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      Ethan Mao

      Released Nov 10, 2004 1h 29m Drama Mystery & Thriller List
      36% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 58% Audience Score 1,000+ Ratings Kicked out of his house because he is gay, a hustler returns home to steal and ends up holding his family hostage on Thanksgiving Day. Read More Read Less

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (11) Critics Reviews
      Robert Koehler Variety Messy admixtures of drama and mockery crucially undermine pic's serious message. Aug 11, 2005 Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times It builds tension gradually but surely to an exceptionally strong payoff. Rated: 3/5 Aug 11, 2005 Full Review Tim Grierson L.A. Weekly Nobody onscreen seems to realize that this deadeningly self-serious treatment of family dysfunction is so overwrought that it becomes a spot-on satire of low-budget ineptitude. Rated: 1/5 Aug 11, 2005 Full Review Don Willmott Filmcritic.com acting, directing, and production are all B to C level Rated: 2/5 Oct 26, 2005 Full Review Luke Y. Thompson New Times For a low-budget indie with no special effects, Ethan Mao is a treat to look at. Apr 8, 2005 Full Review Phil Hall Film Threat Excellent drama, via Quentin Lee. Rated: 5/5 Mar 31, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (33) audience reviews
      Audience Member excellent, worth watching Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member read the synopsis for the story line. this story had possibilities. Acting was so so, the actors seemed like they were reading the script and not feeling it . they were not believable. there were time that the two boys Ethan and Romero did a good job. that was not often. the story line its self was decent, and like I said had strong possibilities. the direction was lacking the did not give his actors the guidance they needed for a believable performance. all in all it was watchable, but parts dragged. would I recommend it. not really its a film that is watchable, but have something else to do. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member This film wasn't what I was expecting at all. It's very touching in some ways, disturbing in others, but very well acted. A love story like you'll never have seen, and so original it deserves a good rating. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Okay, so I'm behind, but catching up. Luckily, though, I caught this film after searching through gay themed thriller type movies, and had just about given up on anything worth turning the tv on for. For those critics that call it a B movie, well duh, it wasn't meant for wide release, but to tell a story, which it did in a very nice way. Sure, some dialogue burps, but overall well done for the fresh group of actors involved to tell this dysfunctional family story. Caught me very nicely by surprise! Well done. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member In my opinion, this is an excellent drama about human relationships. It is typically categorized as a "Gay Movie" but the gay element is not really primary in this film. Much the same story could have been told if Ethan had been kicked out for drug use or religious views and had met a girl on the streets. The power of the story is in its exploration of character, relationship, and family. The script and direction are very good. The acting by its small cast is excellent. I would recommend it to anyone. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a weird screenplay and a silly plot. "Ethan Mao" is kicked out of his house by his homophobic father and holds his family hostage to retrieve his dead mother's necklace. First, Ethan Mao (played by limited Jun Hee Lee who's sulks too much) should be more worried about finding a job and then hustling where he gets fucked all the time. His BFF who's secretly in love with him, Remigio (played by Juan Hernandez who steals this movie) but it's hard to believe that he would leave his drug dealing to get involved in this messy family hostage drama. Julia Nickson, as the bitchy stepmom, adds some spice to the movie but she's a pale version of "Mommie Dearest." I didn't feel any empathy towards Ethan Mao so I didn't buy into his dilemma so the movie didn't work at all for me. Another problem is that nothing's accomplished at the end. The characters remain the same as they started. His younger brother Josh (played as a cute wimp by David Tran) seems like he's on the brink of revealing some secrets himself but that's not the case. When Remigio and Ethan surrender at the end and head into the sunlight, we wonder why? The family could save them from the cops. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Ethan Mao

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Kicked out of his house because he is gay, a hustler returns home to steal and ends up holding his family hostage on Thanksgiving Day.
      Director
      Quentin Lee
      Screenwriter
      Quentin Lee
      Production Co
      Paramount
      Genre
      Drama, Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Nov 10, 2004, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jun 24, 2019
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $6.8K
      Runtime
      1h 29m
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