Rites of Passage (1999)

I have been spoiled by watching non-American movies. I used to say European movies, but movies from South America, some parts of Asia, and even Mexico are now as good as European movies. What movies from other countries often have that American movies almost never have is subtlety. Whether it's comedy, drama, suspense, sex, or any other genre, American movie makers assume American audiences have to be hit over the head with whatever they're watching or they won't get it.In this movie, for example, when Son catches Dad with Girlfriend in Hotel, then when Dad and Son catch Younger Gay Son in Cabin, EVERYBODY has to overact, so that the audience will be sure to get the point that bad stuff is happening. Why, oh why does Hollywood think we're stupid? Is it because we are? Maybe. In any case, this movie's drama is far too heavy-handed for me.In less than ten minutes, I already know everything there is to know about these three characters, and I'm willing to bet the "twists" other reviewers rave about are the same oh-so-predictable "twists" Hollywood has been delighting noise-deafened, brain-dulled audiences with since Witness for the Prosecution 60 years ago. I'd much rather have to take time and figure out for myself what's going on between characters than be hit so hard by the director and actors with such a heavy drama hammer that it leaves me reeling and nauseous.

This movie draws you in then blows it providing plot complications of the "Oh come on!" variety. Someone as telegenic as Jason Behr would not need to write to a felon to find a shoulder to cry on. All he has to do is open his front door and select from the crowd waiting there to do him. Any one of them would put up with any amount of whining he needs to do.I was in a writing class once and we were asked to write a story called "The Father." That was the only requirement. 12 out of 13 people handed in a story that ended with a father-son hug and the exchange: "I love you son..." "I love you dad." Ugh! It's a scene that facile minds find endlessly satisfying but it's very, very lame. Perhaps this movie gets filmed over and over again because emerging gay teens require their generations hottie in the role of the gay son.I've never called my brother "Bro." Does anybody?

This is basically a character-driven thriller exploring some routine familial issues between a middle-class father and his two sons. I say routine, because the conflicts are reasonably familiar: the father's having a mid-life, extra-marital fling; one son's gay; and the other son's bogged down in his own suburban mediocrity; not to mention that the whole drama takes place overnight in the woods, an almost absurd setting for all the abounding macho bonding. In spite of this theatrical, TV-movie veneer, RITES OF PASSAGE is still a satisfying low-budget feature thanks to a very appealing cast and the mature, sure-handed direction of Victor Salva (POWDER). It's an involving little ensemble drama with an amazing amount of tension and truth. No small mention should be made of Jason Behr, a WB-TV pretty-boy type who really carries the picture with a surprisingly inspired performance; although a lot of sympathy for his character is still a result of his physical appeal, he does a very good job here alongside excellent performers like Dean Stockwell and James Remar. Still, I doubt if a lot of the enthusiasm for this film would be there without Behr's good looks. In spite of what I've read in a few of the other reviews, the little bit of violence and profanity in this picture are of the PG-13 variety; as a matter of fact, it could have been a bit more aggressive with it's sexuality and brutality in order to intensify the motivations culminating in this one-night, boys-to-men catharsis. I'll tell you, though, it's too bad family crises aren't this easily resolved by a boy's night out in the woods.

I liked Victor Salva's film -Powder- a few years ago, and was pleasantly surprised when I watched -Rites of Passage-. It's a competently made thriller, but the real intent of the film, as writer-direction Salva says in the commentary, was to work out his own difficult issues with his step father. This is accomplished with Dean Stockwell as a hard macho father, and Jason Behr as his estranged gay son.Jason Behr's performance is remarkable for such a young actor. I hope this young man moves beyond the TV series and does more serious film acting. Behr and Salva do the DVD commentary which adds to my impression of Behr as an exceptionally intelligent person, often humbled by Salva's praise in the course of the story. Stockwell's performance is also excellent, as we would expect.