Hate Crime

Hate Crime

Moviecut—Hate Crime

More and more these days, we are seeing independent films comprised of all-star casts. It takes a solid screenplay for this to happen, and it was obviously Tommy Stovall's amazing script that drew these talented actors to the project. "Hate Crime" is a story about the power of love, prejudice, religion, and revenge. While the 2 central characters in this film are gay, this is not a "gay movie", although it hits a little closer to home for those in the gay community. The role of religion and the church also play a big part in this story. Stovall does an excellent job of portraying the contrast between a church that preaches of God's wrath and abomination and one that preaches of love and acceptance. It is thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, calming, disturbing, and entertaining all at the same time. The soundtrack is also amazing, and I hear they are looking into releasing a single. Unfortunately, this film is still only being shown at film fests and is scheduled to screen in Ft. Worth, New York, and LA in the next few months. This film definitely has mass appeal, and NEEDS to be picked up by a major distributor so that it can be seen in theaters across the nation. Although this film isn't intended to have a specific message, it gets people to think, and that's what a good story is all about. At a time when the country is arguing about the definition of "marriage", "Hate Crime" just might remind us to think about the true definition of freedom.

A great story and some fine acting made this more than just a movie about an anti-gay hate crime. Seth Peterson gave an excellent performance as Robbie, struggling to find out the truth about who beat and killed Trey. Cindy Pickett's portrayal of Trey's mother Barbara is full of anger and pain, and Bruce Davison's as Pastor Boyd overflows with hellfire and venom; two of the best performances I've seen so far this year. Giancarlo Esposito's as Detective Esposito fell a bit flat. His character came across very one dimensional - both as it was written and acted - and his reasons behind his lack of action were never really explained. But perhaps that's just from my having seen so many episodes of CSI. Everything else about the movie was fantastic. Stovall's well-written story could have stuck with the melodrama of a family coping with their son's death but instead turns the plot towards revenge with the last 20 minutes of the film being completely riveting. I usually don't comment much on how a movie is edited, but one scene in particular stands out to me: after Trey's death, two different church services are held, one at Trey's church and one at Pastor Boyd's. Trey's church is full of light, and Father Tim speaks of the love that God has for everyone; Boyd's church is decorated in dark woods, and pastor Boyd speaks of how God has decreed that two men laying together is an abomination. The two very different churches battle against one another thanks to fine editing from Darrin Navarro, showing how the same words can be interpreted in different ways.

I was rooting for the film in the beginning. The entire cast was terrific. The production was very good quality. I did not like the end of the movie because it showed the violent bloody beating in the park. The enthusiasm and mood of the audience dropped noticeably. Many turned their heads away, gasped, or covered their eyes. The film would have been as powerful without the unnecessary gore. That dropped my rating considerably. I also did not like it because the characters tried to solve the original hate crime by committing multiple crimes including assault, violating a restraining order, trespassing, breaking and entering, property theft, illegal taping, kidnapping, murder, and lying to law enforcement. They avenged a hate crime by committing another hate crime. The movie sends the wrong message to straight people - it encourages them to commit hate crimes. The movie sends the wrong message to gay people - it encourages them to use illegal acts to seek retribution. I saw the movie at the Phoenix screening May 4, 2005.

I saw this movie tonight. Thank god it was for a good cause ACOL in London Ontario. This movie was awful, every stereotype of gay men relationships and homophobia was trotted out so that somehow people might be able to identify with the characters. What a load of crap. What's even more annoying is that some will say oh you should support it cus its gay themed. BS I should support it because its good, it has value, not because of the subject matter. It's a damm shame is all I can say cus this subject has a great deal of potential and it could have been a great movie but alas it wasn't. Wow now they want me to rant on here for 10 lines about a movie that well frankly doesn't quite deserve that much attention, so I'll fill with nothing but this nonsensical crap. Crap on crap i guess the theme is.

I saw this movie when it opened in Sedona at the International Film Festival. It hit me so hard and it is something that I will always remember. I loved it so much, it has an amazing message. It isn't like the other movies that just directly bash a religion, it shows a positive, it shows what's right. It is a movie that shows all sides of the equation. You did an amazing job as well to surprise your audience, the ending was incredible. Your actors were amazing. Also, I loved that you had other people involved, the neighbor, the mothers. Different relationships grew in the this movie. AMAZING!! Thank you Tommy and Marc for making such an incredible movie. Also, your son is adorable! Thank you soo much!!!!

This is the second screening I have been to of Hate Crime. I liked it better this time than the first time. This film not only makes you think, it keeps you thinking. Being a straight, middle-aged woman, I expected a film that would be aimed only at gay people but I was totally wrong. This film is for everyone. It is the type of film that truly raises your awareness no matter how "understanding" or "accepting" you THINK you are. The first time I saw the film, my favorite scene was the two church sermons. The directing and editing was extremely well done. This time the scene between the two mothers that made a huge impact on me. It really made me think! The actors were excellent. Seth Peterson plays the central character, Robbie seamlessly. He made me cry several times in this film. I also thought Lin Shaye and Farah White were outstanding in their roles. This film borrows some elements from great films like "In The Bedroom" and "Dead Man Walking" but is not imitative at all. There is suspense and sorrow and well as a few surprises. Go see it if you can.

I just got back from watching the film. It was Amazing!!! The Story, The Acting, The Directing, The Sound, and Cinematography it was all Perfect. Yes there was that one scene that was so intense that I wished it wasn't there but I think that it was because it was done so well that it was to real for me. I just have to commend everyone associated with this film. Please I know that it is sometimes hard to get a small budget movie a DVD/Video Release but you must, you just have too. Everyone that has ever been in Love with someone to the point you would do anything for them has to see this film. I have been going to the film festival here in Philly for a decade now and have seen about 100 movies in those years and this is Top 5 with out a doubt.

I projected this movie last year when it was shown at a film fest I was working at. This is THE STUPIDEST type of movie I have ever seen. It's a Lifetime Channel movie, only with a vengeful lover instead of a vengeful wife. If there was just one substitution made, the gay couple for an interracial couple, you would have a terrible wannabe social commentary film. The film follows Robbie, who's lover Trey is bludgeoned with a baseball bat one night, as he tries to solve the crime and prove it was his hyper-Evangelic loony neighbor. What follows is a bunch of conundrums wrapped in a McGuffin of an idiotic ending. If this movie was trying to make a point in the pantheon of gay cinema, its that there can be moronic thrillers that play on stereotypes from gay people too. If you want a good movie, see something else. If you want to have you want a hate crime committed on you so to end the pain of this mind-numbing dreck, rent this idiotic mystery.