Weekly Theme

Weekly Theme for June 15: That's So Gay!

With all the brouhaha over that American Idol guy coming out and the onslaught of pride parades going on coast to coast this month, this week's theme is all about the gays. Mostly relinquished to flamboyant best friends and eccentric beauticians, the United States hasn't had a large influx of films that focus on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered) characters like those that are more commonplace in European cinema. Aside from the media frenzy that surrounded Brokeback Mountain a number of years back, most American's have shied away from the genre almost entirely. That being said, there are a number of great films with LGBT characters that we can hopefully talk about here.

Gregg Araki is probably my favorite gay director whose oeuvre has focused primarily on LGBT characters and the struggles facing them today. Nowhere, The Living End and The Doom Generation all have that Los Angeles, 1990's, chaotic life set to a raucous soundtrack of heavy metal, ethereal trip hop and post punk indie rock. Including incredible ensemble casts including Heather Graham, Ryan Phillippe, Rose McGowan, Christina Applegate, Guillermo Diaz, Johnathon Schaech, Parker Posey, Nicky Katt, etc, the films are a barrage of hopelessness, depression and a heavy hand of rebellion. 

Adam & Steve was a fun gay romantic comedy with hilarious supporting characters Parker Posey and Chris Kattan.

I've recently discovered that Al Pacino has played a number of gay characters over the course of his career. He was a cop willing to do ANYTHING to become a detective and went undercover into the gay BDSM subculture of New York in Cruising. He was trying to get money for his boyfriend's operation to become a female in Dog Day Afternoon. And he played a closeted lawyer in Angels In America.

Milk almost got the people talking as much as Brokeback with the Oscar buzz around it and Sean Penn and James Francos performances. The film borrowed significantly from The Times of Harvey Milk which won an Oscar for best documentary.

The Love Songs was a perfect example of how Europeans have a more laid back sense of sexuality and how certain people defy the stringent labels of gay straight or whatnot.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 15: That's So Gay!

Since I picked another winner of discussion this week, I guess it's up to me to try and add something more to this post.

My last post focused more on the men, I'll focus on the ladies this time around.

I haven't had a chance to see Bound yet but that remains the first movie that comes to mind when I think lesbians on film. Maybe that will change when I finally see it. I was completely unaware that it was a Wachowski brothers movies until a few years ago. Side note, now that one of the Wachowski's is making the transition to be a woman, I guess they are going to have to drop the brothers from their future movies. The Wachowski's also touched on lesbianism in V for Vendetta with the story of the lesbian couple that falls victim to the governments hypocrisy and is jailed for their love of each other. 

I liked the twisted lesbian relationship of Cameron Diaz and Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich. Cameron inhabiting John's body to have sex with Catherine's character. Crazy.

I love The Hours even though Meryl Streep and Allison Janney as the falling out of love couple was the weakest part of the film.

Of course we can't forget Mulholland Dr. and the reason most people saw the film: Naomi Watts and Laura Harring. For those still not in the know, she was in fact a lesbian and most of the film was her masturbatorial fantasy. Thank you David Lynch!

Charlize Theron got her Oscar for depicting a fugly serial killer lesbian attracted to the always adorable Christina Ricci in Monster.

The rampant lesbianism in Desperate Living is something to be seen. Disturbing and traumatic, just as a John Waters film should be.

Anna Faris played a seductive lesbian in the creepy May. I still can't look at Angela Bettis without seeing her with that creepy lazy eye.

I'll always love Reese Witherspoon for played a jacked up Little Red Riding Hood in Freeway. The hilariously perverse pseudo sex scene with her and Brittany Murphy in priceless.

Lastly, Kissing Jessica Stein was a really funny, adorable romantic comedy about lesbians, or rather a lesbian and a bisexual. Heartfelt and just a really simple, great movie.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 15: That's So Gay!

mercurial:

 

I've recently discovered that Al Pacino has played a number of gay characters over the course of his career. He was a cop willing to do ANYTHING to become a detective and went undercover into the gay BDSM subculture of New York in Cruising. He was trying to get money for his boyfriend's operation to become a female in Dog Day Afternoon. And he played a closeted lawyer in Angels In America.

 

 

I may be waaaay off here but I thought that I had heard that Frank Serpico was gay too.... I'm not sure though.

As far as gay themed films go, I would put Bad Education up there as probably my favorite.... or maybe Bound.

I also thought But I'm A Cheerleader was pretty funny.

Oh yeah!!! How about Rope. The undertones were quite prevelaint in that one.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 15: That's So Gay!

mercurial:

    Through out the years I have seen more and more movies embrace the culture and lifestyle and  try to bring it's content more to the mainstream.. Would you consider films like PULP FICTION or even AMERICAN ME to be in that catagory since those movies did have acts of same sex featured in them?

