Heart-wrenching "Prayers for Bobby" re-airs tonight 8pm EST

[checks-n-balances]

Watched it twice already because it was that important and very moving. Here's a DU discussion thread about it from last night and one of the original threads about it w/promo graphic.

DUers, please try to keep it kicked today to spread the word.

Tell your friends and, by all means, keep the tissues handy tonight...

Editing to add this Variety magazine review from http://www.prayersforbobby.com:

VARIETY
By BRIAN LOWRY

Filmed in Detroit by Once Upon a Time Films in association with Permut Presentations and Sladek Taaffe Prods. Executive producers, Stanley M. Brooks, David Permut, Daniel Sladek, Chris Taaffe; producer, Damian Ganczewski; co-producers, Steve Longi, Silvio Muraglia, David Steinberg, Mary Griffith, Leroy Aarons; director, Russell Mulcahy; writer, Katie Ford, based on the book by Aarons. Mary Griffith - Sigourney Weaver, Bob Griffith - Henry Czerny, Bobby Griffith - Ryan Kelley, Ed Griffith - Austin Nichols, Joy Griffith - Carly Schroeder, Nancy Griffith - Shannon Eagan, David - Scott Bailey, Jeanette - Rebecca Louise Miller, Betty Lambert - Susan Ruttan, Reverend Whitsell - Dan Butler

Sigourney Weaver's TV movie debut proves worth the wait, as Lifetime's fact-based "Prayers for Bobby" revisits ground similar to that which the AIDS-themed "An Early Frost" broke nearly 25 years ago and -- thanks to enduring religious-based bigotry toward gays -- still feels fresh and poignant. Lifetime doesn't often aim this high with its made-fors, yet barring some minor questionable stylistic choices by director Russell Mulcahy, this message movie proves powerful without being unduly preachy. The year is 1979, and Mary Griffith (Weaver) has what looks to be a family plucked from a Norman Rockwell painting, until teenage son Bobby (Ryan Kelley, simply terrific) confides to his brother ("John From Cincinnati's" Austin Nichols) that he dreams of boys, not girls. Refusing to accept that her son might be gay, the God-fearing Mary begins a campaign to "cure" him -- posting passages of scripture on his bathroom mirror and forcing him into uncomfortable therapy sessions."There's no doubt in my mind that God can handle this," she announces to her husband (Henry Czerny), who's mostly a passive observer, other than dragging Bobby along on a camping trip, presumably to help butch him up.So it goes, until Bobby -- in an act of pain and desperation -- flings himself off a freeway overpass at the age of 20. What follows is Mary's spiritual quest to understand what transpired -- a tormented, tear-stained journey for which three hankies won't be nearly enough.Beautifully adapted by writer Katie Ford from Leroy Aarons' book, the movie takes dialogue that has doubtless been expressed from children to parents countless times before -- "Why would I choose this?" an exasperated Bobby pleads to his mother -- and sharpens its edges to unleash the heartbreak within. That's largely due to the fine performances, which zero in on the characters' shared suffering, frustration and confusion. Mulcahy does indulge in a few unnecessary flourishes, from using what are essentially camera tricks to accentuate Bobby's emotional distress to having one extended speech delivered directly into the camera. Yet these amount to quibbles in what's otherwise a class act, one that tackles its subject matter with the sort of uncompromising passion not readily associated with Lifetime titles like last year's "Sex and Lies in Sin City: The Ted Binion Scandal."The common thread among Lifetime's disparate movies is that they pivot on a recognizable actress in a central role. "Prayers for Bobby" certainly has that, and in Weaver a leading lady whose prayers for a part worthy of her talents have been forcefully answered.

Camera, Thom Best; Production Designer, Garreth Stover; Editor, Victor Du Bois; Music, Christopher Ward; Casting, Shana Landsberg.
Running Time: 120 MIN.

And be sure to visit THE TREVOR PROJECT website:
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/home1.aspx

Also, I just noticed that, if you can't watch tonight...
**This movie will be re-aired once again on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 9 pm on Lifetime**

Could someone please try and start a reminder thread on Tuesday? I'd do it myself but my schedule is way too hectic. Thanks in advance!

