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"Cruising" - Love it or Loathe it?

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Kerry:
The 1980 Al Pacino vehicle, "Cruising," is about to make its DVD debut after 27 years. Do you love it or loathe it? Perhaps you're ambivalent about it. Do you think it's homophobic or homofriendly?

Tell us your thoughts. Tick as many boxes as you like.


At a time when gay and lesbian characters were virtually invisible in mainstream film and television, a movie like "Cruising" - about an undercover cop (Al Pacino) who infiltrates the hard-core S/M leather-bar scene in New York City on the hunt for a killer targeting gay men - was guaranteed to stir up anger in the relatively young pre-AIDS gay rights movement.

Besides its sleazy milieu and gay-on-gay violence, the movie features fairly explicit (by Hollywood standards) scenes of sex acts that even some purveyors of gay porn would consider beyond the pale. Gay protesters picketed the film during its production and again when it appeared in theaters in 1980. But now, 27 years later, as the film makes its DVD debut, is it time to reevaluate the place of "Cruising" in queer cinema history?


Director William Friedkin ("The Exorcist," "The Boys in the Band") reveals on the DVD's bonus features that he was drawn to the film because the New York fetish bars made a great setting for a murder mystery. He points out that there were plenty of gay men at the time who didn't protest - namely, the leather-bar denizens who happily participated in the film's production as extras.

The featurettes also include insights from producer Jerry Weintraub, actor and former police officer Randy Jurgensen and other cast members discussing matters such as the on-set protests (lots of the dialogue had to be redubbed later because activists blew whistles and made noise to ruin takes). But there are two gaping absences among the interviewees - Pacino himself and a single gay person.


One queer champion of the film its makers could have interviewed is filmmaker Bruce LaBruce ("Hustler White"), who says the film's dark tone influenced his own work.

"It was so far outside the comfort zone for Hollywood cinema, and it really had a big effect on me in terms of making me want to explore sexual boundaries and taboos in both my life and my films."

For gay audiences who still find the film politically incorrect, LaBruce adds, "I say if you don't like it, Dorothy, go back to Kansas."

(Thanks to planetout.com for story and pics)

Kerry:

I thought it was very dark and extremely disturbing. It left an indelible mark on me, even though I only saw it once.

Some 27 years later, I can still sing the spooky little ditty sung by the serial killer, whenever he was about to take out his next victim:

"I'm here, you're here, we're all here . . . "

It still sends an icy chill up and down my spine to this day.

It was a very brutal, ugly movie, dealing as it does with the ultimate act of depravity - the taking of another human life for the sole purpose of sexual gratification. Having said that, however, I found it absolutely unforgettable.

Because it is about to be released on DVD, and also because I am aware of spoilers, I will not reveal the ending here. Suffice to say, however, that I consider the final scene to be one of the most ambiguous in film history.

I consider it a must see component of both the Homowood and Al Pacino lixicons.

What do you think?

David In Indy:
I think I remember that movie Kerry. But I didn't see it. I think most of the movie theaters in Indiana banned that movie, so it didn't play here. That was a long time ago, and I may have my facts wrong, but I do remember a lot of uproar over that movie. I didn't see it.

Shakesthecoffecan:
I got it on my netflix cue, I've been wanting to see it for years. Will let you know.

ifyoucantfixit:



        Cant believe I missed this movie.  I was a giant Al Pacino fan in those years....I just missed it.  I will get it and have a look.

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