Orla Zuniga
It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review
Cissy Évelyne
It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.
Cheryl
A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
A comedy, one more, in this life that is so little comic indeed. We start with the promise of a revolution coming through and we end with a request or piece of advice that you better be home soon, and in between, love, romance, tragedy and a lot of empathy and misery with a little bit of happiness sprinkled on top, at times angry happiness because of the silly decision you took and it broke the potential happy development you were hoping for and looking forward to getting on a silver platter. You just got Saint John the Baptist's head.We are dealing here with grown up men and women all in strange situations. A young gay man living with his parents and the father behaves as if he did not know and he turns ugly when it becomes news stuff on TV. Another gay man living with his widower of a father who is not gay but accepts his son the way he is though he is invasive, maybe an intrusive voyeur, and in a way blocks his son's way to happiness.That same man gets in touch with a lady through some meeting club and the two fall for one another but the night when things were going to go through, New Year's Eve, at his place, the son being out for his own fun, she comes across some gay magazines and cannot accept the fact that she had not been told before, and if she had it would not have changed anything because she just does not want to go across this line.Just minutes after she drove off, when the fireworks start celebrating the New Year, he has a savage and wild heart attack or stroke and he will remain paralyzed on one side and without the capability to speak any more. In other words she broke his heart and that is not a metaphor, she literally did break his heart, boom.That is sad, very sad, but it is a comedy, so there must be a happy ending and life will take care of some haphazard meeting of the two young men and then life will be on tracks again. But gosh it is not easy to build your own happiness when you are not a photocopy of the standard middle of the way unoriginal model imposed by ethical and moral norms in our society, even when things have changed legally. Between the law and reality there is more than a simple Strait of Malacca: there are thousands of hostile pirates with weapons everywhere up over their heads ready to raid your life to prevent you from being happy.Enjoy the details.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
Bruno
This is an amazing movie. It digs into deep personal feelings, no matter if you're gay or not. It shows a beautiful side of being human. This movie talks about love. It is cliché, but it is so true. It talks about friendship with love, how important it is for most of us to have the right partner and the supportive family to be just happy. If you are not a fan of Russell Crowe, watch this movie anyway. It may give you another sight of his early career I was myself ignorant about. And I don't need to say how brilliant Thompson is.I wish the tale would have a longer time line, and talk about what happens after.
gezmar
Watching this movie for the first time in nearly ten years I was reminded of how it was very much window of its time but also a movie with universal themes of love that will always keep it relevant and involving.The narration to camera by the two main characters can take a bit of time to adjust to but once the movie settles in the main story between the father and son is very moving as it is the story of unconditional family love and loyalty. The movie is also about the search for love and growth in life as both characters are there for each other in the sometimes troubled journey.The son in the story is gay and this becomes a primary focus in the story. The father is not only tolerant but encouraging of his son finding a male lover.Jack Thompson and Russell Crowe are both terrific in their roles. Both actors are known and play their roles as "typical, masculine" Aussie blokes. (Warning: you will have to allow for some very coarse Australian humour between the male characters)In this scenario, though, that Aussie bloke persona has different dimensions. The son although a "blokey" plumber who plays football, is gay; the father is well read and has an enlightened view of life as he passionately encourages his son to not only find love but to read more, to dream big and discover the world.Jack Thompson's Harry is a wonderful character to journey with as he merrily goes forward in life, determined to find love and fulfillment, despite the blows that life has dealt him. Harry also comes across as an ideal if slightly overbearing father figure to Jeff. Russel Crowe's Jeff is a character that anyone, gay or straight, will identify with who wants to find love but is cautious not to be hurt and rejected again.The movie was released in 1994, a time in Australia when the Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras(featured in a scene in the movie) was arguably at it's peak, in terms of crowd attendance and media exposure and the nation was very progressive towards equal rights for gay and lesbian people in Australia. Eleven years later the movie can be viewed partly as window to that time that now seems bygone as the nation is currently in a large conservative grip.But no matter what what the political climate the film's universal themes, star quality as well as the beautiful sunny shots of Sydney will guarantee it will be around and viewed for many years to come.
Lucky-63
Given the blurbs and that the film is set in Australia, I wasn't expecting more than the average gay film. But "Sum" is a remarkable film; it puts "gayness" in perspective.Not only the story of a couple of wonderful guys looking for love, Sum is a big slice of everyday life up there on the screen. Low-key it might be, but the film's endearing characters and big mistakes (of the sort we all make) keep it right up close. Far from the relationship portrayed by Hanks and Gleason in "Nothing in Common", Harry and Jeff have a wonderful relationship. Almost too wonderful it seems, halfway through the film; but then "Sum" does something remarkable that carries it far above the surface.It's too easy to take life for granted. And sometimes it's hard to see past the surface. "Sum" is wise about what matters, without having to paint anyone as a saint or demon. Not many films manage such loving and admirable economy.
