Customer Reviews
GREAT - By: (caught up in the) Spiral, 12 Sep 2008 
Great film, very realistic & that's the films strongest point; I'm sick of all Hollywood films so lately I've been opting for 'unusual' films.
I found the relationship between Ste & Jamie really inviting, it grips you & challenges you to become a part of their world & that is what I gladly did!!! The only thing I felt that was missing was a little bit more intimacy & explanation between the two lads, one moment Ste was fighting against his feelings for Jamie & the next they are going to a gay pub together & declaring their relationship to the whole estate.
But don't let this deter you, it's still a thought provoking & GREAT film, it makes you realise that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay, who cares if you're sleeping with the same sex, love is the only thing that matters & is that hurting anybody????? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loved Leah (the next door neighbour), she's so quirky & everytime she came on screen she always managed to crack me up.
So allin all a film worth seeing.
Love this film! - By: Andrew, 09 Jun 2008 Aw - this is a great British "coming out" film. I loved it! The characters are all terrific - I love the mother & the girl next door! And the two leads are brilliant. Brilliant actors & very believablein their roles. It's so well written & acted I would very highly recommend it. It's a beauty!
Outstandingly emotional and heart tugging - By: Charlie H, 16 Apr 2008 I watched this film by accident one week day evening & can say that within the first 5 minutes I was gripped. The acting was superb & although I could potentially pick faultsin the script, it kind of takes away the whole essence of the film & what made it "Beautiful".
I think that it's great that a British film has made me really stop & think about my past & indeed my present. Not many films have achieved that. Which of us can honestly say thatin watching the scenes between Jamie & Ste that we haven't all felt & thought like they did? True, for straights then swap one of the guys for a girl but the effect is much the same.
I found it sad that some reviewers thought that the accents were too much & should have been toned down. Hello folks, its London were talking about here. Quite a few of them really do talk like that & lets face it, wouldn't it really be dumbing down. That would ruin the film.
I found Sandra particularly well cast & played. There was real emotion between her & Jamie. I only wish that all Mothers & indeed Fathers reactedin such a supportive fashion. Ste & Jamie were also superbly acted & believable to the extent that you connected with them both straight away. You can't help feeling emotional when they do. True the end of the film was a bit.....over done, but I don't think this detracts from the filmin any way. I would like to have seen a sequel to Beautiful Thing & seen the effects of the first on both Ste & Jamie. It would have meant proper closure, however I think that for quite a few of us, this film perhaps hits a little too close to the mark about ourselves & hence our desire to see the next part. I know that's true of me.
At the end of the day, the film was enhanced for me by the fact that all of the "sex" scenes where left to the imagination & you could read what you would out of it. This film really touches me deeply both emotionally & psychologically & I wish there where more of the same style, class & calibre of this. Not to everyone's taste to be sure but one that stays sittingin my mind every day & perhaps has even influenced the way I am towards others. Thank you so much for creating this most excellent & heart wringing film. I recommend it to everyone.
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