Gay Cinema - Tumblr Posts
Review: The Famous Joe Project
Famous Joe Project is a special treat for me because I usually hate gay cinema. The films commonly fall into farce comedy and attempt to blend in a kind of hyperbolic straight-on-gay oppression story to insist upon their own gravitas as an afterthought.
FJP does not do this in any great measure. The acting is proper acting, the lead doesn’t have to speak a word in the opening sequence, he says it all with his face- the character is young and impressionable and experiencing a fearful kind of hope- he doesn’t believe that he’s beautiful but he’s also so happy to hear someone saying it to him.
This kind of honest portrayal of the darker internal gay experience is persistent through the film, from awkward and uncomfortable sexual encounters with partners the lead has to convince himself he’s into to getting involved with beautiful men with exploitative agendas and serious personality disorders.
The mother in this coming out story is not a plain dealing villain but a dynamic character who is effective on and profoundly affected by the transformations of the lead. We see not just the ogre of a wicked boyfriend but we also get a glimpse of his own suffering with personality disorder and his life choices.
Gay cinema desperately needs more honest and considered storytelling of this kind instead of the Greek play approach filled with one dimensional stock characters and escapism prevalent in gay film.
The film’s concluding segments depart from the earlier portion which vaguely resembles a sort of documentary approach to Party Monster and delivers the lead into normalcy from a fantastic, otherworldly experience, a statement both about coming out and about growing up in general.
I deeply enjoyed and strongly recommend this film.
James Dean, Sal Mineo in "Rebel without a Cause", 1955
"Maurice" by James Ivory with James Wilby and Hugh Grant, 1987, after the novel with the same name by E.M. Forster
"The Boys in the Band" (1970), written by Mart Crowley, directed by William Friedkin, starring Kenneth Nelson, Leonard Frey, Cliff Gorman, Laurence Luckinbill, Frederick Combs, Keith Prentice, Robert La Tourneaux, Reuben Greene, Peter White. The play premiered 1968 with the same cast and was also written by Mart Crowley.
Maurice is a 1987 British Film by James Ivory with James Wilby, Hugh Grant and Rupert Graves, based on the 1971 novel with the same name by E.M. Forster.
❤❤
b r o k e b a c k m o u n t a i n, 2005 🎬 dir. ang lee
OF AN AGE. That was one of the most beautiful films I've seen in a while.
Wow.
Don't continue if you don't want SPOILERS.
Be still my heart. I don't think I've ever had a connection like that with any past lovers. At least, not reciprocated like that. What a beautiful story! And yet so heart breaking and bittersweet. Moved to tears with its beauty and honesty.
I love stories where the characters feel so real and authentic. It's like you're watching a real life interaction. When it's a bit awkward, uncomfortable pauses, realistic emotional expression. Ugh. What makes it harder is when it doesn't end in the way you want. But oh, does that make it all the more REAL. It reminds you that there is no happy ending in life. Not really. There are more awkward goodbyes and emotional outbursts, and lack of closure.
To experience love that immediate and that pure, it's rare. It's once in a lifetime stuff. Looking back at my own life. I don't think I've ever truly felt that close that immediately or intensely with anyone. Maybe I have but the feeling faded. I grew up and I wised up and realized it was really codependency, loneliness, attachment. Maybe that's why I don't remember anything that intense, because I saw it for what it actually was.
But to experience two people who after all that time still felt that connection? That was amazing. And so sad. That yearning for something you can't really have but want so very badly. I definitely understand more than I'd care to admit.
I know that I do feel things deeply. But it's not often that I experience a film that hits me right where it hurts and still be so grateful for the opportunity to see it. To be thankful for its honesty through my tears.
Of An Age gave that to me.
Thank you ❤
I just knew Heartstopper was going to be incredibly adorable and heartwarming. I don't know why it took me so long to finally watch it. If I knew it was a British production, I would've jumped at it sooner. Especially because it came from Euros Lyn ( Doctor Who and Torchwood, represent!). But I didn't realize just how adorable, sweet, poignant, and precious this show would be. It's a fluffy escape where the angst and drama is, thankfully, short lived and people eventually communicate like they should. It's a big gay marshmallow and I love it. 🌈
This movie was completely unhinged in the best way and I will 100% read this fic, please add a link when it's done.
I just watched Down Low and it kinda ruined me and now I am in this limbo of thinking about it and what's horrible is that there are no edits and no fanfics about it... gotta do it myself I guess but come oooooon you guys are all sleeping on this!
Harold: He has unnatural, natural beauty. Not that that means anything. Michael: It doesn't mean everything. Harold: Keep telling yourself that, as your hair drops out in handfuls. Michael: Faggots are worse than women about their age. They think their lives are over at 30. Physical beauty is not all that goddamn important. Boys in the Band (1970) - totally groundbreaking, and one of the best films ever
so where are the images of older gay men? here: gayslivelonger
god this movie makes me feel. i had to draw them
Don’t think I ever shared this drawing I did in December on here. Watched this movie for the first time in 2020, it was my introduction to Gregg Araki and I’ve been obsessed ever since! Had a lot of fun drawing this one
Attack on Titan junior high is literally the gayest fever dream ever.