MovieChat Forums > Get Real (1999) Discussion > very minor question, and an observation ...

very minor question, and an observation but I'm still curious

posted 15 years ago by jaroslaw99
14 replies | jump to latest

Since I've watched this movie about 20 times (and still love it!) I keep noticing minor details. In the kitchen when Steven comes home from the park "late" very early in the film, he's in the kitchen eating. On the counter under the window there are two silver things on stands. They remind me of the old fashioned soda fountain spigots but of course, when I zoom in with my DVD player, they get a bit blurry. Does anyone have any clues what those are?

And I'm sure in at least two places the camera backs away from the main scene and you see the studio "warehouse" ceiling. In other words they backed away a bit too far in the living room of Steven's house (in one place). Did anyone else notice this?

[–] toycoon-too 15 years ago

I just watched this again last Friday. I love this movie, too. It breaks my heart every time. I feel sorry for John mainly because he is doomed to a life of lying and deception if he doesn't snap out of it. Who knows, maybe, it really was a 'phase'!

I've seen it numerous times. My boyfriend wondered when the movie was made because he feels everyone was making a big deal about the whole 'gay' thing because in this day and age (especially in high school), many of the gay kids are out. I had to laugh because his nephew is 21 and he is out to his parents, friends at school but has never spoken to us about it and we are supposedly, his 'role models'. Huh?

[–] jaroslaw99 15 years ago

Mr. Toycoon-too - well, loving the movie and feeling sorry for John are two different things. I realize both guys are young, but I assume since John is a senior in HS, he is about 18. Most folks would consider that a young man and as such you have some responsibility for your actions. He kicked the living hell out of Steven in the locker room and for that I can't feel sorry. He also broke Steven's heart and barely apologized for it even when they were alone.

The movie was made in 1999, right before the "Millenium". You say your boyfriend's nephew is 21, so I assume your BF is at least 40? Hey, I grew up in the country where everyone was quite religious and this stuff was NEVER discussed in any rational way. The only references to Gay anything were "sissy" and *beep*

So having said all this, did you know what those silver things on the kitchen counter were and/or notice the living room ceiling became the studio warehouse? !

[–] toycoon-too 15 years ago

Hello there Jaroslaw99,
I never noticed any of the stuff on the kitchen counter but I'll make a point to look next time I watch, "Get Real" and report.

I had a sh*tload of problems with my folks when I came out. My parents pulled me out of art school because it was, "full of dykes and queers and I was wasting my time there". I didn't speak to my parents for several years because I felt so betrayed by their actions. Flash forward twenty years...

My youngest brother was just 21 when he called me out of the blue and told me he had something to tell me. His tone was so serious that I was shocked when he declared that he was gay! This time, I told him NOT to tell the folks because it really isn't anyones business but your own.

I think that's is why this movie resonates with me so much. I can see both sides of the coin. Sometimes, I identify with Steven and sometimes I feel like John. I have to say, I would have loved a sequel and every time I watch this film, I secretly pray for the other shoe to drop. There's the shot in the school auditorium when John's father makes the connection between the boy on stage and his son who denied knowing Steven earlier that afternoon. You just know there was a lot of discussion at the dinner table that night!

[–] jaroslaw99 15 years ago

If you read some of the other posts, Mr. Toycoon-too - I mentioned that this film resonates with me too because I was fooling around with a guy on the football team (in high school) who was super straight acting. Although that was not a major reason I liked the film, I only mentioned it because someone on one of these posts or in a review or something thought the theme was "unrealistic." Can't be cause it happened to me!

Sorry about getting yanked from Art school. So did you ever make your way back?

As for your younger brother, I would say tell the folks AFTER he is financially secure. It really isn't "just his business" I mean if your sister gets married and has kids, well, she & her husband are obviously fu**ing. And if he gets to be 45 without a girlfriend, well, most people will guess.

[–] toycoon-too 15 years ago

There's just something about this movie that really speaks to me. I enjoyed "Shelter" also. Similar story but totally different at the same time.

Yes, thanks I survived my early years to be a successful product designer.

My brother is in his last semester of grad school. He turned 30 and he still hasn't had a steady girlfriend. I think our folks have figured it out by now but I know my dad doesn't want to make the same mistakes he made with me. And by the way, I really believe in the gay gene. I know because it runs in our family!

