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Ryan Kelley and Sigourney Weaver in "Prayers For
Bobby"
courtesy of Lifetime
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“Prayers For Bobby” (Lifetime)
“Prayers For Bobby” is a Lifetime movie made for a strong dramatic actress. The main role is that of a very religious and straight-laced mother who is horrified to discover her youngest son is gay. The actress playing this role gets to run the gamut of emotions and insinuate herself into the viewers’ conscience. Unfortunately Sigourney Weaver is not the right person for this role.
Weaver is a slightly aloof and detached actress. This is what made her such a standout in the “Alien” series. She appears to act more intellectually than emotionally, and for this role she needs to be pure emotion.
In this film, which is based on actual events, Mary Griffith (Weaver) is a very religious woman who is living what she believes to be a blessed life. The story is set in the 70’s and Mary has it all. She has a husband (Henry Czerny) she loves and four well behaved children. She loves all of her children but she is especially partial to her youngest son Bobby (Ryan Kelley). In her eyes he is almost perfect.
In Bobby’s eyes he is anything but perfect. Bobby knows a secret and that is that he is gay. He tries to hide it from his family and friends but eventually the secret comes out. Mary is horrified and feels if Bobby will pray and study the scriptures he will be able to overcome it.
The film concerns Mary’s anguish and Bobby’s sense of loss. It is a well made movie that does not make caricatures of any of the characters. Mary’s religious fervor is not treated as a joke but rather as a serious pattern of beliefs that she has. On the other hand Bobby’s gayness is handled with compassion and understanding by the script. Bobby wants to be happy but he also wants to be loved and accepted by his family.
Kelley is very good as Bobby. He makes him sympathetic and understandable. Weaver makes a valiant effort to give Mary a full range of emotions. She plays a woman who is seeking answers and eventually is open to new ideas. Still her aloofness hampers her ability to make the change in the woman believable.
The final fourth of the film is not paced right as the events happen too quickly and without enough justification. You can appreciate the way they unfold because this is a film based on a true story, but the timing undercuts the believability.
Once again Lifetime has tackled a serious subject and has lined up the stars and the behind the scenes people to make an outstanding film. “Prayers For Bobby” is a movie with a message. Sadly Weaver is the wrong messenger for the film.
“Prayers For Bobby” airs on the Lifetime Channel, Saturday, January 24 at 9PM. |
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©2009 Jackie K. Cooper |
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