User Reviews

'Eden' is right...for this rustic, fictional Montana town is a gay-embracing garden paradise. And why not? Movies are for dreamers and in this dream of a movie we get to witness a basically straight-laced, flag-waving midwestern town embrace homosexuality like never before. In fact, the town is more openly accepting of the gay lifestyle than the rather emotionally repressed romantic trio who are at the core of the piece. And therein lies its simple bouquet of a message. The only one who usually gets in the way of you being yourself...is yourself.

A lovely cross between Meg Ryan-Tom Hanks fluff and "Northern Exposure" quirkiness, "Big Eden" insists on keeping it merry and informal, confident in knowing that its casual, natural stance on the whole gay element actually gives it universal appeal.

Arye Gross fills in for Meg here as Henry Hart, a former citizen of "Big Eden" who many years ago moved to the Big City to 'be himself'. The prodigal son, still single, reluctantly returns home following the illness of a beloved relative and is surprisingly met with open arms. The rather chummy, eccentric inhabitants, in fact, hatch matchmaking plans to hopefully dissuade him from leaving.

Tim DeKay plays the muscular, clean-cut Dean, a former school chum and longtime crush of Henry's who has returned to his roots following a failed marriage and is now a doting single parent with two kids in tow. Henry is hoping to spark the dormant but still smouldering feelings they once shared. Eric Schweig plays another classmate, Pike, a strong, silent, highly sensitive Native-American who has longed for the unsuspecting Henry since their early school days.

The story keeps its limited sights on the amusing entanglements of the trio, never allowing itself to get overly serious or preachy. Things may end up a bit too tidy and neat, but, again, the beauty of the piece is in its "gay is normal" approach and almost 60s-like wholesomeness.

The performances are nothing spectacular to write home about, but nevertheless quite winning and thoroughly entertaining. Arye Gross (former of "Ellen") is a pleasant centerpiece, as a man searching not only for love, but for himself and his place in life. DeKay is equally charming as Henry's object of desire though his sexual confusion (or acceptance) seems puzzling coming from such a liberal-minded town. Schweig, looking like he belongs in a production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" instead of a gay love story, overplays the unbearably shy, intensely quiet type at first, but eventually relaxes into his role as he begins to make his feelings known.

The mirthful supporting cast is littered with fresh takes on old stereotypes, none more so than the wonderful Nan ("Goodbye Columbus") Martin as the brazenly intrusive Widow Thayer, whose bold, Yenta-styled matchmaking methods are never less than delightful. Louise Fletcher and, particularly, George Coe give wise, restrained performances that lend a touch of class to the silly antics and superficial tendencies of the story. Veanne Cox too provides a bit of amusing sass as Henry's endearing 'Big City' partner and friend.

"Big Eden" settles in as one of the more 'feel good' movies of the year. I think even Doris Day would give it her stamp of approval. A welcome time-filler indeed.

‘Big Eden' is a excellent film and gets better on repeated viewings. Arye Gross is just superb as the painter who goes back to his roots to care for his dying grandfather. He also goes back to unrequited love but eventually finds a love he did not know existed. The film is beautifully shot making the most of the rural surroundings and the characters are all fully rounded, so much so, that by the end of the movie you will know and care for them all. It also contains much humour and a perfectly integrated musical score. Of course it is a fantasy world where everybody cares for and accepts other people for what they are, but it is a world we should all be striving to make real.

An artist living in NYC returns home to Big Eden, a rural area of Montana, to care for his ailing grandfather. The artist gets reacquainted with people from his past, including an old high school friend. Romantic complications ensue.

This is not a film for viewers looking for lots of fast paced action and excitement. It's more of a character study that focuses on the lives of warm-hearted, ordinary people who are caring and sensitive. People spend a lot of time cooking and eating. (I don't recall a film in which there was so much food). More idealistic than realistic, the film's underlying contemporary message is a welcome change from the usual Hollywood gloom and doom theme. On the other hand, some of the relationships between characters are not obvious, which renders a slightly muddled story.

Overall, "Big Eden" is a well-made movie with good production design, adroit cinematography (that captures a beautiful landscape), and fine acting. And, I like the Tex-Mex music, though to someone like me who lives in Texas, the music seems a little out of place ... so to speak. But maybe not.

One of the best things about "Big Eden" is the inclusion of Nan Martin as an elderly gadabout. With her deep-throated voice and her animated expressions, she stands out as a unique, and thoroughly entertaining, actress. Would love to see her in more films.

Big Eden is a breath of fresh air!

I would like to shake director Thomas Bezucha's hand and thank him for the kind of film I have been waiting for for years: a film in which gay men were represented in all shapes and sizes, where they actually were OVER the age of 30, and where they were just regular guys! No drag queens, no fey lispy men snapping their fingers saying "you go, girl," no circuit boys and their designer drugs, no latest club hit from Cher, no stereotypes played for laughs. I was happy that the film All Over The Guy was a step in the right direction, and Big Eden is the one film that has broken through that barrier and gosh darn it, SOMEONE had to do this!

Realists and critics like Roger Ebert have totally missed the point of this film, saying no town could be this welcoming to gays and lesbians and supportive of their lives. The filmmakers wanted to present a "what if" situation in which there was no bigotry, so that the focus of the story would be on the self discovery of the three main leads and the romance. What's so wrong with that for a change? The fact that this was done so well helps even more. Takes you back to films from the 1940s and beyond. Think of it this way, if this were a story about heterosexual love, then there would be no question about the whole town's support and helping get the lovers together. That's the focus of the story, so by eliminating the "bigotry and hate" aspect, we can just sit back and enjoy what this film is supposed to be about: intimacy and where you belong.

As Henry (Arye Gross) is visiting his hometown, he finds he still has feelings for a friend from his childhood, Dean(Tim DeKay). In the meantime, Henry is perplexed about the behaviour of the Native American store owner named Pike (Eric Schweig), thinking the guy doesn't like him (a deleted scene elaborates on this fact, Henry says "he didn't even like me back in high school.") Ah, but what is REALLY behind Pike's actions? There is quite a bit of vague behaviour so that you're left thinking "who's really smitten with whom here?" Eventually, Henry realizes the true meaning of his feelings for Dean and with a heartfelt film like this, you just know that somehow everyone will find a degree of happiness and not be left hurt.

This is a film about friends and family, and most of all, HOPE. It's refreshing to see a focus on the story without trying to make sure there's enough cussing to garner a certain rating or "cute, naked bodies" to lure some in who would normally not be watching a film like this in the first place. One reviewer was offended by the casting of a Native American in Big Eden, well I say KUDOS to to casting Eric Schweig -- I personally know gay Native Americans and as that saying goes, "we are everywhere" and you can't deny that certain races or nationalities have gays and lesbians in them. In a time where too much focus is on lipstick lesbians and how you can just work a movie around that, it's so wonderful to have a film like Big Eden defy all the typical cliches and dare to give us a rather wholesome, healthy portrayal of gays -- one in which we do value our families and their support, and have other values instead of what people seem to think it's like from watching Queer As Folk.

I've always felt Arye Gross would be given a great lead role one day, and he plays Henry so well, so much like a "regular guy." I for one am so happy that a film like this is showing gay men do have lives beyond the age of 30, and can be just as desirable. Tim DeKay may be eye candy without a shirt for some, but his character is still grounded in reality and he handles that part quite well. Eric Schweig is simply perfect, his character shows that you can't just look at someone and say "that's gay for sure." Louise Fletcher is so loving you just want to hug her, and George Coe gives his role a lot of respect.

Big Eden was a big winner at numerous film festivals, and I am so happy that all involved in making this dream of a film a reality (and a REAL reality situation for our lives someday soon) are being given a lot of respect for this vision!

What a marvelous movie! A gay romantic comedy. Going home to find out your secret life isn't really much of a secret, and knowing that some people actually want to help you find what you thought you would never have.

I have watched it twice on the movie channel now, and I love it. It is hard for me to imagine life actually being like that in a remote place. I am not gay, but this movie reinforced for me, that gays are looking for the right love just like straights. OK, so I'm a romantic. I can only hope that this was really someone's experience.

Hopefully we will see more of this kind of thing, until it is no more unusual. Yea!!!!