[Christa]

1. I watched it last night

with a gay friend, we cried so much :cry:

One can only hope it will open the eyes of those religious nuts who still cling to that dumb verse in Leviticus

[checks-n-balances]

9. Reviewers on IMDB discuss similar reactions

Poignant and effective, leaves you emotionally lethargic but also hopeful
24 January 2009
Author: tj19 from United States

BASED ON A TRUE STORY I'm not much of a fan of the Lifetime network. They usually produce wishy-washy and cliché titles usually about divorce, or pregnancy issues, or something that really has no plot or substance. However, being a fan of Sigourney Weaver and her work, and also interested in the story that actually has an actual important theme, I debated whether it would be worth two hours of my time. It was. It is 1979...I never cried during a movie before until I saw this movie. Prayers for Bobby was truly an amazing movie. Watching Sigourney Weaver as Mary Griffith broke my heart. She was believable and perfect. Ryan Kelley also did a great job playing Bobby. He showed a lot of range and purity in his performance. The movie definitely has a made-for-TV and Lifetime channel feel to it. It WAS a made-for-TV Lifetime original movie, so get over that (I did). I am so glad I saw this and I urge anyone and everyone to see it. 9/10

Touching!, 24 January 2009
10/10
Author: elven_avari from Kentucky, USA

The truth can be heartbreaking. Mary Griffith realized this when her son Bobby jumped off of a freeway into oncoming traffic. I just finished watching this movie and I must say... this movie is beyond touching. The acting was fantastic and it's message was very inspiring. Prayers for Bobby shows the struggles that gay youth and their families can go through, whether that means failing or triumph. This movie not only touches on the issues of homosexuality but also on pushing religion to far on someone, suicide and coming to terms with who you are. Life isn't always made up of rainbows and butterflies and this movie expresses that without holding anything back.

More reviews at:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1073510/usercomments

[dsc]

2. kicked and recommended

It is a profoundly sad but deep movie. The leads did a great job.

[checks-n-balances]

4. Thanks, dsc, for sharing so many of your personal thoughts

and feelings on these recent threads.

Your comments have touched me personally and I'm glad you're a fellow DUer among us...O8)

[dsc]

5. thanks

my church's sermon was, in part, about the movie. Just got back.

[checks-n-balances]

10. Does this excellent thread of yours contain what you heard today?

"To save his soul I tortured and killed my son"

at:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4909151#4909237

I'm glad you started that discussion!

[dsc]

12. actually no

the sermon was about being called for things and what he said was part of a really long passage so I didn't really put that in. The thread's thoughts are mine.

[Ilsa]

3. I recorded it so I can watch it without the kids being around.

I hope to see it tomorrow morning. Weaver is a fabulous actress -- she was on Morning Joe a few days ago.

[checks-n-balances]

6. Thanks for mentioning her appearance on Morning Joe

Is this the episode you're talking about? I was hoping to see what Joe Scar would've had to say about it but, at any rate, she handled the topic of Prop 8 well in a short time.

And here she is on "The View" this past Wednesday. The first part of it, anyway, deals with the movie.

And yes, she did some outstanding acting in this movie, especially in the scene where she recognizes how tragically misguided she had been.

I can't believe I'm going to watch it for a third time (and possibly again on Tuesday), but it was that good!

[checks-n-balances]

7. Here's an interview (in print) with the real-life mother

Excerpt:

Was there a single moment when you realized Bobby "didn't choose" to be gay?


There really wasn't a single moment. Until Bobby's death, I was convinced that I could fix him, and nothing was going to change my mind about that. I guess his death was the moment. It wasn't until then that I realized how close-minded I had been. Reverend Larry Whitesell and his church opened up new ways of seeing the Bible and religion that changed my life.

More:
http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/interview-mary-griffith-inspiration-behind-prayers-bobby

[checks-n-balances]

8. And a print interview with Sigourney Weaver

Excerpt from this one:

What do you think this story says about gay rights today?

To me, gay rights are a part of the Constitution. There's nothing in the Constitution that says, "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — oh, except for gay people." The fact that their ability to marry is not considered legitimate is just a bigger example of what happened to Mary — people operating on fear and ignorance. I don't know why people are so threatened.

More at:
http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/interview-sigourney-weaver-star-lifetime-original-movie-prayers-bobby

(Doing my best to try & keep this one kicked. If this makes it to the Greatest page, more people will probably watch it, right?)
:kick:

[closeupready]

15. She's so wonderful. Few are as talented, either.

n/t

[tilsammans]

11. Very moving film!

On Lifetime right now.

:kick:

[babylonsister]

13. Great movie! I highly recommend it, too.

Sigourney Weaver was terrific.

[kevinbgoode]

14. A very touching film. . .

And Weaver does an excellent job.