Media featuring LGBT content
This one’s rough. A gay man marries a lesbian for a green card. They soon realize they are attracted to each other. Bisexuality is not discussed in A Different Story. Neither is pansexuality or sexual fluidity. Stella (Meg Foster) and … Continue reading LGBT Movies: A Different Story (1978)
During Brendan Behan’s short life, he joined the Irish Republican Army, served multiple prison sentences and became a celebrated writer. Then he drank himself to death at 41. His 1958 novel Borstal Boy recounts the years he spent in borstal … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Borstal Boy (2000)
In 1871 the poet Paul Verlaine left his wife and baby to live with an unstable boy named Arthur Rimbaud. Total Eclipse charts their abusive relationship. Leonardo DiCaprio and David Thewlis ham it up as the drunken French poets. They … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Total Eclipse (1995)
In 1890 Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde published the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. His star would rise quickly. In February of 1895 his play The Importance of Being Earnest opened in London. In May of that year, he … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960)
Countess Marya Zaleska seeks a cure for her vampirism. Her queer-coded tragedy is off-set by the comical mortals in her path. The 70-minute film ends just when the story’s gaining steam. But Gloria Holden gives a compelling performance in the … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Dracula’s Daughter (1936)
James Whale directed Hollywood classics like Frankenstein, The Invisible Man and Show Boat. Now he’s retired and he wants to see his gardener naked. Gods and Monsters examines how artists process death. Whale channeled the traumas of the closet and … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Gods and Monsters (1998)
Break ups were a common theme at Chicago’s annual LGBT film festival. Characters kept having affairs, getting dumped or running into their exes. I covered the recent Frameline Festival and How To Get Away With Mordor has covered Outfest. But … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Reeling Festival 2021
Jamie New, a gay teen, prepares for his drag debut in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. This joyous musical was adapted from a 2017 stage show and a 2011 documentary. On stage I found it fun but repetitive. The film trims … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Sex Education premiered on Netflix in January of 2019. Otis and Maeve opened an underground “sex advice clinic” at Moordale Secondary School. Otis stole his early tips from his sex therapist mother (Gillian Anderson). As the season progressed he began … Continue reading Sex Education S3 Spoiler Space
Wladziu Valentino Liberace was a talented musician. He was famous for his campy outfits and wicked sense of humor. Scandal derailed his attempts to keep his personal life private. His sexuality had been on a “don’t ask, don’t tell” basis. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Liberace: Behind the Music (1988)
In Wild Reeds four French youths debate politics and suffer unrequited love. André Téchiné’s autobiographical film allows homosexuals, communists, the workers and the middle classes to interact. They find acceptance and learn survival skills. There’s little plot but the characters … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Wild Reeds (1994)
Welcome back to LGBT Movies: Mordor Reviews Outfest LA 2021! Throughout this week, I’m posting my thoughts on more than 70 (!!) of the 170+ (!!!!) short and feature films that screened at this year’s virtual edition of Outfest LA … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Outfest LA 2021 – Final Thoughts
Welcome back to LGBT Movies: Mordor Reviews Outfest LA 2021! Throughout this week, I’m posting my thoughts on more than 70 (!!) of the 170+ (!!!!) short and feature films that screened at this year’s virtual edition of Outfest LA … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Outfest LA 2021 – Shorts Edition
Welcome one and all to this special edition of LGBT Movies! A huge thank you to SadClown for letting me take over this slot this week. Over the next few days, I’ll be posting my thoughts on more than 70 … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Outfest LA 2021 – Features Edition
The Norwegian series Eyewitness (Øyevitne) is a mix of gay romance, family drama and police procedural. Gay teens witness a murder but stupidly keep it secret. One teen’s foster mother, the Sheriff, leads an investigation. She’ll uncover corrupt cops, foolish … Continue reading LGBT Media: Eyewitness (2014)
Genera+ion follows a group of teens wrestling with their sexuality in Anaheim, California. They agonize over crushes and lash out at well-meaning adults. Early episodes are rough. A jumble of characters and tones without a through line. Half way in … Continue reading LGBT Media: Genera+ion (2021)
Joe Bell, a blue-collar man, hikes across America to lecture on the dangers of bullying. His gay son, Jadin, tags along and asks him to look at his own prejudice. Joe Bell touches on issues of mental health and systemic … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Joe Bell (2020)
A lieutenant falls in love with an officer on the eve of the American Civil War. The realization of his homosexuality drives him to despair. South aired on November 24, 1959 as part of ITV’s Play of the Week series. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: South (1959)
Young Royals follows the troubled Prince Wilhelm of Sweden. He’s shipped to boarding school by his chilly mother. There he falls for Simon, a working-class student. How long can they keep the relationship secret? And what will happen if they’re … Continue reading LGBT Media: Young Royals (2021)
San Francisco’s Frameline streamed their 45th festival from June 17 through June 27, 2021. It was heavy this year with recurring themes of heartbreak and loss. Here were some highlights. Artists No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics (2021, … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Frameline 2021
That sexy murder teen show. 13 Reasons Why Not? Spanish Riverdale. Yes. It’s time for another season of Elite. The Netflix series where teenagers have threesomes, cover up murders and bicker like old married couples. Season One spun a tale … Continue reading Elite. Season 4. (Spoiler Space)
