.... somebody, other than Arye Gross, were cast in the main role... I've seen the movie twice and I just do not like him, he's unattractive physically and more importantly he's uninteresting/boring... otherwise, I loved the premise, the setting the other characters... he just ruins the movie for me... I'm sorry, I just can't get around him...
shareThat's a valid point I guess. Even though I like the content of almost every movie Kevin Costner has done, I detest him in every one of them. His monotone, his searching for the words he supposed to say, his diminutive stature for the great people he plays, but hey that's just me. I don’t think I’ve seen Gross in anything before…
I don’t think I’ve seen Gross in anything before…You probably have seen Ayre Gross in a great number of movies and TV shows before. His IMDb Filmography lists 52 TV shows and 35 films. Click here, you might recognize a few titles.
You're correct, he's done a lot of stuff. He's one of those faces that you sort of recognize, but can't really place. A lot of his Filmography lists like one episode per series. Unless this is the way he wants it, his agent needs to work harder at leading roles.;-)
"...and don't call on Him to save you from your social graces and the sins you wish to waive"
Maybe Mr Gross prefers character roles where he can play a variety of different characters. I don't know if you've noticed, but, in TV especially, leading actors seem to get cast as the same type of character in show after show after show.
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Maybe Mr Gross prefers character roles where he can play a variety of different characters.
I think Arye Gross is kind of attractive; especially in "Big Eden." I will admit I did find his character to be somewhat dry, whiney, and too reserved at times, but it didn't ruin the movie for me! I'm not one to seek out gay themed film titles on purpose, and "Big Eden" was leant to me by a friend. I've since bought my own copy, and I find it's a film I can watch over and over again. I showed "Big Eden" to a friend, and he loved it too (including actor Arye Gross!) Arye Gross is also in a very funny and twisted comedy titled "Hexed," which was recently released on DVD (I'll be adding that one to my collection soon!)
shareIs "Hexed" a gay themed movie??
No, shoeihell, "Hexed" isn't gay themed. In "Hexed," Arye Gross plays a guy who is obsessed with a supermodel (Claudia Christian.) His character will do anything to be near her, and he does manage to become involved with the supermodel. The only problem is: She's a total lunatic! Some very funny material in this offbeat comedy, and some fun performances by the cast. Arye Gross looks a lot different than he did in "Big Eden" (I think he was more attractive in "Big Eden.")
shareThanx....maybe it will recycle around on my satellite one day. I'm not really a fan of Gross per say from "Big Eden"...so I'm not starving to see more of him, especially in a heterosexual farce.
I think Arye's ordinariness is one of the points- not all gay men look like models (though one might think that, given other films) and ordinary men deserve their shot at happiness as well, gay or straight...
share"I think Arye's ordinariness is one of the points- not all gay men look like models (though one might think that, given other films) and ordinary men deserve their shot at happiness as well, gay or straight..."
"Ordinary" straight men have had their "shot" in the form of heterosexual cinema farces since before I was born. We are a diverse lot within the gay community and I always applaud something other than the Queer As Folk/Will & Grace stereotype-or the idea that we all want to look like that.
I wish to tread lightly upon my friends but love them deeply
Excellent point!
Gay men are not all alike — beyond that they're all gay and they're all men. They don't all look like gym bunnies. They don't all act the swishy effeminate stereotype out of a mediocre movie or television show.
Congrats to Ayre Gross for playing a gay man with dignity and sincerity. Indeed, he played a gay character instead of a gay caricature.
While such portrayals are rare enough in themselves, when I come to IMDb to look up the cast, I often find that the actor playing the gay-man-as-a-regular-guy is from the UK, or Canada, or Australia. The US actors who play a gay character instead of a gay caricature are so rare that I can count them on my fingers.
Anyone else agree? Anyone disagree? Anyone have an idea why that appears to be so?
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"The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things,"
Of atoms, stars and nebulæ, of entropy and genes.
