The Trip (2002)

That was an excellent one.

So much average

Admirable film.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

OK, I'm most likely in the minority here, but i was not a fan of this movie. I liked parts of it, I liked the whole gay activism theme of the movie, i very much enjoyed that, along with the occasional view of real life footage, and i thought the acting was quite good. However, i didn't think it was a good movie. I think the only time it got to be a good movie was the final 20 minutes, when they were on the road trip. If the entire movie had been like that, two exes on a road trip reuniting, i might have enjoyed it a bit more, but i just didn't enjoy it for some reason. I don't think i can really put my finger on why i didn't like it, i just didn't. It seemed a little too predictable i guess, a couple of things weren't explained very well, and i guess i would have liked to have seen a bit more of Alan (or Andy, i'm not very good with names) and his coming out process. It just seemed like 'yep, i'm now gay!'. I would have liked to have seen it explored a bit more, his mindset while he was writing the book. Anyway, that's just my opinion. An OK movie, just not one i'd watch again

The first half of it is interesting, a beautiful love story. The middle part is touching. And the final part really made me think. To think about life, time and love. It is one of the very few movies that makes me think after viewing it. Though, because of living environment, I cannot understand some parts of it, such as Nixon and Republicans. If I could, I probably will give it a higher score. So it is hard for me to write much about the essence of the plot. I was so astonished when I saw Americans paraded for gays' rights already in the 1970's. But so far, it is good enough. It consists unawareness, happiness, twist, death and not being able to control.

I absolutely fell in love with this film it was funny and sooo romantic and was everything I look for in a movie for gay men and their followers! The film was compelling and the romance between the two leads was the best I have seen in a very long time. Also Jill St. John was great and raised the question where has she been! However, to me the film changed and at the end of one of the most wonderfully romantic films, I was watching one of the saddest I have ever seen. All I can say was that a great film left me hugely depressed and I wondered why can't their be a happy ending for any gay films that deal with romance as well as this one did? This is film not real life and when you make a loving couple so lovable together what the director did was wrong. Sorry if you disagree but these are my feelings! P.S I was so upset by the end I had a nightmare and I never get them from films!

It is two in the morning and still I am awake. My husband and I watched the movie The Trip this evening. It is a powerful movie. Like the equally excellent Longtime Companion, it is a tale spread over many years. And perhaps this is where I am caught. There is a nexus here in the passage of time and the prison of the closet experience. The Closet in this context refers to an experience of shutting away who you are and hiding from others to protect yourself or your loved ones. It is very damaging.There is so much loss involved. And pain. Perhaps this is what resonates with me from The Trip. The protagonist struggles with a strong closet experience that contributes to the loss and the tragic line of the story. How much have we lost over the years in an effort to maintain the closet walls? How deep is the fear we breathe in from our society? Consider the story of Ennis in Brokeback Mountain. When you think about the society that would produce a father who specifically brings his young boys to see a murdered and genitally mutilated body… It is extreme, but do not consider it extreme based on your own life experience. It is not unrealistic. Consider the children rejected by their parents. Consider the bashings and violence that continue to this day.The reasons for living in a closet are real. Hiding is often an effective option. It exacts a price, however. Hiding crushes love. Hiding limits opportunities. Hiding impoverishes lives. All our lives. Consider the way the twisting can damage people. Consider Roy Cohen or Jim West. These men hurt others in their effort to hide. In the case of Mr. Cohen, many others.What do we do? How do we improve our society? How do we help our children? Educate yourself. Read about Bayard Rustin and many other famous men and women who have lived productive and happy lives. Speak of this with all our children. Tell the history of the Stonewall riots and the life of Harvey Milk. You don't have to be focused on someone you suspect might be gay (a bad guessing game). Tell all your children. Tell all your colleagues. This will make the world a better place and in that safe space, the hiding will stop. People will be who they are and we will all be stronger for it. -LiteraryTech from ExistentialRamble