True Story: Kelly’s Objective Exploration of Sensational Subject
For his directorial debut I Am Michael, Justin Kelly takes a provocative, controversial subject and crafts it into an objective case study that has more to say about the possibilities of socially sanctioned personalities than it does innate aspects of nature vs. nurture in the grand gay debate. Based on the magazine article by Benoit Denizet Lewis, which detailed the transformation of gay activist and magazine founder Michael Glatze as he transitioned into a Christian fundamentalist, Kelly’s austere handling sometimes seems overly sanitized and almost emotionally thankless. Neglecting to take any kind of stance about Glatze as a person or the situation, Kelly nobly skirts around demonizing him, though viewed as a tangle of slippery slopes this interpretation is still subject to outside projection. Glatze still comes across as either a grossly manipulative sociopath, or an emotionally conflicted human with a significant personality disorder,...
For his directorial debut I Am Michael, Justin Kelly takes a provocative, controversial subject and crafts it into an objective case study that has more to say about the possibilities of socially sanctioned personalities than it does innate aspects of nature vs. nurture in the grand gay debate. Based on the magazine article by Benoit Denizet Lewis, which detailed the transformation of gay activist and magazine founder Michael Glatze as he transitioned into a Christian fundamentalist, Kelly’s austere handling sometimes seems overly sanitized and almost emotionally thankless. Neglecting to take any kind of stance about Glatze as a person or the situation, Kelly nobly skirts around demonizing him, though viewed as a tangle of slippery slopes this interpretation is still subject to outside projection. Glatze still comes across as either a grossly manipulative sociopath, or an emotionally conflicted human with a significant personality disorder,...
- 2/5/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
I Am Michael
Written by Justin Kelly & Stacey Miller
Directed by Justin Kelly
USA, 2015
It’s painful to criticize a well-intentioned, socially relevant movie like I Am Michael. Director Justin Kelly’s passion for the project is evident in every frame. Still, there’s no denying this is a deeply flawed and surprisingly sparse film that fails to illuminate its frustrating protagonist. Despite a few moments of emotional clarity and a solid performance from James Franco, I Am Michael leaves you feeling ambivalent and, quite frankly, bored. This is a fascinating story that got lost in translation.
In 1998, Michael Glatze (Franco) was the editor of the influential San Francisco-based Xy Magazine, a leading voice in the gay community. Ten years later, Michael had renounced his homosexuality as a sin and was on the path to becoming an ordained minister. What caused this dramatic shift? How could Michael, once so outspoken...
Written by Justin Kelly & Stacey Miller
Directed by Justin Kelly
USA, 2015
It’s painful to criticize a well-intentioned, socially relevant movie like I Am Michael. Director Justin Kelly’s passion for the project is evident in every frame. Still, there’s no denying this is a deeply flawed and surprisingly sparse film that fails to illuminate its frustrating protagonist. Despite a few moments of emotional clarity and a solid performance from James Franco, I Am Michael leaves you feeling ambivalent and, quite frankly, bored. This is a fascinating story that got lost in translation.
In 1998, Michael Glatze (Franco) was the editor of the influential San Francisco-based Xy Magazine, a leading voice in the gay community. Ten years later, Michael had renounced his homosexuality as a sin and was on the path to becoming an ordained minister. What caused this dramatic shift? How could Michael, once so outspoken...
- 2/4/2015
- by J.R. Kinnard
- SoundOnSight
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