflicting beliefs and desires and how he finds love in the maze of confusion and personal struggle. The ending makes the film makers intent very obvious and in my opinion the films ends in the most disappointing way I could have imagined. This is not a “feel good” movie, and there is little entertainment for the viewer. Not at all the review I had hoped of being able to leave for this film. TLA screwed up big time on this one. They had the makings of something compatible with “Latter Days” in this film, had they made an effort to entertain the viewer rather than try to indoctrinate the viewer. I am so utterly disappointed with this film. Such potential, such beautiful setting, a story that could have been head and shoulders above the rest, but such failure to deliver. I want so badly to watch this film again in hopes that it will mysteriously play out differently than it did the first time. I already know how I feel about same-sex relationships, Christianity and all of that. I don’t need to watch a video to “enlighten” me about the film makers views on such. I wanted to be entertained. I wanted to see raw emotion, a love story, two young men finding happiness with each other in spite of their personal differences and backgrounds. But it was not to be in this film. If you are looking for something with a happy ending, you will NOT get that with this one. I still have to give this film three stars for the acting, setting, casting and tremendous potential in spite of the rotten egg it laid. I never wanted to slap a film maker so badly. Come on people, get a clue why we buy these things!