The Sum of Us
List Price:
Our Price: $12.49
You Save: $2.49 (17%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $7.38 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Deborah Kennedy, Jack Thompson, John Polson, Joss Moroney, Russell CroweBrand: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-06-03
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of The Sum of Us
DVD Review: An Underrated, Bittersweet Comedic Drama With Russell Crowe
Summary: 5 Stars
Years before Russell Crowe won the Oscar for Best Actor for the 2000 film "Gladiator" and received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for the 2001 film "A Beautiful Mind", he starred in the lesser-known, 1994 Australian film "The Sum of Us". Adapted by David Stevens from his own off-Broadway play of the same name, "The Sum of Us" is the story of a widowed father, Harry Mitchell (Harry Thompson, who played in the 1980 film "Breaker Morant" and the 2002 film "Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones"), and his rugby-playing, 24-year-old gay son, Jeff Mitchell (Russell Crowe). The two maintain a strong father-son bond, but each is searching to find companionship and happiness while continuing to contend with the death of Jeff's mother. Harry, who is a ferryboat captain, does much of the cooking and housework for himself and Jeff, and is completely accepting of his son's sexual orientation. Jeff, who works as a plumber, assists his father around the house that they share while struggling to find descent men to date. One night, Jeff meets someone, Greg (John Polson), and brings him home on a date. Harry's enthusiasm for Jeff actually having a date encourages him to benevolently intrude on their time together. After Harry finally leaves, Jeff and Greg begin to share some intimacy, but a final interruption from the well-meaning Harry ends their date prematurely. Greg, who cannot be open about his sexuality with his own parents, becomes uncomfortable in the unaccustomed, but accepting environment of the Mitchell's home. Harry, who also makes efforts to find love, meets the divorcée Joyce Johnson (Deborah Kennedy). A strong romance develops between them, but when Joyce inadvertently discovers that Jeff is gay, she leaves Harry. Shortly thereafter, Harry suffers a severe stroke that leaves him mostly paralyzed and unable to speak, but Jeff takes care of him. Jeff hasn't forgotten about Greg, whose life has also changed.
Sadly, "The Sum of Us" received little attention in the U.S. following its release and no Oscar recognition, but it did win the Australian Film Institute (AFI) award for Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also nominated by the AFI for Best Film, Best Editing and Best Sound, and John Polson was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, as was Deborah Kennedy for Best Supporting Actress. Overall, I rate "The Sum of Us" with 5 out of 5 stars. I applaud writer David Stevens and co-directors Geoff Burton and Kevin Dowling for their portrayal of an affirmative relationship between a father and his gay son in a bittersweet comedic drama. The film sends a positive message to the audience regarding tolerance and acceptance, while simultaneously showing the pain endured when intolerance and misunderstanding are allowed to destroy.
Description of The Sum of Us
Jack Thompson (Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones) and OscarÂ(r) winner* Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind) star in this "fresh spin [on an] old heart-tugging plot" (Los Angeles Times)the overprotective parent's well-intended interference with an adult child'slife. "Extraordinarily funny [and] startlingly effective" (The San Francisco Examiner), thisaward-winning** film is mandatory viewing for anyone who's ever been a parent or had one! Harry Mitchell (Thompson) has a problem with his gay son Jeff (Crowe): Harry thinks he needs to finda mate! With a loving push out of the nestand into the gay bars of Sydneyhe becomes his son'sbiggest cheerleader. But it's Harry's secret romance with an attractive but judgmental divorcĂ(c)e that puts father and son at odds and prompts them to discover that acceptance is a two-way street! *2000: Actor, Gladiator **American Film Institute Award: Screenplay; Cleveland International Film Festival: Best Film; Montreal World Film Festival: ScreenplayAustralia has no shortage of he-man actors. Tops on anybody's list would be Russell Crowe and bluff, burly Jack Thompson, neither of whom looks completely at ease without a pint of lager in his hand. Thus it's a brilliant touch to cast them together in a gay comedy--Crowe as an uncloseted young man looking for love, Thompson as his open-minded straight father, who's so eager to help his son find Mr. Right, he's actually a bit of an annoyance. The 1995 movie betrays its stage origins, especially when the characters turn to the camera to deliver conversational asides. And the one-joke premise of Thompson's unflagging enthusiasm for his son's sex life becomes almost as tiresome for the viewer as it does for the son. But it's an innocuous enough little movie, and the two actors bring their gruff likability into every scene. In retrospect, Crowe's future stardom looks blindingly obvious. --Robert Horton
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Mystery, AlaskaTeam Marketing; Release date: 2000-05-09; DVD
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
No Way BackCROWE,RUSSELL; Release date: 2000-11-28; DVD
Best price: $4.93
Price in other shops:
You Should Meet My Son!Published: 2011-06-04; DVD
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
For the MomentRelease date: 2004-04-20; Published: 2004-04-01; DVD
Best price: $88.11
Beautiful ThingSony; Release date: 2003-05-20; DVD
Best price: $14.61
Price in other shops:
Prisoners of the SunRelease date: 2004-08-24; DVD
Best price: $3.89
Price in other shops:
Rough MagicSony; Release date: 2002-08-06; DVD
Best price: $8.54
Price in other shops:
Hammers over the AnvilRelease date: 2000-12-05; DVD
Best price: $16.35
Heaven's BurningLions Gate; Release date: 2000-11-07; DVD
Best price: $3.65
Price in other shops:
ProofWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-11-02; DVD
Best price: $7.50
Price in other shops: