The 24th Day
A Home at the End of the World (with Colin Farrel)
Angels in America
Apartment Zero
Eating Out
The Fluffer
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Jeffrey
Km.0
Latter Days
Locked Up
The Man I Love
Mysterious Skin
Querelle (with Brad Davis)
The Sum of Us (with a very young Russel Crowe)
The Trip
The Wedding Banquet (by director Ang Lee)
Yossi and Jagger
I think the worst mainstream gay film out there was that awful Al Pacino piece of garbage from the 1970s whose name escapes me.
I collect films, and after seeing BBM, I've turned my attention to acquiring more movies about gay men.... or about straight men in a relationship with gay men. (an apology to my lesbian friends; I don't have any movies yet about lesbians).
Here are 2 more I've seen: Longtime Companion, which was OK, and "Fun down there" which was truly awful! I notice too that the dreadful "bird cage" is missing from the list, along with the European "Cage aux Folles" 1,2,3 versions, a bit better than the American. And going way back, there are two with gay elements: Teorum and Something for Everyone. If you want stray further off stream Archangel, by Guy Madden has a gay scene (and is one of my favorite movies of all time).
One other movie I Netflixed recently was A Very Natural Thing. Again, I was so surprised by this little known flick from the 70s and how it really looked at the challenges of making relationships work in a gay, urban setting.
Juan
Here are 2 more I've seen: Longtime Companion, which was OK, and "Fun down there" which was truly awful! I notice too that the dreadful "bird cage" is missing from the list, along with the European "Cage aux Folles" 1,2,3 versions, a bit better than the American. And going way back, there are two with gay elements: Teorum and Something for Everyone. If you want stray further off stream Archangel, by Guy Madden has a gay scene (and is one of my favorite movies of all time).
A big (34!) shipment of films just arrived, of which a few have gay-related themes, so look for additions to my list above in the coming weeks, and posts about my reactions to them as I view them.
34 Films!!! Are these rentals or do you have more cash than Tom Cruise? Wow.... I have Netflixed myself out last year in grabbing movies that way. These days, most of the films I see are on pay cable before I fall asleep at night. Most of them aren't good enough to stay awake for.
Boys in the Band--yikes! I saw that one on stage when I was 18 and dealing with being gay and boy did it depress me. Everyone I was open to was telling me it was look into my future, and I believed them, at the same time knowing that there was nothing I could do, or would do, to avoid it. I am sooooo thankful everyone was wrong.I didn't see the play on Broadway and I caught the movie years later, so maybe it didn't have that same effect on me. It wasn't my first exposure to "how things could be": I had read "The Lord Won't Mind" and "Giovanni's Room" by then. A few years ago, I actually saw a version of the play in a theater in Spanish. I was surprised by how much it held up, though they did update the play to make it modern time and changed some of the characters to lesbians!
But the first gay movie I saw in the theater was after I had come out, an 80s indie flick called "Parting Glances", which did have the effect of making me think about what my life in the big apple might be like. Would I be the cute young guy who's adored? The homebody who fights to keep his marriage going? It's still a really good watch.
Juan
Sir Ian is criticising Jake these days it came to mind)
Two more I just remembered: Love...Valor...Compassion, which I didn't flip over but my partner loved,Strawberries and Chocolate was pretty good. Interesting to see movies from Latin American countries about straight/gay male relationships where the gay man is more traditionally flamboyant (like with Kiss of the Spiderwoman, which I liked a lot less). There are a bunch of Spanish language, gay themed films that I collected that are worth checking out.
and a Cuban film called Strawberry and Chocolate that was quite good, I think.
there was also an old British film with a very young Dirk Bogarde playing a gay guy being blackmailed. Maybe in the 50s? Anyone know it?
I think the worst mainstream gay film out there was that awful Al Pacino piece of garbage from the 1970s whose name escapes me.
That was "Cruising." I've never seen it, but I remember people telling me how negative it was.
To the best of my knowledge, "Beau travail" is the only one of these three currently available in DVD format. There is a Region 1 DVD put out by New Yorker Video, and a Region 2 DVD produced by Artificial Eye.
Are they available on DVD?
