Giants Being Lonely

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Giants Being Lonely
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Giants Being Lonely is a mature coming-of-age drama about three teens in an unnamed Southern town: two high school baseball players and the girl who can't decide between them. The directorial debut of mixed-media artist/actor Grear Patterson, the movie has lots of mature content, including parental abuse and a shocking, bloody moment (graphic in one climactic scene). There are also several sex scenes (most with partial nudity), as well as a brief nonsexual scene of full-frontal nudity from afar as a young man dives naked into a lake. Strong language includes "f--k," "s--t," "ass," "p---y," and more, and teens drink, smoke, skip class, lie, and behave impulsively. This isn't a diverse movie: The majority of the cast is not only White but blond, and it's easy to get the two main male characters confused (they are, in fact, brothers). But parents and teens will have a lot to discuss after the movie -- about substance use, honesty, and how to look for help when a friend is in need.
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What's the Story?
Writer-director Grear Patterson's feature debut GIANTS BEING LONELY takes place in an unspecified rural Southern town where the high school baseball team is adored, particularly Giants pitcher Bobby White (Jack Irving), whose natural gifts on the mound make him not only popular but swoon-worthy to women of all ages. Adam (Ben Irving), meanwhile, is the hardworking relief pitcher who's kept on a tight leash by the team's coach, who seems firm but fair in public but is much darker at home. Bobby's home life is also complicated, thanks to his kind but alcohol-dependent father, but he enjoys flirting, bed-hopping between sexual partners, and generally being a golden boy. Both pitchers have a romantic connection to Caroline (Lucy Gavin), a wealthy classmate with parent issues of her own.
Is It Any Good?
This moody, atmospheric coming-of-age drama is reminiscent of the work of Sofia Coppola, Larry Clark, and Terrence Malick. In other words, characterization and cinematography take precedence over story and plot. Giants Being Lonely is the sort of movie that seems more likely to appeal to adults who appreciate independent cinema than actual teens, who might find it too introspective and without more than the barest of narrative threads. Patterson is already a critically acclaimed and well-connected millennial artist, and the cast is full of well-heeled 20-something artists, models, and friends of the filmmakers. One of the reasons it can be difficult to tell blond-and-bright-eyed Bobby and Adam apart is that actors Ben and Jack Irving are real-life brothers. And producer Olmo Schnabel's (son of celebrated painter-director Julian Schnabel) older sister plays Caroline's mother.
Despite the seemingly nepotistic hires, the movie effectively portrays snapshots of troubled teens' lives; they might have problems at home, but they can still figure out how to survive, seek pleasure, and show up for small moments of glory on the baseball field. Patterson cleverly introduces elements early on that come back into play later in the film. Mostly it's a collection of aesthetically beautiful shots -- of faces, of intimate romantic conversations, of these golden characters walking around. Giants Being Lonely is a poetic and intriguing, if not particularly original, film that will leave audiences talking about one particular scene. It's a promising if not extraordinary debut that should earn Patterson a second feature.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the moments of violence and abuse in Giants Being Lonely. Does violence involving children and teens have more impact on you than violence involving adults?
How does the movie depict drinking, drug use, smoking, and sex among teens? Are there consequences for any of this risky behavior? Why does that matter?
Discuss the relationships between adults and teens in the story. Are there any positive role models? How do the characters show the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and empathy?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 6, 2021
- Cast: Jack Irving, Ben Irving, Lily Gavin
- Director: Grear Patterson
- Studio: Gravitas Ventures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Friendship, High School
- Character Strengths: Empathy, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 81 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
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