[–] Mark_Alldridge 13 years ago

Just for clarity, principal photography took place on this film between 17th August - 27th September 1997. A 43 day shoot. (You mentioned it was made in 1999).

[–] BillyFisher 11 years ago

They're taps/faucets over the sink.

If you actually did see the tops of the sets, it may be that the version you watched wasn't matted properly.

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[–] jaroslaw99 11 years ago

Billy Fisher - I'm always surprised at how things work in other countries. I'm surprised a fairly modern house would have separate hot and cold water faucets. Most homes for decades now, in the USA have mixing faucets. Then again, I'm buying a house and everything is fairly new except the hot water tank. A friend of mine goes to Canada all the time and you RENT a hot water tank from the utility company. You cannot buy your own hot water tank in Canada. Interesting. "Get Real" was pretty low budget, so I just assumed seeing the 'set' was part of that. Or it may be as you say, the version I watched was not matted properly. Well, I've obsessed about this movie for years, hoping for a sequel, and now well into middle age & single (54) I don't think about it too much. Hope for a husband is pretty well extinguished. In other words, one of the many many things I liked about this movie was despite all odds and negative things happening, the hope was always there.

[–] BillyFisher 11 years ago

Probably most houses here in the UK have joint hot/cold water taps now, but it's still relatively common to see two.

Re the husband, don't give up hope. You never know what's around the corner.

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www.bedlamjournal.com

[–] jaroslaw99 11 years ago

Billy - I think I'm going to have to put a sign on my bathroom mirror - never give up hope. You are right, you never know what is around the corner. It happened last year to me! I did meet a guy, very suddenly in an unusual way (he was a friend of a friend and the three of us were trying to do an intervention with a fourth person). He turned out to have TONS of baggage, although he is still a nice person, romance is out of the question (he came on to me almost immediately and then barely kissed me after that.)....bottom line, again, I get that we never know what the future holds. Thanks for the reminder.

[–] BillyFisher 11 years ago

And getting back on subject, thank God for films like Get Real, eh?

Films that tell our stories as gay men are so important, as they're stories that have been untold - forbidden - for so long. I'm guessing from your name you might live in a part of Europe where those stories are even more needed to give hope.

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www.bedlamjournal.com

[–] jaroslaw99 11 years ago

Ancestors from Europe, yes. Greatgrandparents born in the USA. I wasn't trying to be so personal & off subject, but you if you looked up further in this post, and on many posts, people always try to say such stories are unrealistic and it happened in a very similar way to me. And in telling our real stories as Gay men, it is hard NOT to talk about one's self since our stories are so seldom depicted in the mainstream tv, books, newspapers etc. I was watching Wedding Crashers at a neighbor's last night. They FINALLY had a Gay male character, who was, what else? Creepy AND had a crush on a straight guy...........

[–] BillyFisher 11 years ago

Ah, I see. I'm in the UK, so I instinctively assumed you were living somewhere in mainland Europe with that name. Much greater diversity of names in the USA.

Hollywood is still ridiculously behind in its portrayal of gay men, isn't it?

Personally, I found Maurice the most helpful and inspiring film in my gay journey. Even for 1987 it was ahead of its time.

- - - - - - - -
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www.bedlamjournal.com

[–] jaroslaw99 11 years ago

I'm late for Dr. appt actually, but this conversation is so interesting.......I'll just add did you see "The Celluloid Closet"? Hollywood is often praised for being ahead of the game, but they really aren't. The only thing they do "trendy" is bash Christianity. They wouldn't dare do the same thing to Islam. Anyway, CC outlines how much storylines changed about Gay characters based on novels and books. So, yes, Hollywood is very backwards re: Gay men. Will & Grace was touted as so "groundbreaking" for a TV show, but Will was like totally sanitized. Not that I think fisting and all should have been portrayed and I'm not into anything like that myself, but come one. Studies showed despite W & G's overwhelming popularity, basic attitudes about Gay men were unchanged. I don't think he even had a romantic kiss until the fourth or fifth season. Prior to that I think he kissed Jack to make a point - they were outside on the "Today" show. (a real program". Gotta run for sure now!