Red Dirt Director:Tag Purvis Set in the small Mississippi town of Pine Apple, where the Spanish moss hangs off the live oak trees, it's eerily quiet and the secrets tend to fester in the corner and in the dark. Griffith (Dan Montgomery) lives with his... more » aunt Summer (cult star Karen Black) and cousin Emily (Aleksa Palladino). First-time writer/director Tag Purvis has set the stage well for this evocative, most-definitely Southern, very sweaty and deeply satisfying film about an unsettled man and the drifter who changed everything.
Griffith and his cousin Emily wander through their lives without many guideposts. They watch over Aunt Summer - and keep the old place up - well sort of. Their lives are slow and uneventful in a sleepy, small-town way, until Lee, (Walton Goggins) a drifter comes into town. They both take a shine to him (in different ways, of course). Bonding quickly, Lee and Griffith forge a deep friendship - very deep. They fix up a cottage on the property - in gay relationships we'd call it nesting. And in one of my favorite scenes, the guys swim together and run through the rain naked (you gotta love that rain). And if you haven't seen the mistletoe hanging over these two guys by now, you need new gaydar installed. Constantly complaining about his role taking care of Aunt Summer, Griffith expresses an interest in leaving Pine Apple. As Lee announces that he might be hitting the road soon and invites, and sort of begs, Griffith to join him, Griffith considers it. But there is the gay thing that hangs over their whole relationship - are they - or aren't they? The lines are blurred....
A lush film with saturated colors, gorgeous score and that real Southern feel, Red Dirt is an assured debut from Tag Purvis. The performances are all strong, especially Karen Black and Dan Montgomery. Plenty of male beauty, a great story and a trip to the rural south make this a rewarding and special film indeed.« less
