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Beautiful Thing | 
| Director: Hettie Macdonald
Actors: Glen Berry, Linda Henry, Meera Syal, Martin Walsh, Steven M. Martin
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.96
Buy New: $19.99
You Save: $4.97 (20%)
New (39) Used (11) Collectible (1) from $15.97
Rating:  316 reviews
Sales Rank: 8229
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 99
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.5
MPN: D00968D
ISBN: 1404931872
UPC: 043396009684
EAN: 9781404931879
ASIN: B00008UALE
Theatrical Release Date: October 9, 1996
Release Date: May 20, 2003
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 06/24/2008 Run time: 91 minutes Rating: R
Amazon.com essential video
This absolute winner, based on a stage play by Jonathan Harvey and adapted by him, is a kind of enchanted, urban slice-of-life tale about a gay teen, Jamie (Glen Berry), who is in love with the boy next door, Ste (Scott Neal). Hampering Jamie's progress on the romantic front is his fear that his mother (Linda Henry) will find out, as well as concern over complicating Ste's existing problems. Beautiful Thing is a relationship movie, to be sure, but that description doesn't really describe the buoyant tone of this British television production. Democratic in its inclusive regard for each character (whether camera-pretty or not), the film--well-directed by Hettie Macdonald--is full of surprises. Chief among them is the terrific personality of Jamie's mum, a strong and independent woman who truly worries over and adores her son. But this is a movie involved in a kind of happy dialogue with itself: the tunes of Mama Cass, for instance, play a part in both the story and overall ambience, while a strategic placement of the Rodgers and Hammerstein chestnut "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" during an act of love is fun and exciting. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 311 more reviews...
 What a lovely movie! December 18, 2008
J. Martin (Upstate New York)
This is a very sweet, very deeply satisfying fairy tale of a movie about young men falling in love in a London housing project in the 1990s. It's essentially the Cinderella story, with a cruel father and older brother, the Fairy Godmother and her son Prince Charming living next door, and assorted colorful neighbors. The ball comes at the end of the movie instead of the middle, but that's fine.
Life, of course, is nothing like this, but it's very nice to watch anyway. Especially the truly beautiful ending that fills me with joy every time, no matter how often I've seen it. Plus the fact that the boys look and act like real people and not fashion models. It's refreshing to see a gay movie with not a single gym body in it.
But why on earth did Sandra dump Tony? The Fairy Godmother had her own Prince Charming and threw him away. That made no sense at all. Maybe they just felt like the ending couldn't be perfect for everybody, but it's a fairy tale, so why not?
I love it anyway. The best 90 minutes I've spent in a long, long time.
Must See!!! December 6, 2008
Maegyssa (TX)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I saw this movie by chance, and I'm so glad that I did. I'm glad each time I watch it. It's truth, sometimes raw, sometimes hilarious. I feel that it's a must-see for anyone who is gay, or is open-minded enough to want to understand what it is to be young, gay, and in love. I wish this had been available 25 years ago.
Enjoy!!
A Beautiful Movie November 21, 2008
Gene Krider (Statesville, North Carolina, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I ordered this by accident, thinking it was "A Beautiful Life." I liked this movie very much. I am not gay but am sympathetic. I think the movie captures an awakening love that neither character was suspecting. I liked all the characters and especially the music. I was not familiar with Mama Cass (I am a classical music lover) but I thought it was very appropriate for this movie. The ending was beautiful.
Quirky characters in dismal housing find love at last November 6, 2008
Viva (So. Cal.)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Jamie and Ste, neighbors in some very dismal housing in England, are teenagers with issues: Jamie's mom is a chain smoking bartender with a bad temper albeit a real love for her son; while Ste's dad and brother pound on him and leave him in tears. There's also an irritating neighbor who plays Mama Cass at full volume and sticks her nose into others' business. Jamie and Ste are drawn to each other at first for comfort and then for more, though there is nothing graphic shown, and no exploitation.
It's a beautiful thing when they finally come out about it to everyone in public, supported by Jamie's mother and even the wacky neighbor, who dance with them in a show of support.
Charming Coming of Age Story October 12, 2008
Paul G. Bens, Jr. (Los Angeles, California)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This 1996 entry from the ever-inventive Channel Four Films, puts most (if not all) gay coming-of-age movies to shame. This charmer is the story of Jamie (Glenn Berry) and Steve (Scott Neal), two teens who are not exactly friends; not exactly enemies. Their bond is more their proximity than anything else. That and the fact that they both are beginning to feel that there has to be more to life than the projects of South London. Jamie is the more studious, the more in touch with his emerging sexuality, the one tormented with taunts of "poof" and "queer". Steve, trapped in his flat with his physically abusive father and brother, is the more "straight" and dreams of sports infamy. The boys find themselves drawn together, dealing with the problems of their lives, and ultimately falling in love, falling in fear of love, and finally falling into a measure of comfortability with one another.
The eclectic cast of characters includes Jamie's barmaid mother Sandra (the brilliant Linda Henry), Sandra's oh-so-understanding boyfriend Tony, and teen neighbor Lia (Tameka Empson - a bravura performance in the "hag" role) who wants nothing more than to be Mama Cass. The result is a story not so much about two boys coming out, but about a whole community daring to come out of their respective closets and daring to dream. The film utilizes the music of Mama Cass and The Mamas and the Papas almost exclusively, resulting in a soundtrack that -- for a change -- actually serves the needs of the film. Though not the best made film from a technical standpoint, the characters are rich and believable, and if the last scene alone doesn't give you a lump in your throat, well...then you are jaded, aren't you.
Originally reviewed for Uniquely Pleasurable.
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