Rarely have I been so moved by a film to procede to actually upgrade my initial celebratory comments on any cinematic work.

"Big Eden" is more than merely "delightful and memorable"; it's a truly great achievement, one of the all-time classics.

It took more than three viewings in a live theatre viewing to arrive at this revelation--in fact a half dozen showings. Not that the film's fine attributes were not initially apparent. Like many great works, new subtleties began to emerge during and after each subsequent viewing.

What a masterpiece this is. Under the guise of a light, liesurely paced romantic drama is housed one of the most prophetic and philosophical revelations of the happiness and beauty in the life experience ever put on film. It has never happened like this before ever, to my knowledge, on stage or screen.

The discovery is inspirational. I was so moved as to write Producer Jennifer Chaiken, urging her to encourage the film to be held as long as possible during its unfortunately "limited run" in order to build up word-of-mouth following. I further asserted this is an essential family film for childern and adults of all ages that should play in every major and minor movie house in American and throughout the world.

Chaiken replied to my e mail, informing that the production team signed with the largest distributor available, that no major distributor would take on the film. It's thus up to each and every one of us who understand and appreciate the greatness of this film work to spread the word. Personally I'm proud and honored to be laud this work to all of my friends and acquaintances.

As far as I'm concerned, "Big Eden" is one of the major cinematic classics of all time.

While watching "Big Eden," I couldn't stop thinking about the the TV series "Northern Exposure" in that the lead characters are coming from New York City and find themselves in a small town filled with quirky characters.

One major difference: Henry Hart (Arye Gross), the lead character in "Big Eden" is not originally from NYC. He's a gay artist who needed to fly back to his home town of Big Eden, Montana to care for his sick grandfather (George Coe). While in town, Henry meets up Dean (Tim DeKay), an straight friend Henry had the hots for. Unfortunately, the feelings were not mutual and it was damaging to Henry that he needed therapy. Henry also meets Pike (Eiric Schwig), a shy, brooding and closeted Native American who runs the the town's general store.

This movie is definitely not grounded in reality. As a number of posters have indicated, what is the likelihood that anyone would find a small rural town in which the entire population is so openly gay-friendly? This movie is an ideal fantasy.

At the same time, I don't believe the words "Gay" or "Homosexual" or anything derogatory was mentioned in the entire movie.

"Big Eden" presents an interesting spin on the romantic comedy genre that I found to be irresistible. As I mentioned earlier, I thought the movie was similar in tone to the show "Northern Exposure". I can't totally believe what is being shown but I couldn't get my mind off of these very interesting, if a bit odd, supporting and lead characters.

The entire cast made me believe that there might be such a town like "Big Eden". A big thank you goes to writer/director Thomas Bezucha for seeing your story on the screen in his first film.

I watched this movie based on the reviews here and elsewhere. What a disappointment. I thought I was watching a different movie than the one reviewed. The premise of the movie was encouraging, but the execution and the acting was just not believable. In fact at times it was laughable (unintentionally). The lead was just not believable nor likable - I couldn't get past the premise that he was being pursued by TWO men, not just because he wasn't traditionally 'cute', but there was NOTHING in his personality that made him attractive or appealing. In fact, he seemed to be uncomfortable being gay. Another problem I had was that the movie was filled with all these 'wacky' but lovable and understanding characters who became annoying (to me) since they were so over the top 'cutesy'. This movie tries to be a 'feel good' movie, but I couldn't get past the bad acting and unbelievable characters. The movie's soundtrack was the best thing (older Country).

Unbelievably wonderful performances by all the main actors in "Big Eden" make for one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Arye Gross plays Henry, a New Yorker who returns home to the rural West when to take care of his ailing grandfather. There he runs into his old friend Dean (played by the irresistible Tim DeKay), seemingly bisexual but it turns out he is straight, who is now divorced, with 2 children. The old fascination with Dean is rekindled - but meanwhile another man from his past, Pike (played with amazing depth and dignity by Eric Schweig), a Native American, is smitten with Henry.

