I Am Michael

An unusual “coming out” tale, filmmaker Justin Kelly's drama tells the real-life story of Michael Glatze, a gay activist who became a Christian preacher and subsequently described homosexuality as an immoral abnormality that should be overcome—a view that puzzled and antagonized many of his former friends, who were equally surprised by his decision to marry a girl he met while studying theology. I Am Michael tries to present Glatze's story in a balanced fashion, aided by the earnest performance of James Franco as Michael and equally committed turns by Zachary Quinto as Bennett, his former partner, and Emma Roberts as Rebekah, who Glatze falls in love with. It does not ignore aspects of Glatze's conversion that might raise eyebrows—for example, the medical problems (diagnosed as panic attacks) that led him to religion, or an uncomfortable stay at a Buddhist retreat where he was eventually asked to leave. But it is never cynical in dramatizing Glatze's transformation, and it refreshingly treats religious belief seriously rather than dismissing it as misguided. Unfortunately, Kelly's approach also often comes across as excessively cautious, making for a rather staid film. Still, I Am Michael deserves credit for its sympathetic portrait of a complex character. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)