"Shelter" (2008): Movie Pick of the Month

Just to satisfy my craving for gay-themed movies, I pulled Shelter out of my growing torrent movie collection and gave it a try. Although a bit predictable, an opinion which I share with other bloggers who already put their eyes on this film, the story and the acting are both compelling and remarkable indeed. Set in Southern California, Shelter is the story of Zack (Trevor Wright), an artist who is torn between his family responsibilities and  his dream of entering an art school to hone his skills. After his mother died, he decided to take control of his family by supporting his ill father and her sister, who is a single mom to his nephew, Cody, financially through working on low-paying jobs. But everything changed when he was reunited with his bestfriend's gay brother, Shaun (Brad Rowe), who came in to find remedy to a witer's block. As the story goes, the two protagonists developed their relationship from surfing buddies to a romantic relationship that put Zack's predicament to a different level. He have to deal not only with his domestic anxieties but also to the reality that surrounds his sexuality. Compared to Brokeback Mountain's "gay cowboy lovers", Zack and Shaun left a different kind of impression to me: sweet yet compelling story of two gay lovers who have brought the audience the perpetual value of personal choice, liberty, family, independence, love, and happiness. Furthermore, the light and relaxing backdrop of the movie allows closet gays (like me) to come into terms with reality while watching the film and eventually realize that genuine happiness can really be achieved by following our hearts' desires no matter how absurd they are in the eyes of the public. This movie has provided a 'shelter' for those confused guys like me who feel as if the world, still in the bondage of homosexual discrimination, is not the best place to come out and show our real identity. Without a doubt, this is one of the most unforgettable and inspiring pink movies I have ever watched so far. To all Trevor Wright fans out there, count me in! I couldn't get enough of Shelter until now. Perhaps this is the "aftertaste" of a good movie but Shelter is not a flawless one. However, its simplicity is what strikes me the most and that is enough to give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.