Gay Film - Tumblr Posts
My favourite gay movie to rewatch in pride month: Plata Quemada (2000)
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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.
"The String" (A-) So I recently went on a movie marathon and watched a lot of gay indie films, and this one was one of my picks. "The String" is quite the drama piece and showcases fine performances from its leads. Not a lot of explicit nudity, but it tells an engagingly erotic and romantic story about two men raised in a conservatively religious culture while embracing modern and tolerant conventions on homosexuality.
"Shank" (A+) Another selection from my recent gay indie film movie marathon. "Shank" is a searing, intense, brutal, and emotional drama that left me shaking and crying. The movie handles the conflicts of troubled and misguided British youths who dabble in hooliganism and the struggle of one such handsome gang member to find happiness with a French boy while dealing with the machinations of a homophobic alpha female and the underlying sexual tension with his best mate. Solid performances and an engaging storyline all serve to make this film a must see for anyone looking for a good LGBT film.
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. 🌈