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I Am Michael

Play trailer 2:01 Poster for I Am Michael 2017 1h 42m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
61% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 37% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Based on the fascinating, true-life story of Michael Glatze (James Franco), a gay activist who becomes an anti-gay Christian pastor.
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I Am Michael

I Am Michael

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Critics Consensus

I Am Michael takes a determinedly balanced approach to its complex subject, and although the results don't always add up, they're anchored by strong work from James Franco.

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Critics Reviews

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Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle 02/02/2017
2.5/5
The performances are uniformly good and Kelly's effort to tell an unbiased story is admirable, but I Am Michael ultimately delivers more in the way of talking points than drama. Go to Full Review
Tricia Olszewski TheWrap 01/27/2017
Franco's fantastic here. He gives a fieriness to Michael as a gay advocate, then seamlessly slides into borderline madness as he starts accepting that the "voice" he hears is God's. Go to Full Review
Sheila O'Malley RogerEbert.com 01/27/2017
3/4
Kelly is finding his sea-legs as a director. Go to Full Review
Ben Turner The Pink Lens 09/02/2021
3/5
Whether it's attempting to stay too closely to its source material, or if nobody actually thought about writing a climax to it, the film sputters, stumbles and peters into nothingness. Go to Full Review
James Clay Fresh Fiction 12/12/2018
B
While the film certainly isn't a masterpiece, Kelly has created a film that dares to be different. Go to Full Review
Alexander Ryll Gay Essential 11/03/2018
8
Michael is not without his weaknesses and despite declaring that he no longer identifies with being a homosexual, it does not necessary mean that he ceases relationships with the same sex. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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D D Oct 7 I don't see any value in making this film. Good performances, but total crap as a story and screenplay. Things are bad enough for the confused youth of today. This film only serves to feed that confusion, not to offer any real help. I absolutely hated it and don't see the point. See more PridePosterStudios 09/20/2023 Ok this was definitely made by GB News. See more cinephile f 11/23/2022 It is so nice to see a film about a man with a life experience that is quite similar to myself! I absolutely loved this film. It is extremely well told and takes a middle path in how the story was told. I loved that it did not vilify the main character but simply told his story. It's an underrated masterpiece and very beautiful and tender! Recommend 100% for any audience. See more marcelo f 12/15/2021 O filme começa em um ponto incrível para se abordar, que é a liberdade de ser quem é, sem medo e sem restrição de personalidade, porém quando o personagem principal começa a se auto desconstruir devido a uma religião, o filme engata em um ponto que meus olhos não aguentavam mais. O roteiro nos faz facilmente nos esgotar de estar preso na história de um cara que revoga a ser quem é e ainda ser escroto com as pessoas que tem a coragem de serem o que são. See more 09/29/2021 I Am Michael is a tough sell and it's all the better (and worse) for it See more jean luis r 08/15/2021 I am Michael starring James Franco, Zachary Quinto, and Emma Roberts directed by Justin Kelly. This film based on a New York times article tells the incredible story of a gay activist called Michael Glaze who later became a born again Christian, renounced his homosexuality and married a woman. This movie was always going to be controversial and the filmmakers decided to take a neutral approach by not endorsing either the religious beliefs of Michael nor condemning them. This neutral approach works and it stops the movie from being a Christian movie nor an anti-Christian one but simply a film that looks at the life of a real man who struggled with his beliefs and sexuality. James Franco beautifully portrays this man as he evolves from a openly and proud gay man to a very conservative evangelical who sees homosexuality as sin. Is not his best performance but we come to sympathize with him and see his point of view. Zachary Quinto also does a good job as he portrays Michael's boyfriend who becomes very distressed to see his lover reject everything they had embraced. The movie's biggest problem is that it can be quite dry as the drama drags on and it relies on stereotypes for both gay men and evangelical Christians. Yet is a beautiful movie that makes us confront realities about life that are hard to face. See more Read all reviews
I Am Michael

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Movie Info

Synopsis Based on the fascinating, true-life story of Michael Glatze (James Franco), a gay activist who becomes an anti-gay Christian pastor.
Director
Justin Kelly
Producer
Ron Singer, Joel Michaely, James Franco, Michael Mendelsohn, Scott Reed, Vince Jolivette
Screenwriter
Stacey Miller, Justin Kelly
Distributor
Brainstorm Media
Production Co
Patriot Pictures, Thats Hollywood, RabbitBandini Productions
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 27, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 11, 2017
Runtime
1h 42m
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