Henry is no cook, so he arranges for the Widow Thayer - played by Nan Martin in the most delightfully memorable manner - to cook meals for he and his ailing grandfather Sam (the wonderful George Coe). Widow Thayer's meals are horrible (famously horrible) so Pike starts to cook Henry & Sam's meals himself without telling them. He is totally in love with Henry, but can't work up the nerve to let him know so. He just pours his love into the meals that he prepares.

Will Henry & Pike get together? Or will Henry remain smitten with Dean? This delightful film doesn't let you know until the end.

One of the most beautiful scenes I have ever seen in a film takes place in this film: Pike sees a painting that Henry did of stars at night. He then tells a story from his tribe about children who floated up into the sky and became stars. I won't attempt to tell the story here, but I assure you that this one story is one of the most beautiful things you will ever hear or see. It applies perfectly to Henry's situation, but it is a story that anyone can relate to and learn from.

"Big Eden" is simple yet elegant. It is country yet universal. It is "Andy of Mayberry" for the modern era, a microcosm of how the world ought to be. So stunningly beautiful that you will want to watch it over and over and over again.

Bravo! to everyone associated with this loving, magnificent film!

I was really looking forward to this after much hype from my gay friends but left feeling very disappointed - what a ridiculous portrait of what could have been very romantic, rewarding, uplifting etc.

This is someones fantasy - and the setting is lovely enuf - but the central character being loved by all is too much to buy for starters - guess its unconditional love - cuz this whiny, self absorbed drip is not much of a catch - there is no clue of his talents as an artist either - and no people skills with the kids or old ladies or much of anyone - so we are off to a bad start making this story work.

some very sweet scenes - one between Henry and his gramps, others between the mayor and the closet case who is in love with him but just cant do it for whatever reasons (maybe to keep custody of the kids?) Nice to see Louise Fletcher up there - and a sweet voice too - but thats not enuf to redeem this silly farce -

a town full of people who cant face their feelings or must hide behind an old ladys skirt rather than come out - and then an instant fix ending when suddenly the only minority in town does come out and he and Henry start french kissing at the town dance - like that would happen up there in Aryan Nation country - oh its just too silly to waste more words on -

a real shame cuz there is obviously some good heart and soul behind it -Whats most disturbing is how this cant really happen in small town america in the year 2001 - i have lived in 7 states so i have some idea of reality for gays and minorities and it aint pretty. Most of us would barely go back for a weekend let alone move back into that mire.

Everything has already been said about this film in the adjoining comments, so I'll make a few personal observations.

I'm not about to apologize for liking this film, or make any excuses for its content. Frankly, who's to say such a town can't exist? My origins are in the Deep South, and believe it or not, I've seen communities like this one. Perhaps it is "stereotypical" to think that such a town CANNOT be real. Sure, hatred exists everywhere. I've personally been the victim of a nasty hate crime, but I've also been fortunate enough to visit small communities that embrace everyone, gay or straight. I have every reason to be bitter, but I choose not to be a martyr.

As others have said, I welcome this film as a gay love story that avoids the pitfalls of torpid melodrama and morbid angst. Many have accurately compared this film to the TV series "Northern Exposure." It really is a sweet little film (and I normally avoid that word).

How interesting that ALL of my cynical gay friends love this film. Surprisingly, I only learned of it this year. Ebert totally missed the boat on this one.

Since I am from Great Falls (2nd largest town in Montana - about 34,000) and gay, many folks told me I'd love Big Eden. Overall, it's decently well acted, extremely well filmed and directed, but tends to be (mostly) unsurprising. However, there were a few emotional surprises (his best friends' thanksgiving confrontation that true love need not be sexually based) and, for me, more than a small element of truth.

While the other commentaries here are mostly accurate, I wanted to give a small view from an ex-Montanan who recently had to go back to care for and later bury his grandmother (hmm, seems like a plot line in there somewhere). The movie's portrayal of a gay accepting (but, as in the film, a nearly unspoken acceptance) Montana was pretty accurate.

When I came home to Montana, no one in my large extended family could not have known my "situation". However, while it wasn't addressed directly, it was clear that it wasn't a big deal. My family went out of their way to introduce me to other members of my "community", including a few cousins that i never had guessed. It seemed Montanans expend enough energy getting through day-to-day to forego taking precious time worrying about some label. Clearly there it was who you are, not what you are. And most importantly, could people depend on you.

