It is a performances centric movie

Am I Missing Something?

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

A pleading for all love's forms. A radiography of a deep crisis, about lost and vulnerability. About illusions and betrayal, about pardon and new beginnings. The necessity of refuge is the root of this movie. And this refuge is only manner to be yourself. It is in the self -reseach, in the grievous endeavor to self-definition a form of escape and fight with others. A way to a form of interior life who must be the only life. The father's mistress, trip to vacation house, Campbell's letters and memories, the evening's talks and the reactions given strangers, the lessons and the homosexuality are the skin of a single world of resignation. The last desire of each character is to build a real family and the price is always small."Rites of Passage" is, like "Ordinary People", a crisis exploration. A subtle exploration of family and his values, attempt to understand humans relationship and self desire.

The filmscript for "Rites of Passage" was not only intelligently but skillfully written and brilliantly executed by Mr. Victor Salva who, I understand, comes from the training ground of F. F. Coppola. If this is so it comes as no surprise since he led this project with the same sort of fresh energy and panache! It is my belief that audiences have missed the great 'integrity' with which this film quite simply reeks! Had it been promoted as it might have been I feel that audiences may have lifted this film to its rightful place. Beyond Mr. Salva's seemingly limitless gifts there was, also, the music which gave the film its feeling of extreme intensity and kept me on edge throughout while wringing my emotions simultaneously. And, not the least nor the last brilliant element to add to the whole, there were the actors who treated ensemble acting like an unparalleled "Lucia di Lammermoor" cast of singers singing the sextette with sublime artistry. Seldom in today's market have I seen a film elevate the film medium to such heights of style and art! I really feel that any film buff who hasn't seen "Rites of Passage" has missed one of those lyrical and rare gems which comes our way all too infrequently and leaves the viewer feeling cleansed and good to be alive! Mr. Salva, I salute and thank you and your entire team!!!

This is basically a character-driven thriller exploring some routine familial issues between a middle-class father and his two sons. I say routine, because the conflicts are reasonably familiar: the father's having a mid-life, extra-marital fling; one son's gay; and the other son's bogged down in his own suburban mediocrity; not to mention that the whole drama takes place overnight in the woods, an almost absurd setting for all the abounding macho bonding. In spite of this theatrical, TV-movie veneer, RITES OF PASSAGE is still a satisfying low-budget feature thanks to a very appealing cast and the mature, sure-handed direction of Victor Salva (POWDER). It's an involving little ensemble drama with an amazing amount of tension and truth. No small mention should be made of Jason Behr, a WB-TV pretty-boy type who really carries the picture with a surprisingly inspired performance; although a lot of sympathy for his character is still a result of his physical appeal, he does a very good job here alongside excellent performers like Dean Stockwell and James Remar. Still, I doubt if a lot of the enthusiasm for this film would be there without Behr's good looks. In spite of what I've read in a few of the other reviews, the little bit of violence and profanity in this picture are of the PG-13 variety; as a matter of fact, it could have been a bit more aggressive with it's sexuality and brutality in order to intensify the motivations culminating in this one-night, boys-to-men catharsis. I'll tell you, though, it's too bad family crises aren't this easily resolved by a boy's night out in the woods.

When I first heard about this movie all I knew was that it's about a dysfunctional family and escaped prisoners in an isolated cabin. It sounded like a big waste of my time, but as I learned more about the story I felt I had to see it. It took some time to track down a copy to rent, but it was worth it. The story is very moving and I could not stop thinking about it for days. The acting is outstanding all around, but Jason Behr is phenomenal. This is a great movie, but I must admit that I was not thrilled with the last nighttime scenes, but that's my own personal opinion. Watch the movie and judge for yourselves. It's worth the time and effort.