Reviewed by: Pete Brown
CONTRIBUTOR
What’s wrong with being gay? Answer
Homosexual behavior versus the Bible: Are people born gay? Does homosexuality harm anyone? Is it anyone’s business? Are homosexual and heterosexual relationships equally valid?
What about gays needs to change? Answer
It may not be what you think.
Can a gay or lesbian person go to heaven? Answer
If a homosexual accepts Jesus into his heart, but does not want to change his lifestyle, can he/she still go to Heaven?
What should be the attitude of the church toward homosexuals and homosexuality? Answer
Read stories about those who have struggled with homosexuality
Featuring: | Robin Williams, Bobby Cannavale, Toni Collette, Sandra Oh, Rory Culkin, Joe Morton |
Director: | Patrick Stettner |
Producer: | Terry Anderson, Jill Footlick, John Hart, Michael Hogan, Robert Kessel, Armistead Maupin, Jeff Sharp, Brett Williams, Nina Wolarsky, Jamie H. Zelermyer |
Distributor: | Miramax Films |
“Listen for the truth”
Robin Williams stars as a radio host seeking the truth about the author of a mysterious manuscript in “The Night Listener”, based on Armistead Maupin’s novel.
In an indirect way, “The Night Listener” attempts to explore the concepts of truth vs. belief. The movie has a timely theme, considering that we live in a day when fiction is presented as fact by journalists and many people believe anything, just because they read it or see it in the media. Unfortunately, the film is uninspired and falls short of it’s potential. Robin Williams, in an uncharacteristly melancholy performance, plays the depressed and conflicted “Gabriel” who is a radio program host whose homosexual lover has just moved out.
Gabriel is in such a slump that he is unable to work. He reads a manuscript written by a mysterious author who describes being abused as a young boy, and something about it intrigues him. Gabriel talks to him on the phone, and a dependant relationship begins to develop (Gabriel’s dependency) with this young boy who is dying of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases which he was infected with as a result of being sexually abused by his parents and their friends. “The Night Watcher” depicts a few of the raw and lingering effects of brutally selfish sexuality on the body, mind, spirit and community of the willing or unwilling participants.
Writer/director Patrick Stettner attempts to keep the audience engaged by peeling away layers of riddles which are too easily answered, and the mystery and suspenseful impact end up being minimal.
Peter Nashel’s score helped move the film to a suspenseful and near psycho-thriller tone and pace, at one point. Unfortunately, it was overdone for the scenes and seemed contrived. Much of the film’s pace was painfully slow, and it continued to drag right up through the final scenes.
There was one instance of nudity, several scenes of homosexual innuendo, and a scene with implied child porn along with dozens of instances of profanity. The film had a pro-homosexual view and yet ends with the ironic statement that “Real isn’t how you were made, but what happens to you.” Could this be a writer/director that does not believe people are born gay?
Violence: Minor / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Moderate