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VHS : Common Ground (2000)In association with Amazon.comstarring: Erik Knudsen, Brittany Murphy, Jason Priestley, Margot Kidder, Helen Shaver directed by: Donna Deitch  List Price: $14.95 Price: $6.28 You Save: $8.67 (58%)Prices subject to change. Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9780792170709 Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC ISBN: 0792170709 Label: Paramount Manufacturer: Paramount Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Paramount Release Date: January 29, 2002 Running Time: 104 minutes Studio: Paramount Theatrical Release Date: January 29, 2000 Sales Rank: 3965 Related Items: Editorial Review: Amazon.com: In Common Ground director Donna Deitch (Desert Hearts) uses three stories to explore attitudes toward homosexuality in the fictional small town of Homer, Connecticut, over a period of almost half a century. "A Friend of Dorothy's" tells the story of a girl who returns to Homer in 1954 after leaving the Navy. When it emerges that she was discharged after being arrested in a gay bar, she is ostracized by everyone except the owner of a local diner, a woman who has her own reasons for wanting to help Dorothy to escape. "M. Roberts" is set in 1974, when a gay teacher (Steven Weber) has to decide whether to jeopardize his career in order to help a troubled pupil who has been targeted by homophobic bullies. Finally, in present-day Homer, "Andy & Amos" follows the preparations for a gay wedding. While protesters gather on the town commons, Amos's father (Ed Asner) has to choose between long-held prejudices and his love for his son. Thanks to a Harvey Fierstein script that combines sexual politics with humor and believable characters, this is the most successful part of Common Ground. Ed Asner's gradual realization that his son's monogamous, long-term gay relationship is more conventional than most heterosexual marriages is deftly handled, achieving a balance between message and drama that the other stories lack. Despite the credentials of their authors (playwrights Paula Vogel and Terrence McNally) the first two segments feel more like lectures than stories. Their impact is weakened by clumsy dialogue (Dorothy's mother actually says, "I have no daughter") and stereotypical characters. The film's message is an important one: the road to equality is built upon the struggles and sacrifices of past generations. Unfortunately Common Ground is too uneven to deliver that message with the force it deserves. --Simon Leake Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Intro to Gays & Lesbians 101 The stories are timeless and still relevant, even though one takes place in 1954, one in 1974, and the last in 2000. It is a similar format to "If These Walls Could Talk 2" in which there are three stories from three different generations. The 1954 sequence hits home, in spite of a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy within the armed services, because even now, a military career can still be irreparably damaged if a soldier or officer is outed. Gay youths can relate to the 1974 story, seeing minimal progress ... Read More Rating:  - absolubtly phenomenalThis could very well be among the greatest movies I've ever seen. It gets kind of corny at times, but corniness is good when dealing with these themes. If you liked Angela's Ashes, you'll LOVE Common Ground. It made me cry, not because I could indetify (I'm straight), but my brother is gay and it really helped me see some things differently. Watch it, you won't regret it. Rating: - Why not on DVD!!!Come on folks VHS is DEAD. DVD please Rating: - Loved it, loved it, loved it.Great film. However, I couldn't help but notice what an UGLY OLD HAG Margot Kidder has turned into! YIKES! I could hardly stand to look at her. LMAO Rating: - Excellent and TimelyUnforunately, this video is still very relavent today. Contrary to Mr. Diamond's comments - LGBTQ youth are still beaten and murdered today and are four times more likely than their straight peers to commit suicide (Mass. Youth Behavior 2000). I was harassed severely in high school and had to transfer due to physical threats. To say that youth today do not know what it was like is just plain wrong. As an active member of several queer youth organizations trust me, we know and we are grateful. But we have ... Read More Browse for similar items by category:
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