Thanks Scott! I was looking up Loads, but could only come across another movie from the same director that's coming to DVD. It's called Thundercrack, and it looks like it has a real John Waters feel. The movie Loads sounds pretty sexy, reminds me that a movie called Sex In The 70s that I missed in theaters is also coming out soon.To the best of my knowledge, "Beau travail" is the only one of these three currently available in DVD format. There is a Region 1 DVD put out by New Yorker Video, and a Region 2 DVD produced by Artificial Eye.
Are they available on DVD?
"Loads" exists in a VHS transfer, but I'm not sure if it's ever been commercially released that way. A print of the film can be leased through Canyon Cinema, based in San Francisco.
Cheers,
Scott
Thanks Scott! I was looking up Loads, but could only come across another movie from the same director that's coming to DVD. It's called Thundercrack, and it looks like it has a real John Waters feel. The movie Loads sounds pretty sexy, reminds me that a movie called Sex In The 70s that I missed in theaters is also coming out soon.Hi, Juan,
Juan
Saw the movie "Bent" last night, for the first time.Saw it again with my man and friends the other night. Better the second time. I remembered it as piercingly sad, and this time I saw the uplifting parts better, especially the tiny signal Horst gives to Max just before he dies.
Very powerful stuff, quite depressing story,
but I'm glad there's a movie out there to remind people that Nazi's terrorized gay people too.Apparently the first inkling the west got of that was in the first film of The Producers (1968).
Saw the movie "Bent" last night, for the first time.Saw it again with my man and friends the other night. Better the second time. I remembered it as piercingly sad, and this time I saw the uplifting parts better, especially the tiny signal Horst gives to Max just before he dies.
Very powerful stuff, quite depressing story,
I recently watched the only lesbian film in my collection, "The Children's Hour" with Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine, from (openly-gay) Lillian Hellman's play.
Openly gay? She was partner of (married to?) Dashiel Hammett. I never heard a hint she wasn't devoted to him, and he to her. And he was strait enough, wasn't he?
I loved Priest. I liked that the younger priest's sexuality wasn't the sole focus, but one of the conflicts within the Church. The very last scene always gets me welled up.
Juan
I watched "My Beautiful Laundrette" recently, and I must confess I've never understood why this film became so popular.Well I haven't seen it for a while, but you need to know a little about not only race relations in England, but that it was Thatcher's Britian, which put a lot of pressure on working people. The opening scene of someone getting tipped out of their flat sets the scene. Some of your comments could be made about BBM - and have - and the answers are the same. Watch it carefully, reading between the lines. I'm not saying it's as good as BBM or anything like it, but like BBM it deserves careful attention.
The script is unfocused: what's the movie about? The romance? Race relations in England? Father-son relationships? There are other possibilities, as every story-line componenet is given equal weight, leaving the viewer floundering.
The script wanders and can never make up its mind about the point it's trying to make. Why was this movie such a big hit?
I watched "My Beautiful Laundrette" recently, and I must confess I've never understood why this film became so popular.
The script is unfocused: what's the movie about? The romance? Race relations in England? Father-son relationships? There are other possibilities, as every story-line componenet is given equal weight, leaving the viewer floundering.
The script wanders and can never make up its mind about the point it's trying to make. Why was this movie such a big hit?
Another film which is not homosexually themed per se (though in this case lesbian-themed per se would be more accurate), but which nonetheless evokes a strong sense of love and desire among females, is the 1975 Australian classic Picnic at Hanging Rock, directed by Peter Weir and based on the novel by Joan Lindsay. A haunting fantasy set in the rural Victoria of 1900, this lovely film engenders a strong sense of melancholy yearning and wonder.
Two others, NOT gay films but with strong homophile subtexts, are "Birdy" and "Gallipoli." Both well worth watching on their merits.
moremojoTrue...somehow I wasn't thinking of that when typing out my post. The same director's Dead Poets Society is another film that, while not ostensibly homosexual in theme, has been cited by some critics as subtly suggestive of that area.
Both Picnic at Hanging Rock and Gallipoli were directed by Peter Weir.
