Defying Gravity (1997)

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:

Several scenes that were filmed ended up on the cutting room floor. The news clip report of Todd's bashing that was viewed by the fraternity originally included an interview with Sam, the coffeehouse "community action patrol" activist clad in pink. The scene would have identified and established the name of the character with audiences. As it ended up, Sam is never addressed by name.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The local TV news portrays a station named "WLV", an identity used only in the eastern U.S., yet the film is full of visual depictions of Southern California (L.A. street signs, L.A. Times, Calif. license plates).

Quotes:

Todd Bentley: Are you, like, in love with him, dude?

Movie Connections:

References "Star Trek" (1966)

Soundtrack:

Defying Gravity

Involving drama, good amateur cast

I went with low expectations, and came out really having enjoyed this movie. Griff and Pete, members of a fraternity at USC, are having an affair. Griff is closeted, and still lives at the frathouse. Pete has left the frathouse, and is on the verge of coming out. He want more from Griff than just sex. Griff is unwilling to have a real relationship (complete with dating, dining, acknowledging a partner), but does not give up on pursuing Pete. Pete even gets Griff to meet him at a gay coffeehouse. Then comes the gaybashing incident that changes everything.

The guys in this movie are handsome and believable. The frathouse scenes seem real--they let you understand the camaraderie that make people want to be part of frats, but at the same time deprive them of the room to be themselves. The gaybashing is an overused plot device, but it works to make this into a poignant movie about the dilemmas faced by gays who want to fit in, don't want to risk being open, yet need affection along with sex from another man.