Ethan Mao (2004)
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36% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
52% of users liked it
(1,059 ratings)
The product of a dysfunctional family takes unusual revenge on his parents in this drama. Ethan Mao (Jun Hee Lee) is a teenager living in a Los Angeles suburb with his straight-laced father (Raymond Ma), his new stepmother (Julia Nickson), his younger brother (David Tran), and his angry stepbrother… More The product of a dysfunctional family takes unusual revenge on his parents in this drama. Ethan Mao (Jun Hee Lee) is a teenager living in a Los Angeles suburb with his straight-laced father (Raymond Ma), his new stepmother (Julia Nickson), his younger brother (David Tran), and his angry stepbrother (Kevin Kleinberg). Ethan has accepted his own homosexuality, but his father is not so understanding, and when he catches Ethan with a gay magazine, the youngster finds himself thrown out of the house. Ethan starts supporting himself as a street hustler, and moves in with Remigio (Jerry Hernandez), a drug dealer who develops a strong friendship with Ethan. On Thanksgiving Day, when his family is away, Ethan decides to break into his old house and recover a necklace that belonged to his late mother. Remigio decides to tag along, but before they can leave with the jewelry, the family unexpectedly comes home early. An argument breaks out and Remigio pulls a gun; moments later, Ethan and his friend are holding his mother and father hostage. Ethan Mao is the third feature from independent Asian-American filmmaker Quentin Lee. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Quentin Lee
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Gay & Lesbian
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Nov 1, 2004 Wide
- Studio
- TLA Releasing
Critic Reviews
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Robert Koehler, Variety
Messy admixtures of drama and mockery crucially undermine pic's serious message.
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Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
It builds tension gradually but surely to an exceptionally strong payoff.
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Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
Overly ambitious in its themes and crude in its execution.
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V.A. Musetto, New York Post
Awkward dialogue, amateurist acting and uninspired direction.
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Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Even allowing for the burdens of low-budget filmmaking, Ethan Mao is little more than a revenge fantasy for anyone whose parents ever gave him or her a hard time.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jun Hee Lee
as Ethan Mao
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Raymond Ma
as Abraham
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Julia Nickson
as Sarah
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Jerry Hernandez
as Remigio
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David Tran
as Noel
- Kevin Kleinberg
- Erik Robinson
- Mary Gilbert
- Rene DeLeon
- Rene St. Leon
- Julia Nickson-Soul
- Jun Hun Lee