True...somehow I wasn't thinking of that when typing out my post. The same director's Dead Poets Society is another film that, while not ostensibly homosexual in theme, has been cited by some critics as subtly suggestive of that area.
And, OT, here but, damn!, AussieChris... you are awfully cute!
I haven't seen mentioned "Total Eclipse" and "Before Night Falls."
i second "Before Night Falls". I loved that depiction of Havana's renaissance just before the fall. That period of growth in Cuban literature, art and music seemed so romantic. Which of course makes it's fall so much more tragic. And Javier Bardem is amazing in that film.Total Eclipse is kinda funky, especially coming from the director of a great flick like Europa Europa. Eclipse has kind of become more known for having a full frontal nude shot of Leonardo DiCaprio (who, TLA Video quips, isn't so 'titanic').
also, has anyone seen "Buck and Chuck"? Okay, not sure if I'd call it a gay friendly film. It's weird and quirky but good.
Just watched "Making Love" last night, for the first time since its release in 1981.Tststss!! :laugh: I've liked Michael Ontkean for a long time now (even before seeing Making Love for the first time back in 2002 or so). I had seen a little scene of it in "Celluloid Closet" and couldn't wait to finally get the VHS or DVD! I try to see every movie he has been in, but there are not many.. or at least not many very good ones. Too bad, really! There is this rather cheezy "Just the Way You Are" with Kristy McNichol which I like.. and there is a mini-series "Family Album" from 1994 or 1996, which is a bit cheezy too, but interesting, [spoiler ahead!] because his character finds out that his son is gay and reacts badly.
The good: brave for its time, not one swishy stereotype in it, and I want to lick Michael Ontkean head to toe.
The bad: it feels like a soap opera and Kate Jackson is simply terrible in it.Yep! I agree 100%
I'd never heard of "Total Eclipse" or "Buck and Chuck" but will now definitely check 'em out.Never?! "Total Eclipse" with Leo DiCaprio!? ;D
Watched "Prick Up Your Ears" the biopic of Joe Orton, gay British playwright of the comedies "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" and "Loot," who was murdered by his "lover" (not the right word for their relationship) out of jealousy for Orton's success.Rage that Orton was claiming credit for Halliwell's work, more, though how much Halliwell contributed is moot.
(Note: The title is the kind of double-entendre Orton was famous for.)It was the name of an unfinished play of his, I think.
Rage that Orton was claiming credit for Halliwell's work, more, though how much Halliwell contributed is moot.
Before Night Falls really is a good movie. I haven't thought about that one in a long time.
yeah, in the second one, there was a scene confronting parents of one mutant boy. it played out like a coming out conversation.
While on the subject of lesbian themes in film, I thought I'd mention G.W. Pabst's late silent classic Pandora's Box (Die Buchse der Pandora), filmed in Germany in 1928. Not a lesbian film per se, this classic adaptation of Wedekind's Lulu plays (the same source for Alban Berg's landmark opera) features one of the earliest portrayals of a lesbian character in cinema, that of the Countess played by Alice Roberts. The Countess is but one of the many who fall under the spell of femme fatale Lulu, played by the legendary Louise Brooks in her single most famous role.
I'd never heard of "Total Eclipse" or "Buck and Chuck" but will now definitely check 'em out.
Can I add the Xmen series to this list? ;D
Did anyone see Summer Storm, that came out earlier this year. It's a small film from France(?) about gay boys on a rowing team. Having been a rower myself, I really wanted to catch it, but it came and went in a week here in LA.Yes! I've seen (and recorded) it last week! I had heard about it a while ago, but like "Beautiful Thing" I thought this is yet another 'teenage' romance, which I wouldn't be able to relate to (my teenage years are well over..), but I was very pleasantly surprised!! By the way it's a German movie.
So I taped "Sommersturm" and "De-Lovely". I like them both a lot!I was a bit disappointed by De-lovely. They downplayed his gayness in several ways: it was all off-camera, and definitely second-place to his marriage, which other biographies deny. And then they sneered at Night and Day for downplaying it more. According to one biography, "You're the Top" means just what it says. He also had some alternate words for use at private functions. If I can find them I'll post them here.
