Defying Gravity (1997)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

John Keitel

Writer:

John Keitel (writer)

Release Date:

9 July 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Some Pledges Are For Keeps

Plot:

Griff wants to maintain just a superficial relationship with his all-gay boyfriend, who gets seriously wounded in a gay bashing. |

Plot Keywords:

Gay Bashing | Friendship Between Boys | Acceptance | Self Discovery | Frat Party

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Daniel Chilson	...	John 'Griff' Griffith
Niklaus Lange	...	Todd Bentley
Don Handfield	...	Pete Bradley
Linna Carter	...	Denetra Washington
Seabass Diamond	...	Matthew 'Doogie' McDougal
Lesley Tesh	...	Heather
Ryan Tucker	...	Gary Buchanan
Nicki Aycox	...	Gretchen (as Nicki Lynn Aycox)
Laura Fox	...	Mrs. Bradley
Kevin P. Wright	...	Mr. Bradley
Matt Steveley	...	Stewart 'Stewy' Hanson
David Tuchman	...	Logan Franklin
Nick Spano	...	Bozzy (as Nick Fortunato Spano)
Jess Martell	...	Scotty
Katrina Holden Bronson	...	Rachel

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Boom Pictures Inc.

Trivia:

John Keitel wrote the film based on his personal undergraduate experience and filmed campus footage in the neighborhood and environs surrounding his graduate film school alma mater USC. Michael Angelo was in his senior year as an undergraduate USC Journalism major when Keitel approached him for the role of Sam while he worked at a West Hollywood Starbucks.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Pete starts to head down from the tree you can clearly see a safety rope come out from behind the tree.

Quotes:

Todd Bentley: Are you like in love with him dude?
John 'Griff' Griffith: I've never been more sure of anything

Movie Connections:

References The Crude Oasis (1995)

Soundtrack:

Redemption of Love

The pain of defying who you are

This is an interesting little film that deals with the two greatest fears of any gay person -- coming out and getting bashed.

Amidst the macho ritual of a college fraternity, Griff has to change pronouns so that he can hide the fact that he is gay and his date is a "he" instead of a "she." The title seems to mean that defying the reality of being yourself is as hard as defying gravity. Notice the symbolic material such as being up a tree and going down a road that is "Not a through street."

Griff is frustrated because he must endure listening to his straight friends tells about their romantic adventures. Pete is frustrated because Griff won't allow anyone to know that he and Pete are gay lovers. The pain they are both going through turns to crisis when Pete is gay-bashed and Griff knows something about the crime but is afraid to tell what he knows because that would involve his coming out.

For an independent film that was quickly made, the story shows real depth. Despite some awkward dialogue and acting, the movie is worth seeing and is really quite touching.