Latter Days Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Latter Days Blu-ray Movie Review

Tender is the Mormon touch

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 21, 2011

On the outside, 2003’s “Latter Days” appears like an average sitcom, presenting a formulaic collision of sexuality and religion, opening itself up to hundreds of broadly executed comedic possibilities. Mercifully, writer/director C. Jay Cox isn’t interested in the crude workings of a primetime satire, instilling a beating heart into this tale of opposites attracting, facing disapproval from friends, family, and scripture. It’s a hot potato of a story, challenging dogma and the reaches of personal doubt, yet the movie is surprisingly sensitive and illuminating, taking a very real approach to these characters when the urge to turn the proceedings into a cartoon must’ve been extraordinary. Instead of mockery, “Latter Days” is a vulnerable effort, rich with compassion and patience.

Sent to Los Angeles with three Mormon missionaries, including the bigoted Elder Paul (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Elder Aaron (Steve Sandvoss) is gearing up to commence his extended time spreading word of his religion to nearby neighborhoods. Christian (Wes Ramsey) is his gay neighbor, clearly attracted to the new arrival but unsure how to interact with a young man so devoted to his beliefs. Using conversation (and movie quotes) to break the ice, Christian discovers a new side to Aaron, unearthing a mutual attraction the Mormon doesn’t exactly know what to do with. As the two figure out a comfortable social middle ground, tentative friendship soon turns to love, taming Christian’s reckless side, while Aaron is forced to reconsider his place in the church, threatening to destroy the life he thought he knew so well.

The screenwriter of the sickeningly plastic blockbuster “Sweet Home Alabama,” Cox goes for a more personal approach with “Latter Days,” marking his directorial debut. Instead of a cold, detached cinematic system of meet cutes and apple-cheeked melodrama, the filmmaker reduces the potential for hysteria, fixating on the interior churn of Christian and Aaron, two polar opposites coming together in a situation where love is unexpected and homosexuality is prohibited, creating a compelling tangle of tensions and resignations the screenplay dutifully explores. It’s a crock-pot of religious condemnation, domestic discord, and social expulsion slowly simmering for 110 minutes while Cox patiently shapes the characters and fashions his symbolism, taking time to render these traditionally cardboard roles with some needed soulful urge and, on occasion, a larger function -- subplots touch on familial disownment and the ravages of AIDS.

Taking on the Mormons is a brave choice for Cox, and a challenge he doesn’t approach with any degree of anger. In scripting multi-layered characters, “Latter Days” is able to spotlight questions of faith and instinct without making fun of religion or those who spend their lives in service of the church (Mary Kay Place captures a refreshing complexity in the small role of Aaron’s mother). Instead of an accusatory tone, the filmmaker elects to focus on the human side of the equation, observing Aaron come to terms with his feelings for Christian, facing that difficult decision to follow either his heart or his education, confronting the possible dismantling of his life once his homosexuality is revealed to outsiders. Cox takes the dilemma seriously, refusing the invitation of stereotypes, coloring the screen with real people making real choices. While Christian’s side of the story is more playful (his time as a waiter permits the material time to pursue some lighthearted moments of community interaction), it never lacks sincerity, making a charming counterbalance to Aaron’s intense weight of guilt and fear. It’s easy to invest in these lives, to feel their discomfort and eventual liberation. The film is overstuffed with asides (making room for Lila, Christian’s restaurant manager, played by Jacqueline Bisset), diluting the concentration of the piece as it unfolds, but the primary emotional beats are well cared for, played with endearing commitment from Sandvoss and Ramsey, who generate tenderness and, when the time comes, real heat, displaying screen appeal and emotional authenticity that helps Cox out immensely.