I was a bit disappointed by De-lovely. They downplayed his gayness in several ways: it was all off-camera, and definitely second-place to his marriage, which other biographies deny. And then they sneered at Night and Day for downplaying it more. According to one biography, "You're the Top" means just what it says. He also had some alternate words for use at private functions. If I can find them I'll post them here.
Our OutTakes GLBT film festival is now on. Some good movies that might not be released in your part of the US yet.Wow, you've actually seen this? Someone from my volleyball league made it! I've never seen it though, how is it?
<snip>
Comedy:
Gay Volleyball saved my life quite funny.
<snip>
I was a bit disappointed by De-lovely. They downplayed his gayness in several ways: it was all off-camera, and definitely second-place to his marriage, which other biographies deny. And then they sneered at Night and Day for downplaying it more. According to one biography, "You're the Top" means just what it says. He also had some alternate words for use at private functions. If I can find them I'll post them here.You are right. I think I read some of his biography on the internet and they make it quite clear that his marriage was a marriage of convenience. It also says that many of his songs were about his gay love and he seemed to have had many more gay relationships in real life, than the ones 'shown' in the film. But still, I liked it and it made me 'discover' Cole Porter, who I only really knew about, because I had heard his name (a bit like Johnny Cash and the movie "Walk the Line").
I was a bit disappointed by De-lovely. They downplayed his gayness in several ways: it was all off-camera, and definitely second-place to his marriage, which other biographies deny. And then they sneered at Night and Day for downplaying it more. According to one biography, "You're the Top" means just what it says. He also had some alternate words for use at private functions. If I can find them I'll post them here.Here are the words:
One of the most talked about film for this year's festival is Broken Sky, from Mexico. I have myself signed up to usher the screening, so I'll be able to catch some of it. I'll let you know how it is.Sure sounds like an interesting movie!! I checked it out on the Outfest link you had inserted. Well, have lots of fun ushering!! ;)
Wow, you've actually seen this? Someone from my volleyball league made it! I've never seen it though, how is it?Sorry I never replied to this and time has passed. Quite funny. For a short, there's quite a lot in it. Not much more I can say.
Juan
Before Night Falls
I didn't like it. I loved Bardem's performance but the movie was too depressing. I know Brokeback was too, but in a very different way. I had nightmares after watching Before Night Falls.
"like" is a such a weird word to use with film, isn't it? I mean, with BBM, who "likes" be heartbroken? I don't think I'd say I liked Before Night Falls either. It is a heavy film, and it can affect you quite hard. I "like" that it has the power to move me to the level it did. It's not a film I would see too often again, but it is one I'd recommend to anyone. It's a really good film, to be sure.
Y tu mamá también.
Its simply one of the best road movies I have ever seen. But I'm not sure if it's really gay related, although it could be.
I agree with you, starboardlight. I "liked" it for all the reasons you mentioned, and so don't have a problem with saying so.
Perhaps the verb "enjoy" would be better suited to our purpose: I liked "Schindler's List" quite a lot, but I certainly didn't "enjoy" it. Same goes for "Before Night Falls."
A movie-review podcast that I love, Filmspotting (formerly "Cinecast") love to do lists for various categories. They did one "Top Ten Favorite Movies That You Don't Want to See Again." It was all about this idea... great movies that should be seen but not "enjoyed."
"like" is a such a weird word to use with film, isn't it? I mean, with BBM, who "likes" be heartbroken? I don't think I'd say I liked Before Night Falls either. It is a heavy film, and it can affect you quite hard. I "like" that it has the power to move me to the level it did. It's not a film I would see too often again, but it is one I'd recommend to anyone. It's a really good film, to be sure.
yeah, I have the same reaction. I enjoyed the character development in the film alot, and thought the actors and actress were great fun to watch. I just go "rrhhh?" when people categorize it as a gay film. Just because of one kiss? I guess we all interpret that kiss differently. I never thought of it as being a sexual tension between the two friends, but rather a confused stage of life for teen boys where intimacy and friendship is difficult to understand.
