Gimme Shelter

source: Gimme Shelter

I love this movie. Story and acting by the whole cast were superb. You'll never be the same after watching this movie and I can say this only of a handful of movies. It will change your perspective on the reality and the suffering of child abuse, but also it will lift you up and give you a lot of hope in Life. As the end titles were scrolling I found myself "nailed" to my seat, deeply moved, enjoying the beautiful soundtrack by Celine Dion and the pictures of the real protagonists of the story and not wanting to leave. Go. Watch this movie, it will be the best time and money you will spend today.

Most religious films are considered propaganda, and in the past, like thirty, forty years ago, anything against God was highly controversial... Well times have changed and religion in cinema (regarded positively) is even more controversial than what's become mainstream and fairly common. Either way the "Church agenda template," whether Christian or in this case, Catholic, usually consists of a troubled youth with nowhere to turn finding solace in the last place they'd ever expect. Enter the main character (seeking "Shelter," part of the Rolling Stones song title never played or mentioned or relevant), an androgynous teenager named Agnes, nicknamed Apple, who, from the very beginning, is up to her neck in trouble – but hardly her own... Mom is a scummy, yellow-toothed, drugged-out hooker, and with so much screaming commotion there's little time for the viewer to catch their breath when Apple hits the street. Attempting to bum a ride from a taxi followed by a failed carjacking, she winds up bleeding on the doorstep of an aloof man we eventually learn is her biological father… A multi- millionaire with a house more like a castle where Apple doesn't fit in… Especially after she finds herself pregnant and, choosing against abortion, meets her saving grace in the form of James Earl Jones as Father McCarthy. Not surprisingly, Jones plays a likable gentle giant with ease, but his chemistry with the troubled teen, beginning with reluctance on her part, is somewhat forced and contrived. In fact Apple's entire situation is so morosely dire and painfully melodramatic, we never get to know the real person behind the tattered clothing. Meanwhile, Rosario Dawson's villainous mom is quite the heavy but eventually goes way over the top, making Apple's stint at an all girl's home, run by a patient and kindhearted Caucasian Mother Teresa of the American ghetto, the only uplifting aspect of a movie that, in trying too hard to be edgy and raw, pays off with an optimistically saccharine yet surprisingly unpredictable conclusion.

"Maybe you're exactly where you need to be." Apple (Hudgens) is a pregnant teenager who escapes her abusive mother (Dawson) and goes to New Jersey in search of her father. After she finds him things don't go as planned. Neither him or his wife think Apple should have the baby so they bring her to a clinic. Knowing that isn't what she wants Apple runs from there and winds up homeless living on the streets and out of garbage until she is taken to a shelter for young pregnant women. Finding that place changes her entire life. After watching the trailer for this I thought I was prepared for how heavy the movie was gonna be. I wasn't. The movie is hard to watch in some parts and knowing that this is based on a true story makes it that much more powerful. The best part and the reason to watch though is Vanessa Hudgens. She so inhabits this character that you forget it's her. She is in a movie with Rosario Dawson, Brendan Fraser and James Earl Jones and they all struggle to keep up with her. The movie does have the feel of Precious and movies like that so it's not one you can watch over and over but it should be viewed at least once if for no other reason then to see Vanessa Hudgens' performance. Overall, a good and powerful movie with a career making performance by Vanessa Hudgens. I give this a B.

Gimme Shelter is a refreshing and uplifting story about a pregnant teen who flees her abusive mother and finds friends and support in a shelter for young unwed moms. The story is refreshing because it comes across as sympathetic to the pro-life side, and it actually presents the teen mom's father as a compassionate and decent person. So often Hollywood denigrates dads and redeems the flawed mom, but this movie,to its credit, takes a different and unusual approach. Good performances by Vanessa Hudgens,Brendan Fraser, James Earl Jones, and Ann Dowd really make this movie a satisfying experience. I hope a lot of people see it even though it doesn't take the easy predictable path that's so characteristic of mainstream Hollywood productions.

I saw Gimme Shelter on Jan. 24th (opening day) and it changed me. The film is realistic. Gimme Shelter is a gritty portrayal of a true story. This film will touch you & make you feel humanity. Vanessa Hudgens plays Apple who has lived a very difficult life filled with: sadness, pain, abandonment, abuse, and misery. Growing up she went from foster home to foster home. Rosario Dawson played Apple's sinister/ evil mother. Dawson did an excellent job of portraying a drug addict mother. Brendan Fraser (The Mummy) played Apple's father who works on Wall Street. The powerful message of the film is that sometimes strangers/ friends can feel close like family while your actual family can feel like strangers. Vanessa Hudgens should win an award for this film.