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"Congrats to Ayre Gross for playing a gay man with dignity and sincerity. Indeed, he played a gay character instead of a gay caricature."
Yes, I totally agree. There should be more movies with lesbian and gay characters portrayed as dignified human beings, not caricatures to be laughed at by the straight community, which in the process will feed more hatred or dislike towards the LGBT community.
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Frumious - I think Ayre Gross did a very good job. I get tired of people criticizing actors for being whiney or whatever, HE DID what the director wanted! However, I will admit briefly the first time I watched it, I wanted Henry to be better looking but that had more to do with what society thinks of Gay men, perhaps less so now. and yes, we are not all gym bunnies etc. There are variations in Gay men and it is nice to see as someone else put, everyone deserves a chance at happiness.
shareI think Arye's ordinariness is one of the points- not all gay men look like models (though one might think that, given other films) and ordinary men deserve their shot at happiness as well, gay or straight...
I agree with you,Jim. Arye Gross is WOOFY and VERY CUTE !!!!! His acting in "Big Eden" was perfect for the character. I just finished looking at HEXED after another poster advised me of this opportunity to see Arye and I was EXCITED to see Arye "shirtless" and/or "wearing only boxers" when he was not in bed and/or when he was in the shower !!!!!! Arye was also on Grey's Anatomy and did an EXCELLENT job.
shareI just finished this movie, and was thoroughly entertained and touched. Especially the meaningful and stirring said by the older characters. That line by the older lady, mentioning how Harry is lost, and cannot be found, because he keeps on wandering from one place to another - that was really sweet and tugged at my heartstrings. (Even though I just about completely butchered the actual dialogue of that scene, haha).
As for the main character: I agree that ordinary-looking people, who lacks a certain something, a certain charisma or charm, deserve happiness. Everyone has their own personal gifts, and is naturally entitled to happiness. But I did feel that Gross's portrayal of Harry added an unattractively whiny and self-pitying dimension to the character. Is there really any one scene where Harry is shown to be concerned about someone else? All of these townfolk are behind him 100%, and love him unconditionally - yet he is shown to be moping round most of the time, and whines about Dean in many scenes. Even Dean is drowning the guy in (platonic) love, but we never hear from Harry about how he appreciates these people who rally behind him.
All we see, is Harry pitying himself, almost to the point that it's self-indulgent. And I think the actor didn't rise to the occasion to remove this stumbling block. The character would have been more likable if he was shown to not be so selfish and consumed by his own unhappiness. But the actor could have made the character more likable if he injected some charisma or folksy charm to him. As it is, neither happened.
It's a testament to this movie, though, that I liked it very much despite of the above failings.
I would have liked this movie a lot more if the main character was at all interesting, I don't even care if he was likable (which he really wasn't), but at least had some form of personality (which he didn't). I would have liked this movie a lot more if there was ANY chemistry between Henry and Pike, I did not feel any. Finally, I would have liked this movie a lot more if they developed the relationship with Henry and Dean more, that relationship WAS interesting.
share"...if they developed the relationship with Henry and Dean more, that relationship WAS interesting."
I totally agree.
QAFNikitafan said:
I would have liked this movie a lot more if the main character was at all interesting, I don't even care if he was likable (which he really wasn't), but at least had some form of personality (which he didn't).
All we see, is Harry pitying himself, almost to the point that it's self-indulgent. And I think the actor didn't rise to the occasion to remove this stumbling block. The character would have been more likable if he was shown to not be so selfish and consumed by his own unhappiness.
But the actor could have made the character more likable if he injected some charisma or folksy charm to him. As it is, neither happened.
This is not a film about likable or charismatic men.
Wow, you've said it better than I would have! I agree w/ your sentiments btw.
I had a weird dream last night...
You had yourself a vision.