Latter Days Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1:78:1 aspect ratio, HD) presentation for "Latter Days" shows difficulty with crush issues, finding low-lit and evening scenes slightly difficult to illuminate, leaving blacks solid and unwelcome. Also interesting on this BD is how direct sunlight blows out white levels, creating subtle halos and noise, viewed during a moment of confession between Aaron and Lila. Colors are extraordinary throughout the viewing experience, really popping when called upon, with meaty reds and serene blues, keeping many daylight exterior shots hypnotic. Skintones run a little hot a times, looking too pink for natural human skin. Clarity is strong, maintaining a good sense of detail, allowing for rich facial textures and location nuance, providing a crisp read of the filmmaking particulars and, for those on the hunt for the goods, the sensual aspects of the story. HD cinematographic pan blur is prominent.

Latter Days Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix feels a little restrained, a little too sedate, even for a film of pronounced intimacy. Dialogue exchanges keep fresh and full, positioned frontally with a pleasing read of interior echo and emotional voltage when needed. I didn't detect any distortion or a smothering of exposition. Soundtrack cuts don't quite leave the intended impression, hanging a little low in the surrounds, failing to truly enliven the picture. The songs sound satisfactory, with techno beats providing a low-end bounce, but rarely confident, a slight disappointment shared with the soft scoring cues. Atmospherics are comfortable, capturing subtle domestic changes and a modest exterior presence, with restaurant scenes supplying more of a circular feel of activity. It's hardly a major sonic experience, better with hushed moments of emotional connection, which are clearly understood.

Latter Days Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary with director C. Jay Knox and actors Wes Ramsey and Steve Sandvoss is a conversational track, revealing an air of friendship shared between the trio. Cox takes the lead here, explaining his autobiographical touches and concerns as a first-time director. Talk of locations and the might of the ensemble fills much of the time, occasionally dissecting the structure of the script and how certain scenes were pulled off. Some play-by-play is employed to fill dead air, but the gang stays reasonably close to useable information, displaying real pride about their creation, despite its hectic production schedule.

• Behind "Latter Days" (20:21, SD) is a making-of featurette endeavoring to explore the creative genesis of the script and the picture's troubling path of financing. The chat soon turns over to characterization and thematic urge, using low-fi interviews with cast and crew to better understand the challenges of production and the overall emotional intent of the piece. The mini-doc carries a slightly comical tone, which feels a little uncomfortable considering the heartfelt source material. Nevertheless, hearing key production participants discuss their approach to the material is valuable, along with an emphasis on technical and environmental requirements. Plenty of BTS footage is included to grasp the ambiance of the set.

• Deleted Scenes (10:29, SD) offer three moments of character interaction: delving into the bigotry of Elder Paul, rekindling the friendship between Christian and his estranged pop star friend (played by Rebekah Johnson), and displaying an elongated version of Aaron's hasty solution to the complications of his sexual identity. The moments are presented with text-based introductions to establish narrative placement and explain deletion.

• Photo Gallery (6:01) offers a mix of BTS snaps and publicity stills.

• "Reason Thirteen" (5:50, SD) is a short film from C. Jay Cox that provides a more comical version of the mistaken identity opening in "Latter Days," essentially working out the premise before the filmmaker recycled the idea for feature use.

• Music Videos (10:10, SD) collect Rebekah Johnson performance clips for "More," "Another Beautiful Day," and "3 A.M."

• The Trevor Project P.S.A. (:39, SD) is a brief spot for a helpline, featuring Steve Sandvoss.

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:06, HD) is included.

Latter Days Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Unfortunately, "Latter Days" goes fairly extreme to introduce a third act spoiler, used to divide the lead characters once true natures are finally revealed and punishments are handed out (Christian is also slapped with a violation of his privacy, elongating the film further). The extremity, however true to life, is disorienting, especially introduced in a feature of measured feelings and reactions. Cox wants to hammer home the severity of self-doubt and exclusion, but it's a mighty, violent leap that turns the natural flow of questioning into a pool of cliché. The climax certainly doesn't match the opening's playful sincerity, but it doesn't completely sully the entire motion picture either. The feel for concern and connection is much too strong for that.