Very well acted and professionally produced - so inspiring to see a good approach to human life actually portrayed well on screen. Some of these kinds of movies can seem unreal, but this one avoids that problem. The movie made it very realistic - I hope that young women see it and learn what faith can accomplish. I'll be seeing it again, along with my daughters. I think girls will be encouraged to search for a pro-life solution to a crisis pregnancy. Let's hope that those people who so fanatically promote abortion can see the horrible pain that they are causing to so many young people - and finally have a change of heart!

"Gimme Shelter" is not an especially easy movie to watch nor is it fun in any way. After all, the main character, Apple (Vanessa Hudgens) is a teen that's been through it all—physical abuse, sexual abuse, repeated foster homes and a mother with less maternal instincts than a rabid hamster. And, to make it even worse, she's pregnant! One thing is for sure, she cannot stay with her vicious mother (Rosario Dawson)—so the film begins with her running away in search of her father (Brendan Fraser). The problem is that her father has never met her—and his new life is very ordered and his wife isn't especially interested in becoming step-mom to a tattooed, pierced and angry young mother-to-be. So, after an abortive stay with her dad and his family, Apple feels compelled to leave—living on the streets and hoping that somehow it will all work out for the best. Eventually, this unwanted young lady ends up coming in contact with an old priest (James Earl Jones) and he wants to help. He knows of a home for pregnant teens and convinces her to give it a try. This is no small task, as Apple has learned over her short life that you really cannot trust anyone. While the place turns out to be pretty nice, Apple just cannot accept that anyone could help her without some sort of agenda and you wonder if she'll stay put and have her baby there or, perhaps, on some street corner. Her first instinct is to just run. I really had to admire the script for "Gimme Shelter", as it manages to seem a lot truer than most stories about troubled teens. Missing are many of the clichés you might think would be and the film can be favorably compared to another great film about a troubled teen, "Precious". And, as a retired social worker and psychotherapist, I have worked on a lot of cases that were similar to this one and it comes off as believable and compelling. It's not always pleasant viewing but it is a high quality film—one you have to see to appreciate. In addition to a dandy script, what really impressed me was the acting. While Hudgens is in her mid-20s, she managed to pull off a convincing portrait of a scared and almost animalistic teen—and is a much meatier role than she's usually known for doing. Dawson is also a standout. While she was only in the film here and there, she managed to play an incredibly nasty character with great zest and was very convincing. For both roles, both actresses had to make themselves as non-glamorous as possible in order to be true to their characters. Additionally, Fraser's role is a lot more interesting and compelling compared to other roles he's taken such as "George of the Jungle" and "Furry Vengeance" (uggh!). "Gimme Shelter" is not always pleasant, but it is a film well worth your time. It's also a film well worth seeing with your teen, as the film has a lot you and your kids could talk about when it's complete. Overall, there's really nothing I didn't like about this film—I just don't know if such an earthy and not always pleasant theme will attract many viewers. I sure know it deserves a chance.

. . . if you live in or near a big city (such as Newark, NJ), and you should ALWAYS leave some nutritious food, a diet drink, and a warm blanket in plain sight if it's chilly outside, GIMME SHELTER preaches. If you can't find it in the goodness of your heart to help provide shelter for multi-pierced, chop-haired, tattooed, and abused, possibly pregnant-with-morning-sickness runaways in your late model vehicle, do NOT see GIMME SHELTER. If you cannot picture Darth Vader as a kindly priest, do NOT see GIMME SHELTER. If you feel you won't be able to restrain yourself from yelling "WTF!" at one or both of a flick's implausible endings, do NOT see GIMME SHELTER. If you've ever used the phrase "holy roller" disparagingly, or you think ULTIMATE GIFT, ULTIMATE LIFE, and ULTIMATE YULE LOG are propaganda films, do NOT see GIMME SHELTER. If you want to hear HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL's Vanessa Hudgens sing something in her starring role here, do NOT see GIMME SHELTER. If you feel the U.S. Supreme Court, with its two-thirds Catholic majority, has taken a raped woman's CHOICE over her own body out of her control in an America overrun with Sex Police, do NOT see GIMME SHELTER. But if you liked Mother Teresa, you'll just LOVE viewing GIMME SHELTER!

I just saw this with my girlfriend and I was definitely surprised. Didn't expect that out of Vanessa Hudgens. She had me invested in her within minutes. Great performances, great story. Very uplifting and emotional while touching on many societal issues. Refreshing to see there are still films out there that are grounded by real life tragedies that happen in our country every day and being brought to the attention of the people. I was very impressed at what what attempted and achieved with this movie. Didn't feel forced or self-indulgent. It really seemed like the film makers were truly trying to bring to light the stories of woman that go through situations similar to Apple's. And I also read somewhere that they had real women from shelters acting in the film. I personally just think that's so awesome to have people that have struggled in those circumstances be able to come in and help with the story being told. My hats off to the makers of Gimme Shelter. Definitely worth checking out