Ruben's Place (2012) Poster

(2012)

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Gay Birds of Paradise
Dr_Coulardeau7 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This is a gay paradise romance. There must be one from time to time. Ruben comes home in his dying small city to take care of his alcoholic father who has been declining fast after his wife's drowning. Ruben gets a job in his uncle's warehouse for some not always clear business. After all we are in the far west slightly wild.

Ruben meets with Jimmy an old high school friend who was also a foster care child and who is now drifting around. They restart their friendship and from one little initiative to the next the two develop that friendship into a collaboration. Ruben starts a small gallery in the front of the warehouse for Jimmy's drawings and it is visited by a member of the city council who decides to buy the drawings. From there the city council decides to buy the warehouse to make a visitor's center and the uncle accepts which gives him the opportunity to move to Reno with his shady customers and business.

On the opening day Ruben and Jimmy turn their friendship into love and they are more or less discovered but they are accepted and they can get out of a closet that was not that very isolated anyway. And the reformed father has dropped his alcoholism and he finally liberates his wife's ashes into the lake, thus terminating his own mourning.

Such films will probably not shake the earth but they show a new mood is appearing in the USA, a mood that not only tolerates but also accepts gay couples as in their own way natural. The actors are young, from California, mixed from various roots and origins, which makes them open to impersonating various trees and branches. Proposition 8 is definitely dead. Next stop in the US Supreme Court in less than six months.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
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7/10
not a bad watch for a first attempt
stevemosley-2069121 July 2020
Overall this was a sensitive view toward a loving relationship.

There are some short comings, like Jimmy's (Jason Lieu) weird friend...what was his character about? Ruben's uncle Vic's character could have been explained better...about him being a bit 'dodgy' and when his girlfriend Mercedes realized the relationship between Ruben and Jimmy, I feel there could have been some sort of a short discussion about this.

The audio was a tad underwhelming.....even on 98 it was difficult to hear...it was only after I had watched the movie where it was explained to wear headphones...which is impossible for me as my wireless headphones aren't paired with my TV......When I get the time I will re-watch on my computer to see if the audio is better.

The story line was believable, although a bit predictable. There was a natural attraction between Ruben's character (Dawson Montoya) and Jimmy's character (Jason Lieu)....that really cemented the overall story.

The best scene for me was the releasing of Ruben's mom's ashes....with Jimmy's tears......as we all forget Jimmy lost both his parents when he was in 8th grade.

This movie is worth a watch
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8/10
Nicely handled
mnorth196411 July 2013
Extra-ordinarily touching film, created with such a sensitivity that you can't help but fall in love with the characters, the setting and the visuals. All beautifully handled by Vasquez, a first time writer/director?; never mind, as Elsie is free now, and the sky is enormous - freedom and enormity are synonymous with the possibilities that lay ahead of Vasquez for he handles his first endeavour with professionalism, finesse and skill. Well done, Mr. Vasquez. Looking forward to your next project.

The young actor, Dawson Montoya, is a generous young performer, that gives his role depth and realism in a mismatched cast of amateurs and semi pros. His facial expressions and movement is honest and holds the rest of the supporting parts together. From the ruggedly handsome Uncle Vic (Ray Renati) to the under stated part of Jimmy's friend, Puck, sadly underdeveloped, the only other kudos in the acting department can go to Jason Lieu for though he and Montoya didn't really make the screen click with chemistry, Lieu certainly does offer a certain honesty that is refreshing.

I gave this film 8/10 easily on IMDb because the only issue I can find is one scene with the blocking in a scene between Ruben and Jimmy; the lack of time for rehearsals is obvious with David Klein's overacting and a script that was perhaps too tight (probably due to budget constraints). The score is simple and touching, the sound was perfect, no problem at all and a really well told tale. Congratulations to the entire cast, one of the sweetest films I've seen in a while.
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8/10
Nice sweet film :)
Irishchatter26 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The movie was adorable with Ruben and Jimmy's relationship. It would even melt your heart looking at Rubens eyes, seriously he's got such gorgeous green emerald eyes. I honestly was astonished that Jimmy is taller then Ruben, like I thought in the beginning when he was reunited with Jimmy that both were the same height. Then when they both kissed and hugged while standing, I realised that I was wrong. The actor that plays Jimmy is a good giant like seriously lol! Regardless of height wise among them both, I thought that the guys were awesome in the film!

The only down part of this film was with Rubens dad. He didn't appear to be an alcoholic really, the actors voice didn't really have that better drunken voice to be honest. Yes in the film it showed beer bottles but they didn't appear until the middle of the story which is kinda unorganised if you were playing a drunk character. Maybe the script was too rush or the actor didn't know how to get away with having a best impression of a drunk character? Either way, he or the writers shouldve done his character expression.

If you feel like you wanna watch a gay movie then watch this!
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