Thank you for nearly voicing this. That's exactly what I dislike in the denouement after Harry and Dean had a hushed discussion in the walk-in pantry. I could feel the pain that Harry experienced when he discovered how much Dean love him and try to love him the way he'd expect Dean to do. I feel they should see a therapist to work this out because Dean is certainly a better match for Harry. That would be an ideal denouement for me. I just despise Harry afterward when he sought out Pike whom he had not had much time to spend with. I think in real life that's not the judicious way to pick a spouse, right? :) Perhaps there should be a sequel where Harry finally realizes that Den is "right" for him all along. :)
shareCertainly Henry wanted desperately for Dean to be "the one" for him. But Dean is not gay, and therefore could not be the kind of partner that Henry needs.
shareAgreed. Also, it seemed like Dean was trying to talk himself into loving Henry 'that way' throughout the movie, and his tears in the car weren't only because he saw Henry and Pike bonding, but because he finally realized that he only loved his friend as that, a friend.
shareI agree with you(the OP)to a great extent. I have mixed feelings about the casting of Arye Gross. On one hand it's nice to see an ordinary average looking guy play the lead rather than some stunningly handsome actor. On the other hand he just doesn't have the acting chops to pull it off. In this role he comes off as whiny and annoying. You have to wonder what anybody saw in him.
shareI liked Arye Gross in this film. He looked like a regular, middle-aged gay guy who wasn't obsessed with looks or labels and he played the part well. He was quite sensitive and emotional when he needed to be, which I also liked. And I didn't think he was unattractive at all...in fact I thought he was pretty cute in an unassuming way and was a refreshing change to the plastic-pretty gay characters we usually get landed with. He looks sorta nice with his beard as well, in the extra features on the DVD.
The only weak link in this film for me was the Pike character, which just didn't quite work because the actor overplayed it. I liked the idea of the character, just not the finished product. I think I would have preferred if Henry ended up with Dean (faults and all).
A few years earlier, Gross would have been fine. He used to be much more attractive. The fact that he isn't that desirable physically doesn't help, I agree. But it didn't keep me from loving the film, which I do. Gross has other qualities as an actor that pay off.
shareYes but I think part of the point of the movie was that its not just young, pretty gay men who can have romantic relationships. I applaud the filmmakers for casting Gross and for making a middle-aged, average looking man into a likeable romantic lead.
shareI thought the movie was beautifully shot and just goes to show that love can land where no one could possibly expect it. I loved the way the porch crowd rallied around Pike in a situation that in the real world may never have happened. I loved the fact that Henry finally figured it out. I loved the shyness of Pike which was painful to watch at times but he finally came out of his shell.
As for Arye Gross playing this part, not everyone is a supermodel. Arye is very much a little jewish guy who played the part well. He deserved to be a little whiney since the love of his life dumped him for a woman in the movie and then continued to play with his heart because he didn't really know what he wanted. Henry KNEW he was gay. Dean couldn't settle on the tag. I also think Pike was beautiful and cried at the end when he got back home and everyone was there.
Excellent movie, will have to add it to my DVD collection.
I actually think Arye Gross's performance gave the movie it's character. I have seen some gay movies with all handsome and muscular men as lead actors. I am sorry to say it really is a turn off when their acting skill was not in par with their physique. I think Arye Gross is cute and talented. I can't imagine anyone else doing the part as well as he did.
shareI actually agree w/ you on this. I liked the rest of the cast chosen for their roles except for Gross. I do find him lacking in so many ways, he has no intensity, no character, he is dry & stale, no charm & no impact whatsoever. I had a hard time believing these 2 gorgeous guys confounded over whiny & unattractive Gross, I just don't see what they see in him. I see what makes these 2 other characters interesting or attractive as they are very good looking & charming actors, it shows in a lot of their characters in other films but it is more than obvious here, especially Schweig.
I was a bit surprised seeing my beautiful Uncas in this film, I imagined him as this stoic, romantic & intense hero, but...really he was still all those things in this film & yet he manages to be a unique character in this w/o losing all the above mentioned characteristics... I think I admire him more for his range, seeing him in LOTM, The Missing & now this, I'll go check his other films now....
I had a weird dream last night...
You had yourself a vision.