Giant Little Ones [DVD]

Giant Little Ones (the odd title is never explained) starts out like it's about straight teenage boys -- making out with girls, bragging about "doing it", and other crap I don't want to see or hear. I almost turned it off, figuring the only thing gay about it was going to be the side story about a father who ran off with another man. Then, after it took a gay turn, it seemed to be showing that homophobia is even worse in Canada than it is here, which could have been great (I'm tired of hearing that Canada is so much better and more progressive than the US) if it hadn't been so brutally upsetting that I had to skip over some of it. Finally, about halfway through, it turned out to be something completely different, not like any other movie I have ever seen, and everything about it is excellent. It's the story of lifelong best friends Franky and Ballas (where they got that name is beyond me, but it's highly distracting, and it's my only major complaint about the movie) who do everything together and obviously care a lot about each other. They both have affluent and supportive families (Franky's dad is the gay one, but he's still actively involved with his kids and his ex-wife) and go to an affluent, suburban and evidently all-white public high school in Ontario (filmed in Sault Ste Marie, but that's probably irrelevant). They're both good-looking, smart, popular, and on the school's swim team. They both have attractive, popular girlfriends, although Ballas is the one who brags about what he does with his. During a very drunken sleepover after Franky's birthday party, Ballas gives Franky a bj (shown only as moving covers on a bed in the dark with sound effects). Afterward Ballas is terrified, so he preemptively tells his girlfriend (and therefore the whole school) that he woke up with Franky giving HIM the bj. Some already-hinted-at homophobia at school breaks out of the closet (especially, and predictably, on the swim team), and Ballas leads an unbelievably cruel, prolonged and relentless verbal and physical attack on Franky. The fact that they'd been so close is what makes Ballas's cruelty so extraordinarily hard to watch. What sets this movie apart from and above every other movie about teenage coming-out is the amazing but entirely believable way Franky deals with what happens. I won't say any more, but this is far and away the best such movie I have ever seen (I've seen them all) or anyone else will see in several lifetimes. Franky is an amazing and completely original character, and Josh Wiggins, the actor who plays him, cannot be praised highly enough. I've never been a Kyle MacLachlan fan, but he's perfect as Franky's dad, as are Maria Bello as his mom and Darren Mann as Ballas. There are no weak performances in the movie, and the screenplay and direction are perfect as well. Even the brutal homophobia (which I'm sick of seeing in movies) is essential and never gratuitous, and it is totally transformed by Franky's amazing and transcendent -- and yet completely believable -- response to it. Very, very, VERY highly recommended.

It was refreshing to finally see a gay-themed movie that was completely realistic and didn't include the standard/stereotypical over-the-top characters that typically ruin movies of this genre. Every actor nailed his/her performance. I was particularly charmed by Josh Wiggins who played the main character, Franky. Excellent casting. I also loved Kyle MacLachlan's spot-on performance. I do have one major complaint. The all-important/plot-critical sex scene between the two young men was nothing more than a few brief, mysterious motions under a blanket in a very dark room. What a cop-out! At the very least, some kissing and foreplay should have been shown. It seems like gross negligence to cast two super hot young men in a gay-themed movie and then never actually show ANY romantic contact between them, particularly when it's the pivotal scene in the movie! I understand that some mystery or uncertainty about what actually happened was critical to the plot. But, skipping over it completely was a crucial mistake in a gay movie. Avoiding it seems almost anti-gay. It left me curious to know if the actors (who may be straight in real life) refused to do the scene or if there was some other rational behind that huge misstep. Despite the aforementioned error, this movie is far superior to the over-rated, pretentious "Call Me By Your Name" that most people raved about. I highly recommend "Giant Little Ones" to anyone who wants to see a beautifully written and almost-perfectly executed gay-themed movie!

Unsentimental and smart portrayal of what happens in your upper middle class suburb when your alpha bff and high school swim teammate gets wasted one night and goes down on you, and you're pretty much ok with it but he can't deal with it. No maudlin cliches here, no soft core exploitation. The boys (20-ish performers playing 16 - 17) are preternaturally beautiful and very good actors, and that is enough -- intelligent suggestions of sex, locker room nudity, etc keep us in the story, and serve to evoke in us a sense of the reality of lust and sexual tension better than any literal exhibition of their flesh, or graphic erotic simulations ever could -- while at the same time the film is not at all coy about the fact that it is about the vagaries of adolescent attraction, both physical and emotional. It's kind of like an extended DeGrassi episode minus the lovable stupidity, and with a high degree of realism. This is evolved, aware film making -- not epic in scale like BROKEBACK, it only plays a few notes, but plays them very well. The actors never fail us -- the leads as well as those playing the parents and siblings, who thankfully are fully realized and have their own individual character arcs. Josh Wiggins in the lead, suggests a mix of young DiCaprio and young Matt Damon in looks, skill, vulnerability and honesty. Darren Mann as his troubled friend alternately broods and explodes like a young Brando. The two convey a deep, unexamined connection, fueling the action of the piece. A seasoned Kyle MacLachlan as an estranged gay dad mines subtle acting gold from an almost too-saintly deus ex machina voice of reason role. Everybody is good in this, without exception. All that and a comic nonbinary pal struggling to find the perfect prosthetic to stuff in their pants . . .

