reviews_and_ramblings | Shelter (2007) directed by Jonah Markowitz

Director: Jonah Markowitz

Writer: Jonah Markowitz (writer)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Sport

Plot: The feature-film debut from art director Jonah Markowitz (Quinceañera) pivots on the tension between responsibility to family and responsibility to self. Recent high-school graduate Zach (Trevor Wright) has one summer to reconcile the competing halves of his life. The aspiring Picasso lives in blue-collar San Pedro with his irresponsible sister, Jeanne (Tina Holmes, Half Nelson), her five-year-old son, Cody (Jackson Wurth), and their rarely-seen father. Zach gave up his art school dreams to toil in a diner and help look after his much-loved nephew. With his best friend, Gabe (Ross Thomas), away at college, Zach draws, surfs, and skateboards by his lonesome. When Gabe's novelist brother, Shaun (Brad Rowe, Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss), returns to his Orange County home to recover from a broken heart, he and Zach alternate between riding the waves and encouraging each other to pursue their aspirations. Shaun is gay, while Zach appears to be straight, but a casual kiss between the two soon leads to a secret relationship. Before the former returns to Los Angeles, the latter has to decide who he is--gay, straight, artist, cook, uncle, or father--and what he's going to do about it. Except for the location shooting, this low-budget indie plays like an extended episode of The O.C. what with all the "bro"s and "dude"s and love scenes tame enough for network TV. Nonetheless, Markowitz’s heart is in the right place, and Shelter may provide some real-life Zachs with the courage they need to follow their passions. (Kathleen C. Fennessy)

@IMDb
@Amazon: Shelter
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video

Cast (in credits order)
Trevor Wright... Zach
Tricia Pierce... Partier
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Christina Blevins... Partier
Matt Bushell... Alan
Cherese... Art Student (as C-Sharp)
Caitlin Crosby... Actor
Tina Holmes... Jeanne
Devin Leigh... Party Goer
Don Margolin... Father
Sybil Martinez... Art Student
Albert Reed... Billy
Brad Rowe... Shaun
Alicia Sixtos... Amber
Ross Thomas... Gabe
Katie Walder... Tori
Jackson Wurth... Cody
Tarek Zohdy... Drunken Partier

Shelter (2007) directed by Jonah Markowitz

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I really liked this movie. I found it very sweet in a 'Pretty Woman' kind of way, without being as sappy. They said Dude and Bro? I didn't notice, I guess, because it just sounded like... home.

I use the presentation of Amazon since I still have to receive it from Amazon: it's in an open order, but it should arrive in september-october... I can't wait to see it. Since it's a movie that I heard a lot recently I choose it as my first for Love in Action series.

Elisa

PS I bought this morning your book, I think I will read it tonight :-)

Oh, my goodness... Thank you so much. I'm so sorry you have to wait for 'Shelter' But you will enjoy it and I think it's worth it.

I only hope to have an HEA :-) I love my HEA. Elisa

I won't spoil anything but I think we have very much the same taste... I love my HEAs too...

Good! Elisa

One of the best things about reading your recommends is that if you liked something I feel no hesitation in buying it. They're really valuable to me as a reader. I think in the last week I bought about six or seven of your recommends...

Thanks for the kind words, and hope to always give you good advice, if not, please let me know, I'm always glad to discuss on books. Elisa

I'm reading Wild Rasberries right now and its absolutely LOVELY. Wow. I wonder if I've read any of Jane Davitt's work before.

I read Drawing Closer, and it's also very good. Elisa

I love this movie, Elisa, and I think you might, too.

I've watched it a few times. :)

P.S. The surfer dude in the low-slung towel is great eye candy! :) :)

Edited 2008-07-15 10:28 (UTC)

Can't wait to have it in my greedy hands. Elisa

P.P.S. Yes, he is! Elisa

Edited 2008-07-15 10:32 (UTC)

I've sent you a PM, Elisa.

Thanks! Elisa

i loved this movie. another good one is big eden.

lanie

LOL Big Eden is my choice for next week. You are pschic! Elisa

It's a very sweet movie. I've seen so many depressing older gay movies that it's refreshing to find a positive one. Hopefully, the new generation of gay writers are having better experiences and their positive experiences will be reflected in their movies and books.

"By this time, however, I had become a gay activist, and I began to look askance at that "sad-young-men" school of gay writing, in which, I regretted to admit, I now included The Why Not. When I read it again, I was dismayed to realize that there was hardly a happy character or incident in the book. Mostly it was gloom and doom. Now, it is true, gay life in those early years could be painful, burdensome, and dangerous; but in dwelling exclusively on those aspects of our society, I thought those books, mine included, were essentially dishonest. I decided that I wanted to write a book about a happy homosexual who remained happy, and alive, and gay, in the final chapter."

When I read your comment I remember this words by Victor J. Banis, about his experience at the end of the '60. I think the "sad" gay theme is something that persist, but yes, it's refreshining to see an happy film here and there :-)

Brad Rowe is the co-host of the exciting new online talk radio series MIPtalk - Conversations with the World’s Most Interesting People. Check it out at http://www.miptalk.com

Thank you for the head up! Elisa

Shelter (2007) directed by Jonah Markowitz

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Brad Rowe

Re: Brad Rowe