Captivating movie !

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Truly, a very good movie with great acting by the two leads along with Clifford's mom. I enjoyed the movie immensely and mainly because unlike other movies, the depiction of the gay characters was portrayed in a realistic manner, giving the audience a taste of what being gay is really about and not different than the heterosexual way of loving! I think a lot of people in society consider being gay is all about sex when it really isn't and this film forwards that message. The sex scene was extremely tastefully done for which the credit goes to the director. Overall, I really enjoyed this film, it was touching, romantic and sincere and am hoping others will give it a chance.

I must be one of the easily impressed as described in an earlier review. I thought this film was excellently directed and written. Coming from a Christian and conservative background, I can relate with the tension of coming to terms with absolute truths about oneself. It is difficult to reconcile blind faith with the reality of actual experience. I envy those who can define and reach that balance. This film is a rare depiction of the inner conflict so many young and not so young individuals have to deal with daily. The strength of the character Brady shows those who feel alone and isolated that their feelings are valid. I wish I could have seen this film as an adolescent. To me, this film has the potential to comfort a confused teenager in a positive and potentially lifesaving way. For me Rock Haven hit home.

........."Finding The One Who Helps You Find Yourself".So, Folks......we could play a little game of "second-guess the Director?" Just kidding; after all, trying to do the "Monday morning quarterback-ing" thing is too easy a way out.......especially if we're honest and admit that David Lewis did do the biggest, most important-est thing right. What is that, you may ask? Well, in the case of a gay romance, be it a comedy or otherwise, doing the right thing is finding and bringing together two male leads who've got "C-H-E-M-I-S-T-R-Y" with one another. And in the case of Sean Hoagland and Owen Alabado, it's undeniably there---it's "cutely" there, I might add (a term which fittingly describes them and what we increasingly see them come across as). While some leads grab you from the very beginning.......others grow on you. These two are of the latter persuasion, but along the way they do hook you nevertheless. Honestly, in the initial scenes I was thinking: these two guys can't act, (particularly Sean's way of expressing himself---though it grows on you), but before long they were reeling me in. So, maybe this pair didn't have the acting "chops" to give us what a Cyrille Thouvenin and Stephan Guerin-Tillie ("Just A Question Of Love") gave us, or even what a Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe ("Shelter") happily bestowed upon us, but what they did give us was real enough. Thanks, Boys.Not to let Director Lewis off the hook completely, while others have already complained of over-numerous surfside and coastline "nature" scenes, as well as the big misstep of thinking he could effectively/believably act the minister role, I won't have to echo those thoughts. BUT.......I do feel I have to add this: in a religious community in which someone like "Brady's mother" would find herself comfortably at home, no way would I expect to find such a gay-understanding, "servant of the lord" as Reverend Brown. On the other hand, I also wouldn't expect to find in that "little white-steepled church" community a character such as Katheryn Hecht's "out-there" mother (Angie) either.To me, much of this film pits religious indoctrination (read: interpretation of the bible) vs. learning to be---and accepting---oneself. Brady, finally, epiphanies (please let me make that a verb) that he can be who he is.......and still have his religion. As he, in a closing scene, says to his mother: "I just want you to love me".......then forgives her after she replies she can't change either.Lastly, for myself and others of you who are observant and find positive meanings in such things, I'd like to ask that you remember the place to which Brady finds his way in the film's final scene is that very same beach-side location at which he first encountered Clifford. We are now sure with whom his thoughts remain. Plus, this realization then reminds me most tellingly of a bit of conversation occurring the morning following their night of love making. Laying in Clifford's embrace, Brady is asked by him: "How're you feeling?" Very significantly, Brady's answer simply is: "Safe." (Can any of you think of a more meaningful response to one's lover in this situation?). PS--Oh, yeah, and who's to say that there isn't a good prospect of a "reunion" between a more accepting, "reborn" Brady and a Clifford---whose mother, after all, will still be needing visits at her Rock Haven home?***This film is becoming "Addictive." Other such habit formers: "Brokeback Mountain" / "Boy Culture" / "All Over The Guy" / "Second Skin" / "The Man I Love" / "Latter Days"****

This is a good movie for the conservative religious to see, in hopes that it might show them the harm their narrow-minded views have, and how unchristian they are, but it's only mediocre at that.The best part of it is that you really feel the love Clifford feels for Brady, and you really do see how conflicted Brady is over his feelings. Having grown up in rural America, though fortunately not in such a strongly religious household, the fear and denial are *very* real, and the two actors did a good job in their roles.I also commend the movie for not artificially contriving to hide body parts. When the clothes come off, they come off just like they would for real, so what if you can see what you know is there? Lastly, though like all the messages this was relatively understated, they did hint at the fact that Brady was basically going through "coming out" as religious, though it would have been pretty obvious. Denial goes both ways, and it's a good thing for those of us non-religious sorts to be reminded to treat those we disagree with with the same respect we expect and deserve.The main problems with the movie are:1. It's too painful to watch the train wreck for someone who cares about the couple, and I don't think the message is strong enough to hit home the people who need it.2. The long drawn out "time passing" scenes feel like they're there to make the movie full length without having to write real dialog. The short snippets that comprise scenes are marginal enough that this is probably a good thing.It wants to be "Latter Days" for mainstream Christians, but falls fairly short, unfortunately.