I didn't expect the film to be so angst-ridden and dark. I didn't expect to find almost every character in the film to be pretty despicable. In that respect, intentionally or not, it is more even-handed than I expected it to be. Even the "hero" activist character, Jack Noseworthy* --one of those sexy B-actors I like-- proved to be smack-in-the-mouth-worthy.
For each one of them, so much personal wrongdoing, manipulation, blindness, selfishness and so much moral arrogance. Really unappealing. Or maybe just too real on an afternoon when my own reality is unappealing.
Maybe I forget what the turmoil is like, moving out of the closet. It was a long time ago. And God knows it was not easy...or well-handled or without wrongdoing and selfishness or arrogance on my part.
The conservative Senator is a fat, cigar-chomping bully with a compliant but resentful wife. Not original. But the closeted son shows his own compulsive selfishness and cruelty, as well as lack of courage. He comes out, but in the most hurtful way possible. And the other "activists" are self-righteous children mouthing angry stupid platitudes while they use and insult each other.
(Not unlike some real life activists I've known.) The only eventually likeable characters are Noseworthy's straight female roomate, whose real victimization exempts her somewhat from blame for her depressive self-absorption, and the straight young man who befriends her despite her situation. Talk about cliches.
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*Turns out Jack has a two decade relationship with another man. Nice to know.
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