So, while many people compare this movie to Northern Exposure (which I dearly loved), there is an element of truth beneath the fantasy. Kudos to a well done film

As a big fan of movies, I always love watching them and dedicating myself into reviewing them in effort to help other audiences of these films. I also want to thank all the actors in this film; thank you for your effort in making this film possible.

Now, I really like this movie, BUT the only thing I didn't like, was that "Dane" ended up being straight, or at least that's what I gathered. I really wished the storyline went where Dane and Henry Finally caught up and stayed boyfriends! Anyways, good movie. I loved the fact that it seemed like everyone in the movie was OKAY with gays!! I was like, "Oh-My-God!" I mean, to see those old timer cowboy looking dudes. Actually being part of the gay "Drama" was awesome.

I really would recommend this movie to anyone who loves, Gay films.

Thank you, Big Eden (Cast and Crew) and everyone for making this film.

-Jaymee

Finally, I've found it. A "gay movie" that isn't really "gay". Homosexual characters are not coming out teenagers, they don't are specially handsome, they don't go to gay bars or buy gay magazines. I can't say that they are "common people", but that's not because of their homosexuality.

This movie talks about wishes and fears, and how we need to confront them in order to accept the good things life has to give us. The plot is well written; maybe too idealistic in some ways, but this doesn't matter very much. Actors did a great job, specially Arye Gross. And well, landscapes are beautiful.

Is a very good movie. I really enjoyed it from the first minute to the last.

If you prefer SIX FEET UNDER to QUEER AS FOLK, then you are bound to find something to like in BIG EDEN. As opposed to the often ridiculously epidemic sexploits and caddy size-queen humor of QUEER, this gay-cinema drama offers a more mellow outlook from the point of view of a neurotic, insecure 40-something protagonist whose too busy fumbling his way towards self-acceptance to come up with witty one-liners and realize that flannel is a big fashion no-no.

Middle-aged New York artist Henry (likeably played by Arye Gross, who some may remember from the first few seasons of ELLEN) goes back home—a small town called Big Eden—when his grandfather suffers a stroke. The problem is: his grandfather doesn't know he's gay, and that he's carried a torch for a local hunk for 20 years.

What I loved about this movie is that it is not centered around impossibly beautiful, Abercrombie-model 20-somethings panting for each other in some prep school or humping each other after meeting in a club. This is about average-Joe looking guys with struggles that feel a little more palpable and common, thrown into a story that has enough tension in it to make it interesting.

Arye Gross plays Henry well, though his character is definitely self-absorbed in his own neurotic apprehensions. I never felt that he was too flat, but I did find something lacking not just in his character, but in this movie. Too quiet and quaint, perhaps?

The small town atmosphere was both believable and hammy: the townsfolk include archetypes in the form of old blue-collar townies who sit on the porch of the local shop and do…nothing, and a meddling, casserole-baking old widow determined to put her matchmaking services to work on the beleaguered Henry. We get the sense it's a small backwater, but that people are also open minded (the general store serves cappuccino!) as you see later when they become involved in Henry's love life. I loved the town, but it also seemed far-fetched to have all these provincial country-folk so involved in the amorous pursuits of gay men. It was a lovely fantasy, though, and a positive vision of how things could be.

It was a quietly charming story, and at times moving. One scene between Henry and his grandfather nearly had me in tears.

I recommend at least one viewing, though it is not the best movie on the subject I have ever seen. I would sooner and more enthusiastically recommend ALL OVER THE GUY and MAMBO ITALIANO bar none (more entertaining & better dialog), but this movie was fairly good in its own humble, unglamorous way.

