What a nice surprise the film "Latter Days" turned out to be a mature, humorous and heartbreaking love story featuring characters that one can become emotionally attached to very quickly. While the film doesn't come across as dramatically "hard-hitting" as other movies of this genre (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, for example), I found myself liking this film more and more as it progressed. To be honest, I didn't want it to end.
This is the story of Aaron and Christian Aaron is a young Mormon Elder sent by his Idaho congregation out into the world (West Hollywood, CA to be precise) to preach the Book of Mormon. Christian is Aaron's neighbor a handsome, hard-partying young man who can pretty much have any guy he wants. When Christian's co-workers call him out on his conquests, a bet ensues - for $50, he can get the underpants of any of the Mormon guys that just moved into his neighborhood and he sets his sights on getting Aaron into bed. Little does Christian know that Aaron is a repressed young man who secretly watches Christian late at night when he comes home with one guy after another after another A series of incidents culminates with the 2 young men passionately kissing one another. They are caught in the act by Aaron's house mates, who in turn report Aaron for his 'misdeeds'. Before Aaron can say good-bye to Christian, he is whisked off to the airport bound for Idaho to face excommunication from his sect. Christian hears of this and upon learning Aaron's plane is to be laid over in Salt Lake City for 5 hours, he races off to find Aaron. For Christian, Aaron is no longer the victim in his inane bet he has become the object of Christian's affection. At the Salt Lake City airport, Christian finds Aaron outside & professes his love for him. Aaron, knowing he now has nothing to lose, embraces Christian and soon the young men are making love in a hotel room. The next morning, Christian awakens and finds that Aaron has left him once more without saying good-bye the only thing left behind is a pocket watch that Aaron's dad gave to him when he left Idaho. The watch now becomes a catalyst in Christian's search for Aaron.
From this point, "Latter Days" begins its emotional roller coaster ride with the audience. We know from their beautifully romantic encounter and subsequent pillow talk that Aaron & Christian belong together we feel their attraction as much as they do. I won't go further in regards to the rest of the film it is something you really need to experience for yourself. There are a few twists as Christian searches for Aaron and I will admit that the film's final 10 minutes left me pretty teary-eyed. Even after subsequent viewings, I still get choked up.
Personally, I don't think the film would have worked for me if it weren't for the two lead actors. As Aaron and Christian, Steve Sandvoss and Wes Ramsey were excellent I can't imagine anyone but them playing these characters. Sandvoss was terrific his portrayal of Aaron is that of a haunted, tortured soul yearning to love who he wants, yet his religion tells him it is wrong. I just wanted to reach out and hug him! Ramsey took the character of Christian and turned what could have been just another "pretty boy" role into a character whose actions and lifestyle hide a man who yearns for a real chance of actually falling in love with the right person.
In short, "Latter Days" is a very good film expect to laugh, expect to cry a bit and expect to be very entertained.
This is the story of Aaron and Christian Aaron is a young Mormon Elder sent by his Idaho congregation out into the world (West Hollywood, CA to be precise) to preach the Book of Mormon. Christian is Aaron's neighbor a handsome, hard-partying young man who can pretty much have any guy he wants. When Christian's co-workers call him out on his conquests, a bet ensues - for $50, he can get the underpants of any of the Mormon guys that just moved into his neighborhood and he sets his sights on getting Aaron into bed. Little does Christian know that Aaron is a repressed young man who secretly watches Christian late at night when he comes home with one guy after another after another A series of incidents culminates with the 2 young men passionately kissing one another. They are caught in the act by Aaron's house mates, who in turn report Aaron for his 'misdeeds'. Before Aaron can say good-bye to Christian, he is whisked off to the airport bound for Idaho to face excommunication from his sect. Christian hears of this and upon learning Aaron's plane is to be laid over in Salt Lake City for 5 hours, he races off to find Aaron. For Christian, Aaron is no longer the victim in his inane bet he has become the object of Christian's affection. At the Salt Lake City airport, Christian finds Aaron outside & professes his love for him. Aaron, knowing he now has nothing to lose, embraces Christian and soon the young men are making love in a hotel room. The next morning, Christian awakens and finds that Aaron has left him once more without saying good-bye the only thing left behind is a pocket watch that Aaron's dad gave to him when he left Idaho. The watch now becomes a catalyst in Christian's search for Aaron.
From this point, "Latter Days" begins its emotional roller coaster ride with the audience. We know from their beautifully romantic encounter and subsequent pillow talk that Aaron & Christian belong together we feel their attraction as much as they do. I won't go further in regards to the rest of the film it is something you really need to experience for yourself. There are a few twists as Christian searches for Aaron and I will admit that the film's final 10 minutes left me pretty teary-eyed. Even after subsequent viewings, I still get choked up.
Personally, I don't think the film would have worked for me if it weren't for the two lead actors. As Aaron and Christian, Steve Sandvoss and Wes Ramsey were excellent I can't imagine anyone but them playing these characters. Sandvoss was terrific his portrayal of Aaron is that of a haunted, tortured soul yearning to love who he wants, yet his religion tells him it is wrong. I just wanted to reach out and hug him! Ramsey took the character of Christian and turned what could have been just another "pretty boy" role into a character whose actions and lifestyle hide a man who yearns for a real chance of actually falling in love with the right person.
In short, "Latter Days" is a very good film expect to laugh, expect to cry a bit and expect to be very entertained.