****SPOILERS**** (Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN)
Some people, including me, wonder if they're gay not because of the kiss but because they don't speak to each other again. They were intimate friends, who even masturbated together, but after the kiss they treated each other as mere acquitances. That could be interpreted as they felt threatened in some sexual way. The ending made me think there was some sexual tension between them they didn't acknowledge before.
That ending confused me... if it was intending to reveal true homosexual feelings underlying both young men -- or if it intended to show that they were actually in love -- then it was way too late in the movie to reveal something so important. I was enjoying the road-movie aspects to it, and the coming-of-age theme also. Throwing that wrench in the very end kinda screwed things up for me... for how I had been viewing the film up until that point.
you're right their reaction to the kiss is realistic. it's just the kiss itself just came out of nowhere. i think for many people, that's the confusing part. there had been no hint of sexual tension between them all through the movie, than all the sudden, bam! I don't read the two guys as being gay or even bisexual. the only interpretation that makes sense to me is that the kiss is a manifestation of their closeness and intimacy as friends being mixed with a moment of sexual arousal.
I watched "Chuck and Buck" last night for the first time.
The DVD cover presents this film as a comedy, but I found it deeply disturbing. It was actually hard for me to make my way through it... I was constantly tempted to skip scenes or stop the movie altogether. I didn't do either.
Hi, All.........
If you'll let me in for just a bit, I'd like to share with you a few thoughts concerning gay-themed movies.
EnjoyThank you Azphil, but is this solely Region 1? I'm from Europe and would prefer a Region 2.
PS--This for JudeW who has mentioned at least a couple of times about waiting for "Burnt Money" on DVD. Don't know where you've been, but this one's been out on DVD for a couple of years or so. Just go to Amazon.com and do a search on this title---there's even some better pricing on some of the Used copies.
Watch it and fall in love with Leo! ;)Weisst Du was, Anke? I did and I agree with everything you wrote! 100% And most of all the stuff about Leo (Marlon Kittel)!!! Awsome! Cute! Adorable! Mature! Brilliant! The scene is absolutely tender and the actors perfect!
Thank you Azphil, but is this solely Region 1? I'm from Europe and would prefer a Region 2.
~ j U d E
Hi Jude!
Burnt Money can be found for Region 2. It's very popular in Spain. I think it's a Spain-Argentina Production (not sure though). In any case, it's original title is "Plata Quemada", in case you need to know to find the DVD.
http://www.fnac.es/dsp/?servlet=extended.HomeExtendedServlet&Code1=2079036466&Code2=116&prodID=332045 (http://www.fnac.es/dsp/?servlet=extended.HomeExtendedServlet&Code1=2079036466&Code2=116&prodID=332045)
Upon the recommendation of several of you, I added "Trick" to my collection and watched it for the first time last night. I'm glad I did.
This is a sweet, romantic comedy telling the story of a one-night stand turning into something more. I found myself smiling through much of it. The production values are high. The performances vary from quite good (Christian Campbell, Tori Spelling) to adequate (J.P. Pitoc, but he's such a hunk that I didn't care), with a hilarious cameo from Clinton Leupp as Miss Coco Peru, a drag queen character who has appeared in several other movies, including "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" (Coco has her own page at IMDB).
The end credits are shown with the original song "Trick of Fate" playing over them, and it's a great Whitney-Houstonesque number. I was able to import it into my iTunes collection.
Weisst Du was, Anke? I did and I agree with everything you wrote! 100% And most of all the stuff about Leo (Marlon Kittel)!!! Awsome! Cute! Adorable! Mature! Brilliant! The scene is absolutely tender and the actors perfect!
-> by the way - I liked the girl from Saxony and her heavy Sächsisch! Love it! My mother is from Leipzig... so you verstehst, gell! ;D
~ j U d E
Sorry if this is unnessecary reminding but have Boys Don't Cry and Heavenly Creatures been mentioned yet?
Thanks, starboardlight, a lot to look forward to on DVD here.
Gotta say, though, if director, Christian Faure's work on A Love to Hide (Un amour à taire) is as noteworthy as it was on Just A Question Of Love (Juste une question d'amour), then this has got to be one great little film.
Hi Ekeby!
I graduated in 1984 so the era was familiar with me too.
