Ordinary Sinner (2002)
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17% of critics liked it
(12 reviews) -
57% of users liked it
(69 ratings)
A young man struggles to sort out his feelings and his future as a wave of intolerance sweeps through a college town in this drama. Peter Thompson (Brendan P. Hines) was a student at a seminary studying to be an Episcopalian minister, until a tragic incident involving another student caused him to… More A young man struggles to sort out his feelings and his future as a wave of intolerance sweeps through a college town in this drama. Peter Thompson (Brendan P. Hines) was a student at a seminary studying to be an Episcopalian minister, until a tragic incident involving another student caused him to question his faith and his calling. Peter moves to a college town in Vermont, where he gets a job in a pizza joint run by Mike (Peter Onorati), and reconnects with Father Ed (A. Martinez), a gruff but caring streetwise priest who had been Peter's mentor. Peter also renews his friendship with a buddy from school, Alex (Kris Park), who introduces Peter to his good friend Rachel (Elizabeth Banks). Rachel is quite attracted to Peter, and before long she's deprived him of his virginity. While Peter tries to sort out the new changes in his life, a shocking gay bashing incident soon polarizes the town, and Father Ed steps forward to publicly announce that he's a homosexual -- and Mike is his lover. As tensions between anti-gay extremists and pro-gay activists increase, the murder of a gay man brings matters to a boil, and forces Peter, Rachel, and Alex to come to terms with their identities as well as their pasts. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Henry Davis
- Written By
- William Mahone
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Dec 31, 2002 Wide
- On DVD
- Oct 14, 2003
- Studio
- Jour de Fete Films
Critic Reviews
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Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
While Ordinary Sinner manages to capture the sense of confusion and uncertainty a young man experiences at a crossroads in his life, it is a slack and preachy business that never comes to grips with its underlying theme of homophobia.
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Lou Lumenick, New York Post
This well-meaning if bland romantic drama plays and looks a lot like a 'special' episode of Dawson's Creek.
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Dave Kehr, New York Times
Mr. Davis has a lot of ideas, but when it comes to dramatizing them, he is unable to give them an engaging form.
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Ben Kenigsberg, Village Voice
Hiding its poverty of imagination under a layer of simpleminded social criticism, Davis's directorial debut lurches unconvincingly from self-congratulatory polemic to bereavement melodrama to Hardy Boys mystery.
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Laura Kelly, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
This wannabe thriller fails to thrill, and its would-be gay rights message fails to stir.
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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A Martinez
as Father Eduardo Rey
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Peter Onorati
as Mike
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Kris Park
as Alex
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Chris Messina
as Silvio
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Elizabeth Banks
as Rachel
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Nathaniel Marston
as Robert
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Joshua Harto
as Scott
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Brendan P. Hines
as Peter
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William Mahone
as Detective Arcudi
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Lynn Bowman
as Mrs. Scherm
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Daniel Sherman
as Edgar
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Jesse Tyler Ferguson
as Ogden
