Boy Erased

Altough predictable storyline, this is to be seen by everyone - both kids and their parents. It's so hard to believe that even in 2020 parents have hard time accepting a simple truth about their kid's life while they (kids) are grappling with their own self.

This film tells the story of a young man who is put into a conversion therapy program. This story is sad and just should not have happened in the first place. There should be more child protection, where people who work with minors should have proper qualifications in proper scientifically proven programs. Conversion therapy is in fact proven to be harmful, and this film helps to spread the message. I applaud Joel Edgerton for making this film, and Nicole Kidman for playing a supportive mother. Lucas Hedges is great as well. I hope this film will find a much wider audience, so the message can spread further.

I originally gave this film 6 stars because the acting is superb. But the story is terribly understated and actually runs the risk of showing the world that conversion therapy "doesn't look that bad." What's depicted is no worse than just another Sunday sermon in the south. Having lived through that, I know. As a physician and LGBTQ rights advocate, I can attest it gets much worse. SO much worse. But we don't see that here. If Garrard Conley endured only the film's version of events, then he's a lucky person indeed. Bottom line: the title is significantly more dramatic than the film itself. A better title would have been Boy Inconvenienced for a Week Maybe (But It's Diffucult To Tell Really Because of the Pacing and Flashbacks). But it's watchable, and of course Nicole Kidman is going to be nominated for an Oscar.

I don't know what I was expecting From this film but this certainly wasn't it. You'll be pleasantly surprised to know it isn't quite as depressing as it sounds like it is (maybe that's why the oscar buzz died down) and it's a beautiful story of a boy born to a family of faith who did what they could to remedy a situation they considered a sin. I wasn't pleased with a scene that set things in motion that could be misconstrued but I won't spoil what it is. It is hard to watch at times and hard to believe there are uber religious people who spew this kind of fear and hate into people, but the film had a (mostly) uplifting ending, and thank good. Coming out sobbing out of 'a star is born' is enough for the week.

Although nicely directed I thought the story lacked cohesiveness and was actually pretty lacking in actual emotional payoff. Several aspects of the story are not tackled which leads to a bland movie that could have been more. Case in point: what happened during that time jump? How did the father comport himself? How did the mother manage the father? How did the main character blossom? None of this is addressed.

This was an ok movie, Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman are very good in their roles as staunchly religious parents who out their son and send him to a gay conversion camp. Most of the movie takes place at the sinister conversion camp, it's honestly not all that interesting, sure it's messed up and horrible and like holy crap these places actually exist but not super memorable. Some flashbacks thrown in to when the son starts to realize he might be gay and a strange college rape scene. Joel Edgerton is the counsellor, he is a bad man. See what happens when religious zealots have free reign, messed up.

Good story, much-needed topic, phenomenal acting. The way Jared feels about the conversion program changes subtly but gradually, and it bursts out as climax. The only problem is that 'Boy Erased' is too dry and placid for me. It is not captivating or charismatic enough to be a 'great' movie. I know the director and writers intended to discuss conversion therapy program and how it affects vulnerable teens especially. However, what hits me more is later part of Jared and his relationship with his parents. His mother finally stepping up for her son is touching and emotional; his strained relationship with his pastor father is very realistic.