Outfest has been promoting LGBTQIA+ stories and filmmakers since 1982. The nonprofit organization, based in Los Angeles, streamed over 160 films online from August 20-30, 2020. I managed to catch over 25 features and 60 short films. It was a … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Outfest 2020
Bedrooms and Hallways is a bisexual romcom that is hindered by binary language. “Gay” Leo (Kevin McKidd) seduces “straight” Brendan (James Purefoy) at a men’s retreat only to be “turned hetero” himself by Brendan’s ex-girlfriend Sally (Jennifer Ehle). No one … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Bedrooms and Hallways (1998)
A self-loathing artist (Arye Gross) returns to his rural home to care for his ailing grandfather. He’s soon pining for his high school crush and ignoring the attentions of a pathologically shy store clerk (Eric Schweig). He expects homophobia from … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Big Eden (2000)
Michael’s boyfriend is leaving the U.S. for work. His ex-boyfriend is living with HIV. We follow him for a day as he mentally prepares to lose them both. Parting Glances could have been a dirge but writer/director Bill Sherwood fills … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Parting Glances (1986)
Before Trolls World Tour, From Justin to Kelly and American Idol, Kelly Clarkson had a cameo in 2002’s Issues 101. This zero-budget sex farce follows a gay college student who hooks up with a closeted frat boy and his out … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Issues 101 with Kelly Clarkson!
Young Soul Rebels is a thriller set amidst the London music scene of the late 1970’s. A pair of DJs find themselves mixed up in a murder. The mystery takes a back seat to a tour of clashing subcultures: Gay … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Young Soul Rebels (1991)
CBS aired Welcome Home, Bobby on February 22, 1986. It was directed by Herbert Wise (I, Claudius) and starred Timothy Williams (Cheers). Bobby is a 16-year-old boy who gets seduced by a 35-year-old man. When gossip spreads his father (Tony … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Welcome Home, Bobby (1986)
Julie Andrews and Ann-Margaret play the disapproving mothers of a gay couple (Hugh Grant and Zeljko Ivanek). Zeljko’s dying of AIDS so the women go on a road trip to visit them. Cue fights, tears, and some very large wigs. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Our Sons (1991)
A working-class couple turns a run-down launderette into a thriving business. My Beautiful Laundrette features a strong ensemble and a star-making performance from Daniel Day-Lewis. The simple plot allows writer Hanif Kureishi and director Stephen Frears to examine the race … Continue reading LGBT Movies: My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
June 28, 1969 marked the first night of the Stonewall Riots in New York City. The protest lasted six days and inspired similar uprisings. The event was honored the next year as “Christopher Street Liberation Day.” This blossomed into Pride … Continue reading Virtual Pride 2020
I came out of the closet in my sophomore year of high school. Junior year my friends and I organized a Gay Straight Alliance. This made it easier to stand up to the bullies who’d been harassing me for over … Continue reading LGBT Media: Out and Proud Teens
Love, Victor follows a Latinx teen who transfers to Creekwood High School in Atlanta, GA. This was the setting for Becky Albertalli’s Creekwood novels and Greg Berlanti’s 2018 film Love, Simon. Simon was embraced by friends and family after being … Continue reading LGBT Media: Love, Victor (2020)
Viktor und Viktoria follows a cisgendered female who takes a job as a female impersonator. The act is a hit but she soon falls for a heterosexual man. Will she give up the charade to be with him? This German … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Viktor und Viktoria (1933)
German lesbian boarding schools? Italian gender-fluid sky pirates? Yes please! Today, I look at two groundbreaking films that explored gender and sexuality in a pre-censorship era. I’ll provide two spoiler filled recaps. Filibus, the Mysterious Air Pirate (1915, Italy) This … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Filibus (1915) & Mädchen in Uniform (1931)
The Beastmaster was a TV fixture in the early 90’s. I remembered beefcake and ferrets but forgot the storyline. Turns out the plot is basic good versus evil with a dose of animal cruelty and misogyny. If you can stomach … Continue reading Movie Recap: The Beastmaster (1982)
Stephen Baldwin likes Lara Flynn Boyle, who likes Josh Charles, who likes Stephen Baldwin. They’re fit young college students living in the same dorm. The solution seems obvious… or does it? Threesome hadn’t much to offer a closeted teen in … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Threesome (1994) & Fun Down There (1989)
This week we lost Larry Kramer. The founder of ACT UP dedicated his life to activism but was also a talented author. His screenplay for Women in Love and his script for The Normal Heart were justly celebrated. Less known … Continue reading Movie Recap: Lost Horizon (1973)
Today’s films concern angsty gays at British Boarding Schools. In fiction such schools are cauldrons of rage and lust. Lord of the Flies and Plato’s Symposium. A place where a gay man can discover his true self or be beaten … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Another Country (1984) & Maurice (1987)
Tron meets Star Wars anyone? Alex Rogan wins an arcade game and gets recruited by the Starfighters. The CGI is expensive so he returns to Earth to faff about before the big space finale. The Last Starfighter has likable actors, … Continue reading Movie Recap: The Last Starfighter (1984)
A spoiled teen musician (charmless Kevin Bishop) visits Barcelona with his mother (delightful Juliet Stevenson) and has a fling with an older man (relaxed Paul Rhys). When the boy returns to New York he loses his way. I’d hoped for … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Food of Love (2002)
So your brother kills your wife, kills your father and kidnaps a nun. What do you do? If your answer is ‘grab a fist sword and a can of silly string’ then you might appreciate Hawk the Slayer. This 1980 … Continue reading Movie Recap: Hawk the Slayer (1980)
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