'Prayers for Bobby'
The harrowing book-turned-biopic about a gay teen's struggle for acceptance that led to his tragic suicide was heartbreaking on its own. But then Bobby's story became a reality for kids everywhere, as a string of them took their own lives last year, soon after the film aired on Lifetime in January (it was shot in parts of metro Detroit in 2008).
"Prayers for Bobby," based on Leroy Aarons' 1996 book set 17 years earlier, is a brutal retelling of a gay teenager (a commendable Ryan Kelley) driven to suicide by his narrow-minded, overprotective, devout Catholic mother. In the Emmy-nominated role is Sigourney Weaver, who plays Mary Griffith with an arresting rawness that devastates, angers and ultimately inspires. She's relentlessly stubborn over Bobby's homosexuality, pushing him to butch up, seek therapy and pray away the gay. When he can't, he throws himself off a highway overpass, sending Mary into a tailspin that's gut-wrenchingly real.
She sees her dead son in dreams, sobs in a bathroom stall, stares blankly into still air – every one of those scenes, meant to tug hard at the heartstrings, is powerfully played in one of the strongest performances of Weaver's career. But like many made-for-TV movies, "Prayers for Bobby" doesn't go deep enough; it's a rather simplistic portrayal of one life's harshest realities, ending in a turnaround that seems almost too easy. But its message is clear and heartfelt – so even if it's not a perfect film, "Prayers for Bobby" is an important one. Moreover, there's an intriguing pool of EXTRAS, especially for local Detroiters: a behind-the-scenes feature, taking us back to Royal Oak for the pivotal parade scene; cast interviews, including Weaver talking on-set about the role and her gay friends whom offered insight into coming out; and a few minutes with the real-life Mary Griffith.
'Easy A'
Being gay in high school is hard, but not with someone like Olive around. From invisible student to super slut, she's on the fast lane to popularity after she fibs about losing her virginity and it goes viral. Now she's open for business, and her first customer is the teased queer kid. So Olive (Emma Stone, Golden Globe-nominated for her role) fake sleeps with him. Soon she's the school's best (non) lay who's giving it up to all the outcasts and collecting some gift cards in the process.
It's a star-making vehicle for Stone ("Superbad," "Zombieland"), a salty presence who's easy… and easy to fall in love with. She's got wit to spare, priceless scheming, irresistible charm and the kind of played-up innocence that propels her wannabe antics into outlandish hilarity (in reality she's smart, nerdy and has a penchant for pop music – even though she tries to deny it).
From bedding Brandon, the gay kid who you know has no chance in hell of achieving heterosexual status (one long joke during the pretend put-out), to wickedly mocking her school's good Christian girl (Amanda Bynes) who turns against Olive to spite her "slutiness," the laughs linger long after the scenes wrap. Even her freewheeling parents, played by Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson, crank up the cackles every time they're onscreen, either jesting their daughter for having a gay boyfriend or, in her father's case, admitting he was once gay (this probably isn't news to Mom; she slept with "mostly men" in school).
As teen comedies go, "Easy A" is right up there with "Clueless" and "Mean Girls." It's not only funny, but it's also sharp, gayed-up, fresh despite its obvious '80s influences, and an interesting twist on tolerance and self-actualization. And, best of all, it stars Stone, who's on her way to becoming the Molly Ringwald of the 21st century. On the EXTRAS, she proves even more likable with a commentary she shares with director Will Gluck. There are also bloopers and some audition footage – from Stone's bed. Hey, did we mention how much we love this chick?
