At the beginning of 'Loggerheads', we're introduced to three pairs of seemingly unrelated characters. To make matters even more confusing, we're informed (via titles on the screen) that the action is taking place in three separate time lines (between the years 1999 and 2001). It takes a great deal of time but eventually we come to see how the three pairs are related: Mark Austin, a young man in his 20s, gay and HIV Positive is estranged from his conservative parents, Elizabeth and Rev. Robert Austin. Mark is now a drifter and arrives in Kure Beach, North Carolina, a seaside town, where he meets George (sensitively played by Michael Kelly), a gay motel owner and they eventually become involved with each other. Meanwhile, Mark's birth mother, Grace (played by Bonnie Hunt) has come to the point in her life where she has decided to find the son she gave up for adoption when she was 17. Similarly, Mark's adoptive mother, also has decided to track her estranged son as she misses him (despite the misgivings of her homophobic minister husband).'Loggerheads' we're told is based on a true story and that perhaps is its Achilles Heel. Director/Writer Tim Kirkman tries too hard to create scenes fraught with dramatic tension where there is very little to be found. Take Mark and George—they're both sensitive souls who have little to disagree about. There's some slight tension when Grace faces off against an Adoption Agency Director who is forbidden by law to give her any information about her lost son as well as a slight conflict with her mother who denies that she disapproved of her when she became pregnant as a teenager. No sparks fly either between Elizabeth and Robert since the good Reverend has adamantly insisted from the beginning that he has no intention of reconciling with his son. 'Loggerheads' is similar to 'Brokeback Mountain' in that the gay couple are the good guys and the straight males (for example, the Kure Beach cop and the Reverend) are the baddies. The biggest letdown of the movie is that there is no interaction (and hence no dramatic conflict) between Mark and either one of his 'mothers'. Mark is already dead before either the birth or adoptive mother has a chance to reconcile with him. Kirkman's theme is both a plea for tolerance and an exhortation for family members to express their heartfelt feelings before it's too late! Kirkman's sentiments are for the most part well-intentioned but they do not make for good drama. Loggerheads moves along at a snail's pace without providing any new revelations (or suspense) regarding such topics as AIDS, Adoption and Homophobia. Ultimately 'Loggerheads' fails due to its slow pacing.

I really was looking forward to seeing LOGGERHEADS. Nothing beats a nice, quiet indie flick set on the coast of NC. Nothing except a nice, quiet indie flick with decent character and a story that is actually interesting.Aside from Kip Pardue and the guy that played George, I found this one to be a lights out. Sure it looked great and the camera work was nice. But, man, oh man - some of the people just killed it for me. Especially the woman in search of her son. That storyline was horribly played. The actor had little charisma. And the preacher - same thing. Mr. Kirkman needed to cast much stronger personalities like he did with Pardue and the guy that played George.

Tonight I had the pleasure of attending a screening of Tim Kirkman's "Loggerheads". Tim is a graduate of NC State, and he was on hand for a Q&A session after the screening, so it was really interesting to get some insight into the film, and of course it is always rare to see someone from this area "make it" in the "business".As for the film itself, I was very skeptical going in, having been unimpressed by the trailer and synopsis, but I was extremely surprised by how well-crafted "Loggerheads" was. The film is quite slow paced, and driven one hundred percent by its characters, which means even the smallest mistakes stick out, as there is no high style and 'noise' to mask them. It works out very well, though, as the performances were extremely good, and the attention to detail outstanding.Kirkman weaves together three separate but interconnected stories, all taking place in North Carolina (one in the western mountains of the state, one in the middle of the state, and one in the eastern beaches). The film deals with such issues as homosexuality, religion, and suicide, so a delicate touch is required in making the actions of the characters believable. "Loggerheads" felt more "real" to me than any other film I have seen this year, but it could be the North Carolina locations and characters that made it seem that way. I doubt I would have connected with the film on the same level had it been set in another state, and I am not so sure viewers unfamiliar with North Carolina will fully appreciate some of the film's qualities. If anyone reading this sees "Loggerheads", I would be interested in seeing some discussion on that subject. And I definitely would recommend seeing it.

I was fortunate enough to have recently viewed this film at the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (PIGLFF). I am mystified that as of my writing the movie's current rating is 4.9, despite the fact that 75% of the voters gave it at least a 6, and 67% of the voters gave it a 7 or higher.The story arc begins enigmatically as three different strands of he same tale and resolves into a heartbreakingly beautiful tale of the longings of the human heart, loss, and the will to reach into and beyond oneself. The movie's title not only represents the heart's search for home but also, I think, the conflict being worked out on screen within and between its characters. It respects the religious faith of its characters while also demonstrating that religion can be rigid, self-protective, and calcified dogmatism. Some of the shots, external and internal, are strikingly lush and colorful. The cast consists of several wonderful veteran actors, including Michael Learned, Chris Sarandon, Bonnie Hunt,and Tess Harper.If you need helicopters and explosions, this film will not be your cup of tea. (I think this film is of a high caliber and should someday be broadcast on PBS, if it dared; but if PBS won't do it, perhaps HBO or Sundance will.) If you are willing to sit a bit and be told a cleverly crafted tale that explores the human heart, I heartily recommend it to you.