Based on the book of the same name by Leroy Adams, Prayers for Bobby is based on a true story, about a woman named Mary Griffith. Griffith is a California woman with strong beliefs in her faith. Her son Bobby, after many years reveals that he is gay, and Griffith struggles to reconcile her religious beliefs with that of her love for her son. The film also focuses on Bobby and his attempts to carve out a life for himself in the face of this family adversary. An emotional tale about family and ,the film is lent credence by a strong lead performance from Sigourney Weaver.
As a Lifetime film, it is not likely to appeal to anyone who isn’t already a fan of their made for television movies. It is chock full of dense melodrama and moments of incredible overacting. Weaver definitely helps bring the film to a better level than a lot of the network’s productions, but if Lifetime isn’t your thing, this isn’t the movie that is going to change that sentiment, despite the topical and gripping thematic elements.
DVD Bonus Features
Despite being a made-for-TV Lifetime film, there are quite a few special features on the DVD. However, none of them involve extras directly related to the film, meaning there is no commentary or deleted scenes. Each of the special features involves interviews with the cast and crew, as well as with the real-life characters that the story is based on, providing us with more grounded information about the events that inspired the film.
"Prayers for Bobby" is on sale December 14, 2010 and is not rated. Drama. Directed by Russell Mulcahy. Starring Sigourney Weaver.