With all the brouhaha over that American Idol guy coming out and the onslaught of pride parades going on coast to coast this month, this week's theme is all about the gays. Mostly relinquished to flamboyant best friends and eccentric beauticians, the United States hasn't had a large influx of films that focus on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered) characters like those that are more commonplace in European cinema. Aside from the media frenzy that surrounded Brokeback Mountain a number of years back, most American's have shied away from the genre almost entirely. That being said, there are a number of great films with LGBT characters that we can hopefully talk about here.

Gregg Araki is probably my favorite gay director whose oeuvre has focused primarily on LGBT characters and the struggles facing them today. Nowhere, The Living End and The Doom Generation all have that Los Angeles, 1990's, chaotic life set to a raucous soundtrack of heavy metal, ethereal trip hop and post punk indie rock. Including incredible ensemble casts including Heather Graham, Ryan Phillippe, Rose McGowan, Christina Applegate, Guillermo Diaz, Johnathon Schaech, Parker Posey, Nicky Katt, etc, the films are a barrage of hopelessness, depression and a heavy hand of rebellion. 

Adam & Steve was a fun gay romantic comedy with hilarious supporting characters Parker Posey and Chris Kattan.

I've recently discovered that Al Pacino has played a number of gay characters over the course of his career. He was a cop willing to do ANYTHING to become a detective and went undercover into the gay BDSM subculture of New York in Cruising. He was trying to get money for his boyfriend's operation to become a female in Dog Day Afternoon. And he played a closeted lawyer in Angels In America.

Milk almost got the people talking as much as Brokeback with the Oscar buzz around it and Sean Penn and James Francos performances. The film borrowed significantly from The Times of Harvey Milk which won an Oscar for best documentary.

The Love Songs was a perfect example of how Europeans have a more laid back sense of sexuality and how certain people defy the stringent labels of gay straight or whatnot.

 

Re:Weekly Theme for June 15: That's So Gay!

There is a movie coming out this summer in the states that touches a abit on the gay and transgender content... It's called Casi Divas and it will be out this summer...very good film.. check out the trailer...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY-ITcTkdO0

Re:Weekly Theme for June 15: That's So Gay!

I feel like these characters might be largely stereotypes, so don't get too upset with me, but these are some of my favorite gay film characters:

Uncle Monty in Withnail & I:

"I think the carrot infinitely more fascinating than the geranium. The carrot has mystery. Flowers are essentially tarts. Prostitutes for the bees. There is you'll agree a certain je ne ses quoi oh so very special about a firm young carrot."

"I mean to have you even if it must be burglary."

Corky St. Clair in Waiting for Guffman:

"I got off that boat with nothing but my dancers belt and a tube of chapstick"

"I love you too pa. You taught me how to be a man. How to wrastle a steer to the ground and apply a fiery brand to his hind-quarters. And yes, how to love a woman. How the smell of her hair can drive a man wild!"

And also The Birdcage, which isn't too bad.  And is a remake of La Cage Aux Folles which I have never seen.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 15: That's So Gay!

leeroy711:

I also thought But I'm A Cheerleader was pretty funny.

Yeah, that's a pretty hilarious flick. The director's second film, Itty Bitty Titty Committee was interesting. It was basically trying to be a lesbian version of Fight Club, with sex instead of fighting and more phallocentric targets of vandalism.

leeroy711:

Oh yeah!!! How about Rope. The undertones were quite prevelaint in that one.

I still haven't had a chance to check out Rope. I did see Swoon which was about the Leopold and Loeb as well. It was by Tom Kalin who just recently did Savage Grace which was quite an interesting little film that had a gay/bisexual plotline as well.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 15: That's So Gay!

mercurial:

leeroy711:

I also thought But I'm A Cheerleader was pretty funny.

Yeah, that's a pretty hilarious flick. The director's second film, Itty Bitty Titty Committee was interesting. It was basically trying to be a lesbian version of Fight Club, with sex instead of fighting and more phallocentric targets of vandalism.

leeroy711:

Oh yeah!!! How about Rope. The undertones were quite prevelaint in that one.

I still haven't had a chance to check out Rope. I did see Swoon which was about the Leopold and Loeb as well. It was by Tom Kalin who just recently did Savage Grace which was quite an interesting little film that had a gay/bisexual plotline as well.

See Rope, it's still probably my favorite Hitchcock film. Jimmy Stewart is the man!!

Re:Weekly Theme for June 15: That's So Gay!

   You guys are sick.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 15: That's So Gay!

Dr_Gor:

   You guys are sick.

Really?