You're right. It is a step up from most of the gay themed movies that are made these days.
Yikes that's harsh, lol! You really
were disappointed.
I think it's funny that Tom Ford insists that A SINGLE MAN isn't a gay film. I thought it was one of the gayest films I've ever seen and that's part of the reason I loved it so much. I kept thinking throughout that I, as a gay person, was the target audience and would be very surprised if it did cross-over into the mainstream because of that.
I could also completely relate to the scene with Julianne Moore. What gay man hasn't had the rug pulled from under them by someone they considered a close friend? Some casual homophobic comment suddenly makes you reassess your whole relationship with them. ("
That's what s/he thought all these years?!) Of course, she was clearly in love with him so I cut her some slack, plus she gives good dinners, lol!
Anyway, I think a SINGLE MAN is more than a "step-up" from most gay movies, it certainly affected me in ways that most (American) gay films don't. Then again maybe I just like stylish & visually stunning films, lol!
I guess I also don't see the appeal of a film becoming a mainstream hit so i don't see it as a fault if a film remains in the "arthouse". Of course I realize the financial value of a movie becoming mainstream, both for it and future gay-themed projects, but artistically-speaking I think mainstream appeal comes with a price.
As for BbM, my favourite movie still, I can't explain why it crossed-over except that maybe it was one of those zeitgeist things.
( Couldn't have been the fact that everyone in it denied being gay, of course, lol!)