Southern Baptist Sissies

2014

Southern Baptist Sissies

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Southern Baptist Sissies Photos

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Movie Info

Southern Baptist Sissies is a film of the theatrical experience of writer/director Del Shores' GLAAD Award-winning play about four gay boys growing up in the Southern Baptist church. It explores the conflict between the caustic rhetoric of dogmatic religion and the fragile development of adolescent homosexuality while challenging hypocrisy, exposing damage and offering hope. The intimate experience of theatre on the film screen reveals the complicated emotions from all sides - the confused child, the struggling adolescent and the angry and damaged adult. (c) Beard Collins

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Comedy, Drama
Directed By:

Del Shores
Written By:

Del Shores
In Theaters:

Feb 28, 2014 limited
On Disc/Streaming:

Feb 10, 2015
Runtime:

138 minutes
Studio:

Beard Collins Shores Productions

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Cast

Emerson Collins
as Mark

Leslie Jordan
as Peanut

Dale Dickey
as Odette

Newell Alexander
as Preacher

Rosemary Alexander
as Andrew's Mother

Luke Stratte-McClure
as TJ

Willam Belli
as Benny

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Critic Reviews for Southern Baptist Sissies

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (2)

... the ensemble does an excellent job of adjusting their performances for the cameras, with the young male leads delivering sensitive, well-modulated turns that keep us fully involved in their characters' fates.

Sep 1, 2017 | Full Review…

Frank Scheck
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic
Designated for a safe space containing a receptive audience, the play neither provokes nor challenges. It preaches to the choir instead of spreading the word.

Mar 6, 2014 | Full Review…

Martin Tsai
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic
The pieces of the play fit together a little too neatly, but "Southern Baptist Sissies" has many powerful displays of heavy emotion, building to a cathartic climax.

Mar 28, 2014 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Jamie S. Rich
Oregonian
To call it stagey is an understatement, since it is simply a filmed version of a performance of (Del Shores') play. As such, it is also overlong at 138 minutes without the benefit of an intermission and comes across as preachy and pedantic.

Mar 8, 2014 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

Fr. Chris Carpenter
Movie Dearest
A filmed staging of Del Shores' provocative stage play, this movie is an engaging exploration of the point where religion and sexuality collide in the American South.

Feb 27, 2014 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…

Rich Cline
Contactmusic.com

View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for Southern Baptist Sissies

Jan 16, 2015

For some reason, I had been expecting a comedy musical in the style of The Book of Mormon. Boy -- was I wrong! This is a serious play (with many comedic moments) about the isolation of gays in society and injustice imposed by religion. It is undoubtedly the most effective translation of a live play to film that I have ever seen, and for that, the director gets big points. Although I was slow to warm to it, I did eventually become invested in the characters and was moved nearly to tears by the end. It has an excellent script with some very fine acting, particularly from the veteran actors. I recommend this film to those who are not uncomfortable with challenging their beliefs, culture and religion.

Christian C Super Reviewer