YOU MUST HUNT DOWN THIS MOVIE AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF! I know it already won an audience award at another festival, but after having seen this movie at the San Fran L&G Film Fest on Thursday, I feel safe in saying it will continue to win. When the best feature is awarded on Sunday the 25th of June, BIG EDEN will be the winner. I hope this movie gets wide release. I love it~hear that as Molly Shannon might say it! I want to eventually own this movie. What if Dr Joel on Northern Exposure had been gay....that's the closest I can come to giving you an idea about this movie. The acting is superb, the writing natural and the characters endearing. Cliche as it may be....it will make you laugh/it will make you cry. Even with disruptive projector problems halfway thru the movie, it won people over at my screening. I turned to the guy beside me and said it was already MY favorite in the festival at that point. I was overwhelmed at the ending and was overjoyed that the rest of the theater felt the same way. When was the last 5 minute standing ovation you gave a film and film maker? I felt so incredibly thrilled for that young man. Full house capacity at a huge theater all telling you that you did good work! WOW! Congratulations on a job well done, and that is putting it mildly. You will not be sorry if you see Big Eden! Big Eden is UTOPIA!

We were in the movie and had fun doing it.

We live in Montana and were country dance teachers back then 15 years ago. The casting director asked us to help with the dance scene in Apgar and bring our friends as extras. We had some fun teaching the cast and then filming for a very long day. We had to wear summer clothes for the shoot and it was filmed in October in Glacier National Park. I mean it was very cold but we had to smile in retake after retake, freezing in our short sleeve shirts late into the night.

You think you want to be in the movies? Well, that cured me forever. Actors/Actresses deserve the money they get - trust me.

Funny, the film was never shown in the county where it was filmed and where we live (Flathead) so we all headed down to Ronan on the Indian Reservation to see it there one night.

Granted, I am also sick to death of all the Queer-as-Folk-esque stories flooding the gay cinema scene...tan, buff circuit boys looking for love in the big city. And alas, I sit in disgruntlement, not able to relate to a single one of the over-sexed, over-creatined characters. So this film attempted to place gay guys more like myself and put them in a setting that didn't revolve around drugs, AIDS and/or workout schedules. However, I cannot applaud a film that substitutes cohesive plot and character development with cliche-ridden dribble that I could take from any number of Sandra Bullock flicks. 'Big Eden' featured unbelievable characters patched together with stilted dialogue and laughable poignancy. Even the halfway decent cast (including Oscar winner Louise Fletcher and solid character actor George Coe) looked uncomfortable delivering many of their lines. I'm bewildered that this film swept the three major gay film fests in the country. Trite. Underdeveloped. Absurd. But hey, the Montana mountains looked nice.

A lovely movie, it is hard to put into words the exact effect this film had on me.

Big Eden may be a fictional town populated by fictional characters, but it is a place I long to live in.

Two gay men are brought together by the help of the townsfolk.

Perhaps a place like Big Eden doesn't - and will never - exist; but we can always hope can't we?

And that is why this movie was made - hope for a brighter, happier future. When people can coexist with each other, regardless of race/gender/sexuality and all those other pointless labels.

A joy...

I laughed, I cried, I loved this movie!

While "Big Eden" has lots of aw-shucks charm, and a rather surprising amount of male-to-male affection, it features relationships and character quirks which aren't always made clear--and, as a result, its plot gets bunched up in knots. Arye Gross seems rather fatigued and unfocused as a gay, single artist in New York who travels back to his hometown in Montana after his beloved grandfather suffers a stroke; once there, he meets up again with the straight best friend from high school he's harbored a crush on for many years. Nicely-made, nicely-judged movie about getting a gay relationship off the ground, although Gross's heart isn't really into this role (he only comes to life during a dance at the outdoor festival). The straight hunk he's loved from afar (Tim DeKay), divorced and with two kids, is a much more interesting and complicated man than the shy, awkward Native American (Eric Schweig) who is added to the mix, yet writer-director Thomas Bezucha doesn't allow either of these supporting characters to bloom. In the straight fellow's case, Bezucha gives him little bits and pieces of on-screen time in which nothing important gets said, and the Indian is so insecure he comes off as anti-social. Still, the attempt is certainly there, and all the others in this friendly town (full of cracker-barrel wisdom and united mischief) are a wily, fun bunch. The soundtrack songs are exceptionally smart and the woodsy settings are very attractive. **1/2 from ****

I did not like the lead character and that's always a kiss of death. Even Hannibal in "Silence Of The Lambs" was likeable even though he was a serial killer. I liked the fact that all these people who would not normally accept gay people did in this film. It's a nice change of pace for a change. Overall, I was bored here!