Reviews of films
A self-righteous deacon (Željko Ivanek) comes under fire when he defends two gay seminarians. Jack Lemmon’s cynical pastor tries to teach him about church bureaucracy. Mass Appeal is better in concept than execution. Bill C. Davis’s screenplay, adapted from his … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Mass Appeal (1984)
Jet Li turns 60-years-old in a couple of weeks. So, here is Once Upon a Time in China. Available in France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and perhaps a few other countries…wait…NOT the United States? His 60th birthday is on the 26th of April. … Continue reading WTF ASIA 260: Once Upon a Time in China (1991)
Three Christian teens struggle with their faith as they plan for college. Sweet Tim’s coming out has sent devout Laura and doubting Brea into tail spins. Many stories address the rift between organized religion and human sexuality. Stephen Cone’s The Wise … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Wise Kids (2011)
Departures is a magazine about exceptional places, people, and things for American Express Platinum Card® and Centuri…erm…oh, wait. Nevermind, this is a movie about preparing dead people for their coffins. Available in Canada, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other … Continue reading WTF ASIA 259: Departures (2008)
A quippy bard and a deadpan barbarian seek to rescue their gullible daughter from a quippy con man and a deadpan sorceress. They recruit a deadpan paladin, a deadpan shape shifter and a neurotic wizard to assist them. Dungeons and … Continue reading Movie Review: Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
The human computer wants to party party party. Available in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 127 minutes. Whoa whoa whoa. Calm down, Aaron Sorkin. I get it. Okay. It is 2001. London. As Anupama … Continue reading WTF ASIA 258: Shakuntala Devi (2020)
Noah Schnapp plays a wealthy teen obsessed with his new tutor (Garrett Hedlund). Early press suggested a story in the vein of Fatal Attraction, Swimfan or The Crush. A chance for Schnapp to embrace his sexuality, as rising teen idols … Continue reading Movie Review: The Tutor (2023)
When the writer-director of Squid Game wrote and directed a movie based on a true story about abuse at a school for deaf children. Uh…I probably should have put content warnings more often in these write-ups. Well, here is one. … Continue reading WTF ASIA 257: Silenced (2011)
Many years ago when I was in university, I was talking with a friend about what makes a film “queer.” Was it simply having queer characters and queer subject matter? Was it having something askew and off-kilter that queer viewers … Continue reading LGBT Movies: “Wild Things” (25th Anniversary)
It’s hard being a stepmother. Available in Canada, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 121 minutes. Four adults are eating watermelon while a couple of boys goof around. It takes a little while to … Continue reading WTF ASIA 256: Kuei-Mei, A Woman (1985)
A closeted Liberal Chairman (Björn Kjellman) falls for an out Social Democrat (a lovable Eric Ericson). Four More Years is an enjoyably fluffy romcom. The leading men have chemistry and charm. It’s refreshing to see a middle-aged actor in a … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Four More Years (2010)
The heck? How many Japanese movies featuring death and horrible fathers are called First Love? Oh, wait. This one is also called Hope? All right, fine. Available in Canada, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 119 minutes. Slow … Continue reading WTF ASIA 255: First Love (2021)
A first-time watch of George Miller’s 1987 supernatural movie about the battle of the sexes…or something… Continue reading Late to the Party: The Witches of Eastwick
Come to Tamil Nadu. Lovely beaches. Beautiful scenery. Lots of smuggling. Available in Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 117 minutes. The movie starts out with a narration. The state of Tamil Nadu has … Continue reading WTF ASIA 254: Buffoon (2022)
Alfredo Alaria plays an eccentric dancer. He clashes with his conservative family. They suspect he may be… different. His penchant for performing campy musical numbers in revealing costumes is a clue. Different couldn’t directly address homosexuality in Franco’s Spain. But … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Different (1962)
As the people on the street chant Death to the Dictator, one man steps in. Available in Canada, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 113-114 minutes. It is the 26th of … Continue reading WTF ASIA 253: The Man Standing Next (2020)
Nuno, a college student, visits his sister’s farm in Vouzela. He soon falls for Alberto, a moody farmhand. Nuno is a cheerful protagonist in an angsty film. He remains blissfully unaware of the limits that class and gender place on … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Where the Sun Beats (1989)
And now, grasshopper, you shall learn the ancient art of hitting someone in the head with a wooden pole. Available in Canada, France, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 110 minutes. Outside of town, four soldiers approach … Continue reading WTF ASIA 252: The Sword Identity (2011)
Why bury your gays when you can make them bury each other? You may find yourself contemplating that question after seeing M. Night Shyamalan’s latest, the tense and morally muddy Knock at the Cabin. Based on Paul G. Tremblay’s 2018 … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Knock at the Cabin (2023)
Can this movie overcome a decades-long grudge and win my heart by Valentine’s Day? Continue reading Late to the Party: When Harry Met Sally…
The movies from the previous weeks have all featured romantic love and some level of violence. In preparation for Valentine’s Day, I give you a story about…love? Well…maybe a love of violence. This is Takashi Miike, after all. Available in Australia, Canada, France, the … Continue reading WTF ASIA 251: First Love (2019)