I was in an "unrequited" love triangle at the time as well.
Latter days? OMG! Awsome! Kind of a BBM but with a happier ending.
Have you seen the "Broken Hearts Club"?? It is very good too.
"Beautiful thing" - a perfect antidote to the BBM spleen!
The idea of upper class Maurice and streetwise Scudder setting up house together... well, maybe I'm too pessimistic :-X
"De vierde man" (The Fourth Man).
A few other favourites: Gods and Monsters; Stage Beauty; and Wonder Boys. In a completely different genre, Visconti's stunning "Ludwig". And I shouldn't forget Angels in America
Agree about Maurice and Scudder. I recall reading (maybe in the intro to the book?) that Forster had an alternate ending at one point that had M & Scudder working as loggers in a forest, and M's sister comes upon them. Or something like that. Agree, that relationship could not have worked in England. They would have had to go to some other country where the class differences wouldn't be obvious to everyone . . .
they could have moved to Greece.
btw, talk about old films not out on DVD, I saw a some clips of "Reflection in a Golden Eye" (1967) starring Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando. Brando plays a military man who is dealing with being a closeted homosexual, and Taylor plays his bitter wife. Has anyone seen this film and care to give a comment?
About Marlon Kittel: you're right. He is adorable and so talented!
I just read that he plays the piano and speaks several languages. According to his agency he also does artistic gymnasitics, surfing, sailing, skiing, Karate, Tennis, Eishockey and standard dance! :o
Anyways, he is a very believable lover in "Summerstorm." After playing "Leo" he must be every young gay guy's wet dream personified... :laugh:
Hey Anke! Thanks for putting me onto 'Sommersturm' on the PT. I've just ordered a copy and I can't wait to see it when it arrives in a few days time. Yeah, Marlon Kittel is cute, but personally I wouldn't mind some a that there Robert Stadlober!! There's just something about that boy!! :P
Hope you like the movie! :)
Girls Will Be Girls...is a hoot.
"Adam & Steve" was released last year, is a romantic comedy, and stars Malcolm Gets (from "Caroline and the City") and Craig Chester, both openly-gay; Chester also wrote and directed the film. Chris Kattan from Saturday Night Live has a supporting role, along with Posey Parker.Adam & Steve is worth a look.
Latter days? OMG! Awsome! Kind of a BBM but with a happier ending.
I am wondering if they are on DVD to rent. Here's the link to the page:
http://www.qcinema.org/awards.html
How satisfying it was to read more than thirty years later, Gore Vidal's account of ghost-writing the rejection scene
Hello everyone :) I know there' s no my place to post, but... Has a "Touch of Pink" been mentioned yet??? I read almost all posts but I could have not noticed. It' s a very nice comedy, with happy ending of course ;D After BBM I was so depressed that I HAD TO see some movie with happy ending -
Hello everyone :) I know there' s no my place to post, but...
I know it must've been said already .. but can I just say that I watched Latter Days recently and completely love it! In fact, I am hooked! C.J. Cox does some amazing writing!
Anyone who hasn't checked this movie out should definitely do so. I am so glad I did!
Is Latter Days out in Poland yet? I think you might enjoy that.
Can anybody else recommend gay comedies (well, happy endings) that might be available in Poland? I guess that would mean older movies? What about I Think I Do . . . or Broken Hearts Club?
What do you all think? I think any film that portrays gay life or gay characters in a real way would qualify.
"Latter Days" is not available in Poland :( But I watched it - unfortunately with german dubbing, so barely understood it, but I loved it!!!. I'm looking for it on amazon, but I found only region 1 >:( There were "A Beautiful Thing", "Jeffrey" and "My beautiful laundrette" on polish TV, but I don' t know the movies you mentioned :(
And BTW - do you enjoy "Queer as folk" series???
I have a 5-DVD player in my bedroom, and along with Brokeback I have Latter Days always in it ready to go . . . Like Brokeback, it's one I can watch over and over again . . . Frequently I'll watch the laundry room scenes before I go to sleep . . . .
The laundry room scenes are one of my faves, especially the first one! But the scene with Aaron and his mother in the kitchen really gets to me .. so real.
