Latter Days - The Movie

[OneFinger]

The movie "Latter Days", a story of a Mormon missionary discovering his gay side, opened last night in Salt Lake City. One national theatre chain refused to show the movie because it lacked "artistic quality". However, local rumor was that there were threats of protests and behind the scenes pressure from the Mormon Church. The Tower Theatre finally had the balls to book and show the movie. The screening last night included a Q&A session with the writer/director.

 

I will admit that the movie will probably not be in the running for a major Oscar. It was produced on a budget of less than $500K and in a short period of time. The writing did need a little more polish and, unfortunately, many of the subtleties and nuances were probably lost on those not familiar with Mormon culture.

 

But, I thoroughly loved and enjoyed the movie. As a former missionary I could really identify with the lead character of Elder Aaron Davis and his struggles. Both main characters, Aaron and Christian, were played well by very good looking actors. I plan to see the movie again and will purchase the DVD when it's released this fall. I also liked the sound track.

 

The love scenes between Aaron and Christian were exciting and the guys seemed very comfortable with each other. I personally would have enjoyed seeing more frontal shots but was very happy with the liberal amount of skin that was shown. It really surprised me to learn during the Q&A session that both the actors for Aaron and Christian are straight!

 

Another interesting tidbit was the depiction of Mormon garments. For those that aren't aware, Mormons wear sacred underwear and it is very difficult for a non-Mormon to obtain them. They have been sold on e-Bay for a few hundred dollars but they are generally difficult to find. But, Aaron was wearing an authentic pair of garments in the movie. (I'm sure that's one of the reasons the Mormon Church didn't want this movie shown in Salt Lake City.)

 

This is definitely an art film and not a professionally produced movie from a named-brand studio. But I really liked it. It was a movie that had a good message and made me think and evaluate my life.

 

For more info, here's a link to the website:

 

http://www.latterdaysmovie.com/

[Trixie]

When I was a young boy, there was an elderly Mormon couple living at the end of our block. My parents always said "Mormon" with a faint tone of distaste in their voices. I didn't really get how they were different, other than they never mixed with any of the other neighbors, and had an unreasonable amount of canned food on shelves lining the garage from floor to ceiling.

I once asked the lady if she went to church, and she told me she went to the Church of Latter Day Saints. I mistook "Latter" for "Ladder" and for years assumed Mormons had something to do with that Old Testament story of some prophet having a vision of angels ascending and descending from heaven on a ladder.

 

I still feel a ladder might make a better symbol of religious faith than a crucifix.

 

Anyway, this sounds like a really interesting movie, and look forward to seeing it. And thank you for alerting me to the fact that sacred mormon undies occasionally get auctioned on E-Bay... I have something new to add to my Favorite Searches!

 

La Trix

[guptasa1]

I saw this movie in NYC (on my date with an escort in fact) and thoroughly loved it too (we both did)! I thought it was pretty damn incredible actually - best movie I've seen in a long time, and probably the best gay movie I've ever seen. Likely going to buy it when it comes out on DVD!

[Guest]

It looks like one of the main actors, Steve Sandvoos, who plays the blond elder, was a prior porn star. I can't recall his porn name...

[OneFinger]

Unicorn, I'd really like more info on his prior porn life. BTW, here's a link to his website.

 

http://www.stevesandvoss.com

 

According to interviews and bios that I've read, this *was* his first movie. I understand that he landed the part just 3 weeks after arriving in LA after graduating from Harvard.

 

A link to his porn movies or other sources for your info would be appreciated. I'd gladly buy one of his videos.

[Spida]

I was in B&N a few months ago and saw a book with two very good looking guys on the front called Latter days.. With no idea what it was about I picked it up, after finding out I bought it and read it. The book was basically the screen play almost word for word with the movie.

 

I loved the book and I loved the Movie and Think that both guys are really hot I can't beleive that they are both straight! I know it was low budget and at times you can tell that. The writer I think his name is C. Jay Cox (can't be his real name what a cool screen name wish I thought of it) also wrote I think the move was sweet home alabama so he has had a movie produced by a large studio.

 

I am not morman however, I knew quite a few mormans and I was at one time one of Jehovah's witnesses, I related to the movie soooo much! JW's feel the same way about being gay and you can be put out of the religion after a meeting with the elders in the same way that you can as a Morman. It really hit home!!! I actually wish I could talk to the writer and thank him for the movie cause one the guys were hot! Two it was a good story that I thouroughly enjoyed and I really related.. And BTW this is one non-morman that knew about the underwear, only through my friends who were\are morman.

[Guest]

I had to return the favor for that link you got! I didn't remember his name, but I went through my porn mags from the time I thought I remembered seeing him, and I found him as Dean O'Conner in issue 259 of In Touch. I realize that the stats listed in theses porn magazines are likely to be made up, but it lists his birthdate as 6/28/79, the birthplace as Oshkosh WI, height as 5'8", and weight of 135#. The issue is actually the November 1988 issue. Apparently his video credits include Technical Ecstasy and Ryker's Revenge. I went through the website you gave me. It states he graduated from Harvard "cum laude." I remember reading elsewhere that due to rampant grade inflation at Harvard, about 80% of Harvard students graduate with some kind of honors, and "cum laude" is the lowest honor bestowed... Nevertheless, this guy sure does have beauty and brains! :9

[OneFinger]

Thanks for the additional info. I've done a search of Dean O'Conner and found out that he also used the name Jason Webb (the movie was "On the Bus"). The one picture I found of him has a striking resemblence to Steve Sandvoss of "Latter Days". They're both my type of guy. :9

 

However, I doubt they're the same person. Steve Sandvoss is only 23 years old and the In Touch issue you saw O'Conner in was published in 1988. Unless the magazine was publishing pictures of 7 year old boys, it couldn't be him.

 

As for the stats on the O'Conner, there's no way he was born in 1979 and appeared in a 1988 magazine. That would have made him 9 years old. In Touch is one of my favorite magazines and I love the guys they publish. But, IMHO, O'Conner/Webb aren't the same guy as Sandvoss. The math doesn't add up.

[Spida]

Yeah they do both look like Steve but I am with you OneFinger I don't think so either.. Bummer :-) He is hot! I think I am going to see the movie again tomorrow night..

[Guest]

>However, I doubt they're the same person. Steve Sandvoss is

>only 23 years old and the In Touch issue you saw

>O'Conner in was published in 1988. Unless the magazine was

>publishing pictures of 7 year old boys, it couldn't be him.

>

Oops! I meant to say the issue was published in 1998, not 1988! I've looked up some info on Sandvoss on the web, and he lists his birthday as 6/25/1980, exactly a year younger than Dean O'Conner. My partner and I looked at the pictures of Sandvoss and O'Conner in detail, by blowing their pictures up. There were very few differences. The facial structure, body morphology, hair pattern (both head and body) were the same. The differences were a few small moles (such as one near Sandvoss's right nipple), which could have been brushed off in the photos of O'Conner, the shape of the eyebrows (again, these could have been plucked), but, more importantly, the shape of the thumbnail. My BF thought the two were probably different because the thumbnail couldn't be changed. Well, if Sandvoss isn't O'Conner, they're dead ringers for eachother, born perhaps a year apart. You could look at O'Conner in the video and imagine he was Sandvoss--you might or might not be right.

[OneFinger]

So Unicorn, are you a detective in "real" life?? I haven't examined the pictures in that much detail. But, if the thumbnails are different, then perhaps your BF is correct.

 

I'd love to get a video in Sandvoss in action. I might just get a copy of the O'Conner films and decide for myself. }(