I had the chance to see Judas Kiss at the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco this year, and walked away very pleased. Rare is the gay film with fantasy elements that makes it into a festival, and I can certainly see why this movie has been making the rounds.
Judas Kiss deals with time travel without going into the sci-fi aspects of it. In fact, you're not even sure it's time travel, but whatever it is, it gives the characters a chance to reconsider some decisions and what might happen if some things had been done differently.
The acting in this movie is excellent. Charlie David and Richard Harmon as two sides of a coin are outstanding. (Harmon is someone to keep an eye on.) Sean Paul Lockheart is very good as the innocent boy pining for someone who doesn't notice him. And Julie Morizawa is the best pal everyone wishes they had. She plays the part with enthusiasm and just the right amount of self-aware amusement to be adorable.
The cinematography is rich and lovely, and the direction is fluid, keeping the movie moving and entertaining. The visual effects are very subtle and exactly right for the kind of non-descript time travel elements of the story.
Most important, though, is that the story is a great exploration of integrity, regret, and hope. Even after a few months after seeing the movie, I find myself thinking about the characters, the situation, and what if.
Judas Kiss deals with time travel without going into the sci-fi aspects of it. In fact, you're not even sure it's time travel, but whatever it is, it gives the characters a chance to reconsider some decisions and what might happen if some things had been done differently.
The acting in this movie is excellent. Charlie David and Richard Harmon as two sides of a coin are outstanding. (Harmon is someone to keep an eye on.) Sean Paul Lockheart is very good as the innocent boy pining for someone who doesn't notice him. And Julie Morizawa is the best pal everyone wishes they had. She plays the part with enthusiasm and just the right amount of self-aware amusement to be adorable.
The cinematography is rich and lovely, and the direction is fluid, keeping the movie moving and entertaining. The visual effects are very subtle and exactly right for the kind of non-descript time travel elements of the story.
Most important, though, is that the story is a great exploration of integrity, regret, and hope. Even after a few months after seeing the movie, I find myself thinking about the characters, the situation, and what if.