I have also watched Borstal Boy, I liked it!
I have recently gone nuts ordering movies from amazon .. some movies I am waiting for:
- Soldier's girl
- Monster
-The truth about Jane
- and the Latter Days novel!
agree the kitchen scene is very, very real . . . that slap and his reaction! I too bought the novel . . . got obsessed w/ LD for a while there . . .:) If I want a good cry anytime I just watch the 3am music video . . . .
Hey Dafna ..
The Latter Days novel was adapted from CJ Cox's screenplay for the movie! I am dying to get my hands on that one. ;) Like you, I am building my movie collection considerably these days and I havent been to the theatre in months actually!
One movie that I have not yet found the courage to watch again is Mysterious Skin. It was very well-done but hard to watch. I'll have to suck it up and watch it again one of these days. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (aka "Ryder" in Latter Days) gave a phenomenal performance in it! Quite the talented young actor he is!
Please don't get me started about that song .. ;) I get a lump in my throat everytime I watch it!
Lucise, I also order too many movies from Amazon. :) But then again I like owning the movies so I can watch them over and over and rarely have I got one I didn't like.
This one has been discussed here before, but it deserves to be mentioned again: Y tu mamá tambien!
I've bought the dvd at the airport London Heathrow before I returned from the Euro Brokie meeting in September and just now watched it for the first time. I think it's fantastic, and the kissing scene between Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna must be one of the sexiest things ever put to film!
Hey Dafna ..
The Latter Days novel was adapted from CJ Cox's screenplay for the movie! I am dying to get my hands on that one. ;) Like you, I am building my movie collection considerably these days and I havent been to the theatre in months actually!
One movie that I have not yet found the courage to watch again is Mysterious Skin. It was very well-done but hard to watch. I'll have to suck it up and watch it again one of these days. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (aka "Ryder" in Latter Days) gave a phenomenal performance in it! Quite the talented young actor he is!
Please don't get me started about that song .. ;) I get a lump in my throat everytime I watch it!
One of my favorite movies is by Sally Potter and it is called Orlando. It is from a novel by Virginia Woolf about a boy growing up in Elizabethan England who actually lives until modern times, changing into a woman about halfway through the story. Not exactly a gay-themed movie but more of a transgender one. It stars Tilda Swinton and Billy Zane is in it too. Also Quentin Crisp plays Elizabeth I.
Cool, I will see about getting it today.
One of my favorite movies is by Sally Potter and it is called Orlando. It is from a novel by Virginia Woolf about a boy growing up in Elizabethan England who actually lives until modern times, changing into a woman about halfway through the story. Not exactly a gay-themed movie but more of a transgender one. It stars Tilda Swinton and Billy Zane is in it too. Also Quentin Crisp plays Elizabeth I.
As a matter of interest, are there any Derek Jarman fans on the thread?I haven't seen too much of his work, but I did enjoy his Edward II. I have a copy of his book, Dancing Ledge, and appreciate that too. I don't know if I've been exposed to enough of his work to qualify as a fan, but he's certainly of interest to me.
I haven't seen too much of his work, but I did enjoy his Edward II. I have a copy of his book, Dancing Ledge, and appreciate that too. I don't know if I've been exposed to enough of his work to qualify as a fan, but he's certainly of interest to me.
I have recently gone nuts ordering movies from amazon .. some movies I am waiting for:
- Soldier's girl
- Monster
-The truth about Jane
- and the Latter Days novel!
I find some of his work hard going, but it's always fascinating, unique and challenging. My favourite of those I've seen is 'The Last of England', although many consider 'War Requiem' his best - unfortunately I've not seen it yet.
I HATED The Last of England. Sort of minimalist. I seem to remember some torture/beating and a lot of scenes in ruined buildings with stray bonfires in them. Made no sense to me at all and I just waited for it to finish, though I'm told it was an attack on Thatcher's Britain.
Trick abd Billy's Hollwood Screen Kisses are two really fun movies, that most of my friends refuse to admit they like. They not great intellectual movies to be sure, and they don't have social/political commentary. They are what When Harry Met Sally is meant to be. Just fun, light movies. I enjoyed them a lot, but I hesitate to recommend them, because it's easy for people to put them down for being light and not serious.
