Fathers get a bad rap in queer cinema. Fictional dads tend to antagonize, reject or straight up abuse their queer sons. Good dads are rare enough that a moment of compassion can bring an audience to tears. David Stevens’ 1990 … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Sum of Us (1994)
A glamorous con woman (Ayako Wakao) manipulates a wealthy housewife (Kyôko Kishida). The affair is intense and surprisingly frank for the era. Then the con artist turns her attention to men and the film grows less interesting. Manji was adapted … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Manji (1964)
Ned Roche (Fionn O’Shea) hates the rugby obsessed bullies at his Irish boarding school. When he’s forced to room with rugby champ Conor Masters (Nicholas Galitzine) he readies himself for war. Their eccentric teacher (Andrew Scott) forces them to work … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Handsome Devil (2016)
In Staircase Rex Harrison and Richard Burton play Charles and Harry, a squabbling gay couple. They run a barber shop in East London and care for Harry’s ailing mother. Charles is summoned to court for performing in drag, putting their … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Staircase (1969)
A gawky teen pursues the angsty director of his terrible high school musical. Lead actor Jeremy Hollingworth gives a droll, deadpan performance. Julie Kavner (aka the voice of Marge Simpson) is allowed more nuance as the boys’ savvy mother. Story … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Story of a Bad Boy (1999)
Two British lads are murdered at their boarding school. They decide to remain on earth and solve supernatural mysteries. The Dead Boy Detectives are not particularly bright. The journey from Neil Gaiman’s comics to HBO to Netflix has aged them … Continue reading TV Review: Dead Boy Detectives
Sebastian does not want to be a homosexual. The 16-year-old has developed a crush on his best friend. The realization of his queerness has sent him into a rage. Sebastian: When Everybody Knows explores the anger stage of the coming … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Sebastian: When Everybody Knows (1995)
Jules, a black drag queen, is assaulted by Preston, a white bigot. When he finds Preston cruising in a gay sauna he plots revenge. Femme was written and directed by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping. They introduced the … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Femme (2023)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was founded in the 1820’s by Joseph Smith. When a follower turns 18 they are allowed to serve on a two-year mission to convert new members. If a member breaks one … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Latter Days (2003)
Three generations of Ghostbusters battle an ice demon. The trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire featured a wave of ice hitting New York City. It looked like a promising way to open a movie. Unfortunately, it’s not till the third act. … Continue reading Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire – Spoiler Space
The series Young Royals follows the trials of Crown Prince Wilhelm and his working-class boyfriend, Simon, at their Swedish boarding school. Season two was bogged down by subplots for their scheming relatives. The third and final season narrows its focus … Continue reading LGBT Media: Young Royals. Season Three
In 1991 Saturday Night Live aired a sketch called “Schmitt’s Gay.” Chris Farley and Adam Sandler drink beer at a pool party full of speedo clad hunks. It satirized the popular bikini babe ads of the time. The idea that … Continue reading LGBT Media: Gay Commercials
Why Not! Is a French dramedy about a bisexual throuple. Writer/director Coline Serreau focuses on the mundane side of the domestic arrangements. Fernand (Sami Frey) keeps house while Alexa (Christine Murillo) and Louis (Mario Gonzales) work part time jobs. Fernand … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Why Not! (1977)
Two lesbians go on a road trip, unaware that their drive-away car contains stolen goods. They’re pursued by a ruthless gang of crooks as they travel from Philadelphia to Florida. The screenplay, by Tricia Cooke and director Ethan Coen, gives … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Drive-Away Dolls (2024)
“You have penetrated to the 1st level of the Great Pyramid of Ra. If you quit now, you will have 0 prestige points. People will always wonder if you really have the grit to see a difficult job through.” Rick … Continue reading The Night Thread of Ra (2/19/24)
Strawberry Blonde (aka Bionda fragola) is a clunky farce about a squabbling gay couple. Writer/Director/Star Mino Bellei plays a middle-aged pharmacist whose long-term partner has grown bored. Umberto Orsini plays the roving lover who invites a young actor (Gianni Felici) … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Strawberry Blonde (1980)
Craig Russell celebrated his drag career in the 1977 film Outrageous! The sequel, Too Outrageous!, found his alter ego, Robin, in a bad place. Homophobic agents, treacherous lovers and the AIDS epidemic sucked the joy out of him. His best … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Too Outrageous! (1987)
In 2022 John Chu announced that his film adaptation of Wicked, the 2003 Broadway musical, would be split into two parts. I felt this was a mistake. The show runs 2:45 on stage with intermission and suffers from second act … Continue reading Wicked Trailer Thread
A masked killer is hunting high school bullies. Their deaths are staged as suicides. Javier, a gay Mexican teen, begins having psychic visions of the murders. Should he save the lives of the people who tried to ruin his? Departing … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Departing Seniors (2023)
A group of bandits seek to drive a priest (John Mills) out of their Mexican village. The bandit leader (Dirk Bogarde) gains a grudging respect for his earnest opponent. Just when they’ve made peace a spirited woman (Mylène Demongeot) comes … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Singer Not the Song (1961)
A gay teen is courted by the school’s mean girls. Each thinks a Gay Best Friend (G.B.F.) will increase their popularity. Director Darren Stein (Jawbreaker) and screenwriter George Northy (Charmed, Faking It) satirize would-be allies who treat gay men like … Continue reading LGBT Movies: G.B.F. (2013)
