A surprisingly touching and well-acted true-life drama, “I Am Michael” is an engrossing retelling of the story of Michael Glatze, a young gay activist who, over the course of a decade, rejected his homosexuality and embraced Christianity instead. In the titular role, James Franco gives one of his finest, most believable performances, managing to engross the audience with a touching, sympathetic portrayal of a complicated person. The movie lags once in a while, in particular while Glatze pin-balls from religion to religion until finally landing on Christianity, but with fine support from Zachary Quinto as Glatze’s boyfriend, there’s enough talent and charisma on-screen to reinforce the movie’s captivating story and all its strengths.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