I agree with Shuggy. I love Tori Spelling in Trick. Her one monologues in the diner really showed her comedic chops.
The next is Latter Days! It is gut wrenching. It has some very powerful moments and some undeniable truths!
If you haven't seen these I suggest going to find them and watch them!
Oilgun, can we see clips, trailers, etc., on YouTube or elsewhere about these two gay films, oui, oui??
And how do you add pics on Bettermost?
Has anyone here seen or heard of it?I have heard of this film by Chereau (who is himself a gay man) but have never seen it. Critic David Ehrenstein (also gay) thinks very highly of it, and recently contrasted if favorably with the (to his mind and mine) homophobic 1980 feature Cruising, which apparently treads similar thematic ground. Here are two pertinent comments from Ehrenstein relating to Chereau's film which appeared on the online discussion group 'A Film By':
I have heard of this film by Chereau (who is himself a gay man) but have never seen it. Critic David Ehrenstein (also gay) thinks very highly of it, and recently contrasted if favorably with the (to his mind and mine) homophobic 1980 feature Cruising, which apparently treads similar thematic ground. Here are two pertinent comments from Ehrenstein relating to Chereau's film which appeared on the online discussion group 'A Film By':
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/a_film_by/message/47365 (http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/a_film_by/message/47365)
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/a_film_by/message/47397 (http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/a_film_by/message/47397)
Thanks oilgun!
Any clips about:
El Mar?
L'homme blessé?
Hugs!
I was in pure ecstasy watching this, it has everything I love in a film: Gorgeous minimalist art direction, handsome, thin, wan consumptive guys, repressed sexual desires, tortured psyches, Catholic imagery, violent (homo)sex, murderous passion & ... nuns! I'm actually trembling as I write this. ;) <snip>That is hilarious! I rented this but didn't get a chance to watch it, I'll have to find it and pop it in sometime...although In A Glass Darkly was freaky deaky! L'Homme Blesse, there's a film I haven't seen in I don't know how long....
Welcome, wardbond! Tell us more!
Shawn Kirchner could do it, even Rufus Wainwright, and others.
Then too, existing operas are crying out to be adapted. Imagine La Traviata: Hunky, naive, young artist finds slightly older, HIV positive party-boy in a dance club. After a summer of spectacularly hot, continuous sex, the artist's father steps in and it is downhill from there. Carmen would be easy: Hunky, naive, young soldier falls for slightly older, sophisticated, veritable sex machine, civilian mechanic on the military base. They go AWOL to San Francisco, and after a summer of spectacularly hot, continuous sex, the mechanic tires of the soldier and hooks up with a professional athlete, and it's downhill from there. Madam Butterfly: Hunky, naive, young Japanese twink meets godlike bear American naval officer. After a summer of spectacularly hot, continuous sex...Well a pattern seems to be developing here. Anyway, why not gay operas? Their time has come.
I absolutely knew before I posted that you, MM, would be the first on my tail. You did not disappoint. You follow me around BetterMost looking for new dragons to slay. I hope I do not disappoint.
I was confused by the form your attack took.
Am I missing something? My call for gay operas was genuine; my characterization of possible plot lines for gay adaptations of existing operas was not. I was trying to burlesque opera plots in general. (After all, we go/listen to them for the music, not complex, highly nuanced stories--for that we read books, watch plays.) You must have seen that. I would say with Ennis, "Lighten up on me, Jack," except that perhaps I am reading you wrong. "Discoteca" instead of "fiesta"? We're doing adaptations in Italian? The libretto is sacrosanct? Surely you aren't serious?
I was really enjoying this conversation. Would it be possible to overlook the potential conflict? You both have so much to contribute. Can we play nice in the sandbox please?
You're probably right to urge new gay operas rather than screwing around with existing operas.
Milk would be sad, but are there any happy operas? Don't we have to turn to operetta for that?
Maybe the DADT story could be the first happy opera. I would insist on a film version. Let's face it, love scenes viewed from the distance between theatre stage and audience are not what they are in movie closeups.