Sir Noël Coward (1899-1973) was a celebrated British playwright, songwriter, actor and wit. I was introduced to his work by the 1945 film of his play Blithe Spirit. A writer accidentally summons the ghost of his late first wife to torment … Continue reading The Noël Coward Night Thread (2/8)
This weekend the cinemas feature many tales of queer suffering and death. I wanted to highlight a film about surviving trauma. In Thomas Fitzgerald’s The Hanging Garden a gay man (Chris Leavins) visits his estranged family after ten years away. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Hanging Garden (1997)
Should the LGBTQ community assimilate or rebel? Should we band together or pursue our individual goals? These arguments were explored in a television drama titled Coming Out. It aired On April 10, 1979 as part of the BBC’s Play for … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Coming Out (1979)
A married man becomes obsessed with a teenage hustler. His wife intervenes. Man of Desire aches with sexual frustration. Each character is afraid of what they want. The film is in no hurry to give it to them. Dominique Delouche’s … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Man of Desire (1970)
In 1971 Roger Hargreaves wrote a terrifying children’s book called “Mr. Tickle.” The title character would sneak up on people and tickle them with his stretchy arms. Tickle was the first of the fast growing “Mr. Men” series. The Mr. … Continue reading The Mr. Tickle Night Thread (1/22)
M3gan’s easy to pitch. Android babysitter goes berserk! Evil doll learns to dance! When the trailer went viral, I assumed I’d already seen the best material. It took rave reviews and some rowdy gay friends to get me in the … Continue reading Spoil Sports: M3gan (2023)
Different from the Others premiered in 1919. It told the story of a gay man who is blackmailed and driven to suicide. Filmmaker Magnus Hirschfeld was an outspoken advocate for gay rights. He was forced to flee Germany during the … Continue reading LGBT Movies of the 1910s
The Holiday Sitter is Hallmark’s first gay holiday romcom. A big city business man falls for a small-town hunk while babysitting his niece and nephew. Jonathan Bennett mugs like he’s channeling Lucille Ball. George Krissa underplays the guarded love interest. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Holiday Sitter (2022)
Three people without housing find an abandoned infant on Christmas Eve. Hana, an optimistic trans woman, doesn’t want the baby left in the foster system. After many arguments they decide to search for the child’s mother. Satoshi Kon’s Tokyo Godfathers … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Tyco’s Dino-Riders were action heroes who strapped guns to dinosaurs and rode them into battle. Each dinosaur toy came with easy-to-lose accessories and a rider. It could have been the top toy line of 1988. But there were problems. The … Continue reading Dino-Riders Night Thread
Ethan Clade, a gay biracial teen, is tongue tied when he meets his handsome crush. His supportive father, Searcher, plays wing man by talking up his son’s good qualities. Ethan is mortified. I braced myself for angry families to storm … Continue reading Movie Review: Strange World (2022)
Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery released to cinemas this weekend. It comes to Netflix on December 23. Here’s a place to discuss the plot, cast, etc. with spoilers. Continue reading Spoil Sports: Glass Onion (2022)
Bob Iger stepped down as Disney’s CEO in 2020. Bob Chapek took the position and made a series of controversial and costly decisions. Tonight Disney announced Iger’s return. “I am extremely optimistic for the future of this great company and … Continue reading Disney CEO Discussion Thread
In the Flesh premiered on BBC Three in March 2013. We visit a Britain that survived a zombie apocalypse. A drug was developed to cure the undead of their brain munching cravings. The “partially deceased” must now re-integrate into society. … Continue reading LGBT Media: In the Flesh
Pity the Crown Prince Wilhelm. His wealth and privilege cannot mend his broken heart. Season one of Young Royals explored the romance between Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding) and the working-class Simon (Omar Rudberg) at their Swedish boarding school. The Royal family … Continue reading LGBT Media: Young Royals. Season Two
2004’s Hellbent was called the “first gay slasher.” Let’s say it’s the first openly gay slasher. Four queer friends are stalked by a masked killer at a Halloween Carnival. The men are likeable and it’s sad to watch their fates. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Hellbent (2004)
A school teacher and a museum curator fall madly in love with a handsome policeman. Flash forwards tell us that it will end in tears. Why do we revisit stories of queer trauma? The back-alley hook ups. The brutal beatings. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: My Policeman (2022)
Michael York plays a villainous twink in the black comedy Something for Everyone. He sleeps and murders his way into Angela Lansbury’s aristocratic family. The promising premise is undone by Hugh Wheeler’s flabby screenplay and Hal Prince’s timid direction. It’s … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Something for Everyone (1970)
Dan Futterman plays an insomniac who wanders through Manhattan. He collects urban legends from the strangers he meets. Urbania is a strange film with an interesting cast. The episodic nature keeps it from building momentum. The protagonists’ motivation is unclear … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Urbania (2000)
Bros pairs a self-righteous museum curator (Billy Eichner) with a musclebound lawyer (Luke Macfarlane). They fight, banter and gradually fall in love. The story is familiar. What sets Bros apart from other queer romcoms is the sharp social commentary. Eichner … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Bros (2022)
Bee is a woman with a case of arrested development. She can’t manage her money or hold down a job. She shows symptoms of chronic depression. Her life is forever changed when she meets a strange cat/dog/person. Puppycat is angry … Continue reading Spoil Sports – Bee & Puppycat: Lazy in Space
