Shelter.

"A confused young artist is torn between his family and his future in Shelter, a sensitive romantic drama from the writer and director Jonah Markowitz," writes Jeannette Catsoulis in the New York Times. "And if at times the symbolism is a bit heavy-handed - and the ending is easily foreseen - strong performances and Joseph White's burnished cinematography do much to atone."

"Although Shelter doesn't avoid being a bit sappy every now and then - and at times the acting feels a bit forced - the truly amazing chemistry between the two protagonists overshadows many of the film's imperfections," writes Maria Komodore in the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

"Shelter bides its time with innocuous snapshots of local SoCal color—crashing waves, crystal-blue skies, natives who pronounce the 'r' in Louvre - before writer-director Jonah Markowitz allows Zach (Trevor Wright), a full-time burger-flipper and nanny to his nephew, to get his queer on," writes Ed Gonzalez in the Voice.

"Those seeking high drama may be frustrated with the low-key Shelter, but Markowitz has put his faith in small moments," writes Chuck Wilson in the LA Weekly. "Wright is a find, while [Brad] Rowe may surprise those who dismissed him as a Brad Pitt look-alike when he first came to attention in Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss."

"The first project of the here! gay television network's new movie initiative, Shelter regrettably plays closer to Lifetime fodder," writes Fernando F Croce in Slant.

Posted by dwhudson at March 28, 2008 1:20 PM