reviews_and_ramblings | Big Eden (2000) directed by Thomas Bezucha

Director: Thomas Bezucha

Writer: Thomas Bezucha (writer)

Genre: Drama, Romance

Plot: Big Eden is a tiny fictional town in northwestern Montana, as Preston Sturges or Frank Capra might have envisioned it. Timber and Cowboy country. This is the story of Henry Hart, a successful New York Artist, who returns to the town of his childhood to care for the ailing grandfather who raised him. Back in Big Eden, Henry must come to terms with his relationship to Dean Stewart, his best friend from high School, as well as the object of his unrequited love. All these years Henry has been pining for a dream image of Dean from back then. This is also the story of Pike Dexter, the shy, unassuming Native American owner of the town's general store, who is as surprised as anyone to find himself falling in love with Henry. The people of Big Eden conspire and attempt to bring Henry and Pike together.

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@Amazon: Big Eden
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video

Cast (in credits order)
Arye Gross ... Henry Hart
Eric Schweig ... Pike Dexter
Tim DeKay ... Dean Stewart
Louise Fletcher ... Grace Cornwell
George Coe ... Sam Hart
Nan Martin ... Widow Thayer
O'Neal Compton ... Jim Soams
Corinne Bohrer ... Anna Rudolph
Veanne Cox ... Mary Margaret Bishop
Douglas Sebern ... John Cornwell
Parker Livingston ... Andrew Stewart
Cody Wayne Meixner ... Ben Stewart
Josie Adams ... Becky Rudolph
Mark Twogood ... Lloyd
Christopher Kendra ... Bird
Steve Frye ... Fulbright
Steven Brian Conard ... Leon
Delbert High ... Dick
Kenneth R. King ... Wheeler
Dori Thompson ... Jenny
Mary Cassidy ... Carol
Dee Dee Van Zyl ... Didi Soams
Tom Cordingley ... Reverend Alston
Bekki Vallin ... Woman at Church
John Lystne ... Man at Church
Beau Holden ... Douglas
Wayne Mansaw ... Man at Piano
Christianne Brown ... Woman in Car #1
Cori Wolff ... Woman in Car #2
Alecia LaRue ... Woman in Car #3
Tenika Capouch ... Schoolgirl #1
Morgan McCarthy ... Schoolgirl #2
Sarah Dramstad ... Schoolgirl #3
Amanda Upton ... Schoolgirl #4
Nicholas K. Gilhool ... Carl at Gallery
Caitlin Carter ... Julie Bauer
John Dossett ... John Bishop
Justin Fonda ... Airline Attendant
Clifford Crick ... Airport Security Man
Trish Walsh ... Airport Security Woman
Brian Grossenbacher ... Man in Bar
Mary Rommereim ... Choir Director
Amanda Caldwell ... Choir Member #1
Doug Rommereim ... Choir Member #2
Isaac Simpson ... Choir Member #3
Jerry Fletcher ... Choir Member #4
Maxine Rasmussen ... Mrs. Stewart
Benny Reynolds ... Mr. Stewart
William J. Adamo ... Eligible Man
Gregory Paul Johnson ... Eligible Man
James M. Barry ... Eligible Man
K. Mark Summers ... Eligible Man
Keith Clark ... Eligible Man
Brendan Magone ... Eligible Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Susanna Harter ... Joy at Gallery
Edward Lee King ... Dr. Lee

Big Eden (2000) directed by Thomas Bezucha

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Of all the gay films I own (hint: a lot!) this one always winds up at the top of my list. It's a beautiful, beautiful story that isn't weighed down by a lot of unnecessary and gratuitous pain and drama for the sake of titillation. As the story shows, just wanting someone you can't have is pain enough.

It's just an adorable movie. No villains, no crimes, no ugly mystery waiting to be revealed. Everyone in it is likable (even the guy who winds up being a disappointment) and the story is almost completely focused on the couple, which I loved. It's a true romance.

#1 on my list. :)

Such a good review :-) I wait a lot before buying it in DVD, mainly due to the shipping cost, but after your comment I'm very happy to have done it. Elisa

Thank you Ms. Crow for such a much sought opinion. Yes, we need more movies like this to build a community where people are tolerant and accepting of other people's lifestyles. Many gay movies are made to appeal to the homophobic audiences. So it is like a TV ad, it reflects what the majority (who are the consumers of most movies) believe in even though these ideas may be myths. Romances whether straight or gay should entertain and educate viewers.
As an educator, I do not want students to have the impression from movies that demote any kind of relationships that are not "straight." Teenagers are very impressionable; they believe what they see or hear, but they don't have the maturity to check the facts carefully before adopting promoted ideas as truths. Isn't that tragic? Aren't we doing them a disservice by denying friendships and relationships with people whose lifestyles don't follow the "norm"?

www.myspace/hsiungk

Thank you for you comment. Kirby Crow is a master in writing tale that focuses more on the characters than in the sensational.

> Romances whether straight or gay should entertain and educate viewers.

I don't understand if you are pro or against this idea. I'm totally pro, since I believe that if we think a bit more to romance, probably we would hate less.

Elisa

Thanks for your feedback. As an educator, I advocate a balance of all kinds of literary work to showcase all facets of the real human experiences. Since the world or our microscopic society has many types of people, exposing students to just romances will make them venerable to terrorists and law breakers who can victimize them. Better to be prepared for people who don't play by the rules. Of course, if all people are romantic, it would be such a nice world to live in. If you want to experience what this is like, watch the Taiwanese movie "Formula 17."

> If you want to experience what this is like, watch the Taiwanese movie "Formula 17"

It's on my list. There are so much movie to see, but I try to see at least one per week. Elisa

Big Eden (2000) directed by Thomas Bezucha

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Adorable Movie without villains, crimes, and mysteries.

Re: Adorable Movie without villains, crimes, and mysteries.

Re: Adorable Movie without villains, crimes, and mysteries.

Re: Adorable Movie without villains, crimes, and mysteries.