The many times I would skim right over the thumbnail because I thought I already knew the story and the same ole plot line. I was wrong. Seriously wrong. This movie is like modern-day Greek mythology: things happen, it flies on the wings fear, betrayal of self or by a close-one follows, you done me wrong, sworn off banished from the kingdom, confront then slay the seven-headed hydra. Later: the prince becomes a king and secures his queen; you my dear-friend/protector I give you back your chariot, and you will always be my ride-or-die; I fire off our torch into the constellations; peace is restored to the kingdom; and all live happily ever after😊 The genre says ‘Drama’ and that’s what this movie is. A good drama none restricted by some label or category. This movie doesn’t come across as LGBT only because the story is universal. Anyone can get with the characters because you may already know/have them in your personal life already. Nothing about this film is contrived, cries sympathy, rights, agenda pushing, orientation, and/nor gratuitous symbolism. Glad I’d finally stopped pre-judging the thumbnail with a stinky-face and gave this movie a go. Nice work, Keith Behrman

Movie already has been critiqued and described by others. Just wanted to give this my 5 star rating. The main actor, Frankie, (Josh Wiggins) was extremely handsome, talented, and acted his role extremely well. (He made the movie! - great actor, at such a young age) A very long list of good songs that were used in the movie, enhanced the presentation of the movie. Movie had a very positive ending, which says a lot, since a lot of gay movies I've seen in the past, the writers always like to kill off the main the character. Frankie was accused of being gay, when he was actually the victim of the act, not the contributor of it, yet, he confronted his crisis, and rose up and stood his ground, even when the odds were so greatly against him. In the end, he walked back into school, beaten and disgraced, yet stayed in the battle, by rejoining the swim team, and walking with his chin held high, and a new girl friend in his arms. Definitely a 5 star movie, and worth watching. I've now watched the movie 5 times since I bought the DVD.

I avoided this film for quite awhile and finally watched it on my Prime. Reasons being that Josh Wiggins didn't strike me as someone in a gay themed film. It took me more than half way through it to get into it. The "so-called" sexual encounter between he and the other male costar was weak at best. The bedroom scene was soo damn dark, you couldn't see what the hell was going on. I was under the impression with earlier trailers that Josh was the one who initiated the sex. No true.. Overall, it was O.K. and I ended up buying it to watch a couple more times and see if it improves. Josh is a very good actor. When the film was over, I thought he did a damn good job. Don't expect an Oscar film out of this and you'll watch the whole thing.

I wish this movie had gotten a much wider viewing audience and shown throughout the United States as this was such a good and powerful film. Mostly gay themed movies get labeled as low budget, back acting, drug use etc and this was far from the case. This was a film that was so strong and had so many messages and gave so many feelings I did not want it to end. I wanted to see what else was in store for the characters ....all of them not just the two main leads. This movie hits home on so many levels if you have been through something like this and rings so true and is so good its just breath taking. I found myself tearing up toward the end because of the journey of the characters involved because they were that good and so believable. See this movie!

This film follows two straight-passing jocks who hook up once, leading to one of them falsely accusing the other of assault the next day at school, which ruins his reputation. The characters never admit to anyone that they are gay or bisexual and they're both in heterosexual relationships in the end, so if you're seeking an uplifting or relatable gay film, look elsewhere. The dialogue is awkward and unnatural, exemplified by a cringeworthy scene where a very pushy trans man wants to examine the main character's genitals, which he is uncomfortable with, yet for some reason he still agrees?? It adds nothing to the plot so no clue why that was included. Overall, the acting was decent but the script was disappointing, and I regret purchasing the DVD because I'm never going to watch it again.

Une histoire intéressante, mais lente au début. Comme elle a été lourdement montée pour parvenir à des conclusions rapides de plusieurs scènes, elle est devenue assez difficile à suivre. Et la scène la plus importante, qui est le point culminant de toute l'histoire, est filmée dans une lumière très sombre, presque comme si elle était destinée à être censurée. On perd donc l'essentiel de l'intrigue. Mais une fois que l'on découvre de quoi il s'agit à travers les dialogues des personnages, l'histoire devient un peu plus claire. A partir de là, une fois que l'on commence à suivre l'histoire, le film se développe mieux. Il se termine de manière plutôt nonchalante par un feu d'artifice et nous nous demandons ce que tout cela signifie.

Emotional movie that really leaves a lasting impression. It was great! Thoroughly enjoyed, and speaks to many issues surrounding sexuality, toxic masculinity, and finding yourself in your youth.

finale "aperto", fa intendere che i due hanno fatto pace

I was happy with my purchase and it was quick.

商品の到着は早かったんですが、カラカラ音がして開けてみると爪の部分が割れていました。なんだか残念でした。