Shelter | 
 enlarge | Director: Jonah Markowitz
Actors: Brad Rowe, Tina Holmes, Mat Bushell, Trevor Wright, Ross Thomas
Studio: Genius Products (TVN)
Category: DVD
List Price: $23.95
Buy New: $16.87
You Save: $7.08 (30%)
New (33) Used (10) from $16.65
Avg. Customer Rating:  76 reviews
Sales Rank: 417
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Widescreen
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 89
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: LIB00135
UPC: 858423001353
EAN: 0858423001353
ASIN: B0013D8LCW
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: May 27, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW sealed shipped daily. International Shipping via Air Mail.
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Amazon.com
The feature-film debut from art director Jonah Markowitz (Quinceanera) pivots on the tension between responsibility to family and responsibility to self. Recent high-school graduate Zach (Trevor Wright) has one summer to reconcile the competing halves of his life. The aspiring Picasso lives in blue-collar San Pedro with his irresponsible sister, Jeanne (Tina Holmes, Half Nelson), her five-year-old son, Cody (Jackson Wurth), and their rarely-seen father. Zach gave up his art school dreams to toil in a diner and help look after his much-loved nephew. With his best friend, Gabe (Ross Thomas), away at college, Zach draws, surfs, and skateboards by his lonesome. When Gabe's novelist brother, Shaun (Brad Rowe, Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss), returns to his Orange County home to recover from a broken heart, he and Zach alternate between riding the waves and encouraging each other to pursue their aspirations. Shaun is gay, while Zach appears to be straight, but a casual kiss between the two soon leads to a secret relationship. Before the former returns to Los Angeles, the latter has to decide who he is--gay, straight, artist, cook, uncle, or father--and what he's going to do about it. Except for the location shooting, this low-budget indie plays like an extended episode of The O.C. what with all the "bro"s and "dude"s and love scenes tame enough for network TV. Nonetheless, Markowitz's heart is in the right place, and Shelter may provide some real-life Zachs with the courage they need to follow their passions. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Product Description
Forced to give up his dreams of art school, Zach spends his days working a dead end job and helping his needy sister care for her son. In his free time he surfs, draws and hangs out with his best friend, Gabe, who lives on the wealthy side of town. When Gabe's older brother, Shaun, returns home, he is drawn to Zach's selflessness and talent. Zach falls in love with Shaun while struggling to reconcile his own desires with the needs of his family.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 71 more reviews...
An AmazingFilm September 6, 2008
I fell in love with this movie the first time I saw it. It was great to see a movie which wasn't steeped in gay culture, that was about normal people going through hardships and while doing so discovering who they where and where they wanted to go in life. The story follows Zach, a young man who instead of going to college, stayed behind to watch over his sister and her son. His sister is a poor mother, leaving Zach to fill the parental role for his young nephew all the while trying to express himself through his art and surfing. When his best friend's older brother Shaun comes back into town for a month, Zach begins to discover himself and driven by Shaun, starts to go after a better life than the one he had chosen.
 Hey Dude, it's SHELTER! September 4, 2008
Lots of SPOILERS ahead!
Ok, I watched this last night & was ultimately glad that I ordered it as it's a Keeper. I was hesitant because I thought it might be another shot on video piece of crap.(WAY too many of those out there!)
This is close to being a perfect film...close but no surfboard.
I was appalled at some of the dialogue. Good God, I read ALL the reviews here, Wasn't ANYBODY a bit BOTHERED by all the DUDES,BROS,BUDS & COOLS? These are two bright, sensitive men(surfing involvement aside,) & frankly, most intelligent people just don't TALK that way. That's why our folks give us NAMES!! The KUNG FU exchange was just embarrassing! The younger brother(Gabe) was cartoonish...and I got real irritated with his 7th grade mentality sex talk & air humping!
And Why did Shaun(who we learn JUST got out of a bad relationship, think it was healthy to jump right back into another one?)And WHERE may I ask were the Laguna Beach Parents? Buried in the backyard? Certainly MIA.
But there were also hints of truth in this film. Better this than almost anything that's come out since BROKEBACK.
Finally(& forgive me for rambling,)I just LOVED the song LIE TO ME. Only....I thought it was a WOMAN singing it! I watched the Video on the extras & STILL couldn't believe that this was a GUY performing it. Kind of freaked me out! I think it should have been released as a Single...just BRILLIANT!
Thanks for hanging in there with me...now you know why I don't write reviews.
For an indie film shot in 21 days, it was pretty bitchin'!!!! I wish you ALL a Warm Shelter of your own.
Why haven't you seen this movie yet? September 1, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have been watching this movie incessantly for the last three weeks.
What I enjoy about this movie the most is the lack of big dramatic acting, which invariably is used in modern day cinema by actors cast to play in mildly-unrealistic to completely-incredible roles. Brad Rowe and Trevor Wright are great enough actors to make the story feel like watching a real life situation.
The bulk of the emotion in this movie is told in the actors' facial expressions. Scenes in this movie in which Zach is attempting to deal with the inner turmoil of his newly-revealed sexuality, would have been tainted and unbearable if they had been filled with exaggerated and unnecessary words. Instead you can see/feel the insult and hurt felt when Trevor Wright's he frowns, nose crunched, and in his eyes you can believe the character is thinking something along the lines of "Please God, just give me a hole to crawl into."
In addition because there is so much unspoken passion in this movie it makes it all the more compelling when Zach raises his voice, which happens all of three times. The first time, his sister confronts him about his relationship with Shaun and the potential detriment to her son. Zach's immediate response is defiant, a statement that he is standing up to his sister for the first time. It is an indication that the character is beginning to grow out of submission.
The second time, Gabe confronts him about his relationship with Shaun. Blindsighted and unprepared to deal with this reality, Zach raises his voice to his best friend in defense. You can see that Gabe doesn't exactly know how to comfort his friend either and immediately backs down, without letting him know that he does not wish to lose their friendship over this.
The third time, in the final scene, Jeanne's boyfriend demeans Zach's would-be-son. At this point the audience is clear on the fact that while most of the character's growth has involved his sexuality, most of the character's LIFE has revolved around his nephew. To hear this abrasive, offensive NOTHING attack Cody like this is too much after everything that Zach has been through, and Zach lashes out with a passion that actually brought a tear to my eye. We should all have someone who cares about us so.
The worst example of acting in this movie comes from the character of Billy, who has all of three lines in the darkness by a fire, and is merely there to establish the aspect that Zach's friends' lives continue to move on while his own remains fairly static.
Not a single word, facial expression, or stance is wasted in this movie. And if you're a straight guy who is afraid of GLBT-themed movies out of discomfort at seeing full frontal male nudity, have no fear. 'Shelter' is tasteful, heart-warming, heart-wrenching, and I haven't seen another movie quite like it.
Straight or gay, you HAVE to see this film! September 1, 2008
If you're a romantic and want to see a 'real' relationship develop, (not the Hollywood version) then this movie is for you. It shows how persistence, love, encouragement and support can take you out of even the worst situation. This is a film grounded in reality and will touch your heart and leave you wanting more. More out of life. More out of love. Nobody ever made their dreams come true by staying in their comfort zone. Take a risk. It's worth it!
Lovely August 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This movie was great, I loved it. But my reason for giving it four stars is the fact that it lacked passion. Both lead actors are straight, and that came across in many of the romantic scenes. It seemed almost too buddy buddy at times. Other then that, it was great. One of the best gay love stories out there.
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