Non-definitive Best "Queer" Movies
Jun 26 '01 (Updated Feb 12 '02)
The Bottom Line Even though there are a number of gay/lesbian movies that deal with coming out, the best ones reveal layers of character and go much deeper.
No attempts to be definitive and all inclusive here. For more suggestions on film viewing in the Gay/Lesbian genre, see the exceptional articles written by eplovejoy, Psychovant, and hashal also hosted at Epinions. For more suggestions for films to explore the genre, refer to the documentary The Celluloid Closet, which explores the images of gays and lesbians throughout film history.
For the purposes of this list, I’m leaving out two other excellent documentaries—Paris is Burning and The Times of Harvey Milk. Neither will I be including some films cited in The Celluloid Closet because many of those cite films that make only subtle allusions to gay characters without being open about it—the famous “oysters and snails” scene in Spartacus with Sir Laurence Olivier, or the adamantly disputed (by Charlton Heston) Ben Hur scene when Judah and Masala first re-unite.
Instead, I am citing fictional pieces and historical dramas that contain openly gay/lesbian characters that make some kind of statement about the nature of living as a minority within the predominantly heterosexual world, and may touch on some that others haven’t been highlighted by others. While most of these films are non-mainstream films, they aren’t so obscure that they will be impossible to find in video stores or can be obtained with a little extra effort from online sources.
10. Swoon (1992)
This may prove to be a difficult film to locate because its subject matter is repugnant. Based on a true story from the 1920’s, homosexual lovers Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold Jr. strive to create the perfect crime and end up kidnapping and killing a young boy in the Chicago area. Shades of Crime and Punishment echo here with Leopold’s character feeling extreme guilt and remorse. The black and white cinematography and creative camerawork add to the intensity, especially during the trial when the prosecutors become even more repugnant than the defendants by bringing up sexual perversion insinuations to increase their chances of conviction. Not for everyone, Tom Kalin’s film is well crafted and compelling.
9. Chasing Amy (1997)
Kevin Smith is a master at writing dialogue that feels all too real, and such is the case in this uneven character study, starring Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, and Joey Lauren Adams. Many frank discussions about sexuality and lesbian issues occur throughout the film, even if some of the ending scenes are convoluted. Above all, Smith’s intelligent dialogue sounds like something you might here in real life if you hang around the right urban environment.
8. Longtime Companion (1990)
A significant cross-over film that played well with mainstream audiences and put faces on the AIDS epidemic. The low budget film traces some of the historical backstory from the early 1980’s when a mysterious “cancer” began to sweep through the gay community. The film succeeds by showing a number of characters that come across as real people first—caring people, who happen to be gay. Highlighting Longtime Companion is the Oscar-nominated performance of Bruce Davison for his poignant portrayal of a man who eases his lifelong partner through the final stages of his sickness.
7. Bent (1997)
Imagine being openly gay during Nazi Germany when gays were rounded up with Jews for concentration camps. Under the impression that being labeled gay was a worse fate than being labeled Jewish, Max denies his sexuality and claims to be Jewish when sent to Dachau only to fall in love with Horst, who proudly displays his pink triangle. Another side of German brutality is explored in the film. Meanwhile the two men find ways to express their desires while denying themselves physically—a situation that the Nazis would terminate with finality.
6. Gods and Monsters (1998)
Two words--Ian McKellen. Many maintain that McKellen was robbed of his Oscar, and his performance of openly gay Frankenstein director James Whale is definitive. Lynn Redgrave also turns in an outstanding performance as Whale’s longtime housekeeper, and Brendon Fraser shocks with a surprisingly good performance as the groundskeeper who becomes Whale’s object of lust, only to actually develop into a mutually beneficial friendship.
5. Wild Reeds (1994)
French coming of age story that centers on three friends. François and Serge experiment with male to male sex one night, and François (Gaël Morel) comes to realize that he is gay. But what about Serge? He appears to have heterosexual feelings for François’ best friend—the understanding “angel” Maïté, who has her own issues. Before you think this sounds like many other gay coming of age or coming out films, think again. Wild Reeds treats its characters with respect and allows them to develop like real human beings with a very touching narrative.
Morel develops his character especially well. He makes us feel for him when he approaches the gay storeowner for the advice that will not be forthcoming and when he overcomes his fears and asks Serge if “he has any hope” for a relationship. Hollywood should take some lessons from this well done and acted film the next time it decides to make another serious teen movie.
4. Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
This Australian film is certainly a lot of fun, and the outback scene with aborigines joining the drag queens for a dance sequence of “I Will Survive” remains a favorite scene. But the acting by the three main characters and their non stereotypical portrayals of drag queens makes this film stand above the crowd.
Chameleon actor Guy Pearce makes Felicia one of the most memorable drag queens ever presented on film stock. The scenes on top of the bus provide the most flash and Pearce provides most of the comic relief, but he also delivers heartfelt frustration, fear, and tears. And who can forget the ABBA turd scene?
The definitive aging drag queen, Stamp gives Bernadette a healthy dose of humanity. His concerns about aging and wondering if he’ll ever find a satisfying relationship are major subplots as he also offers his experience and wisdom to his two younger travelling companions. Ralph/Bernadette’s irritation with Adam/Felicia’s immaturity comes across realistically, yet he adjusts very naturally to the situations that come up during the film. Note the tentativeness that Stamp uses when first getting to know the middle aged mechanic.
I think you may already get the idea that this film is a must see, and is far superior to its American counter part starring Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes. The characters in Priscilla are struggling human beings first, who just happen to be drag queens, and the comedy happens quite naturally in the course of the characters’ travels.
3. Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
Nebraska is hardly a hotbed of open-mindedness, so what does gay/lesbian/transgendered person do when they grow up in such a redneck haven? Can such a person ever find the courage to be who they really are? That’s one of the issues explored in this award winning film, but Boys Don’t Cry is much more than an issue related film. It’s a powerful character study with some of the finest acting in recent memory.
Swank amazingly transgenders herself in order to make out with women, but the film really begins to happen when she establishes a relationship with Chloë Sevigny’s character. The intensity between these two characters feels amazingly real, and their scenes remain with you long after you’ve seen the film. While Swank deservedly won the Best Actress Oscar that year, Sevigny should have won the Supporting award as well. Even though “hate crimes” are a relevant social issue and make the film topical, this film derives its power from the outstanding character development and the incredible acting, making the film required viewing.
2. Poison (1991)
Todd Haynes’ (widely acknowledged as a leader of the "New Queer Cinema") landmark film should be seen for historical purposes if you can’t find another reason. How many films have been used as rallying points for right wing religious reactionaries and by politicians to rail against the National Endowment for the Arts? Poison is such a film, since Haynes received funding from the NEA, only to have Rev. Donald Wildmon campaign against its showing, claiming that taxpayer money had gone to support filming gay sexual perversions. Subsequently, politicians have since cut back on funding for the NEA.
Poison contains a triad of stories inspired by gay author Jean Genet with the last of the triad being the most complex and compelling of the three stories and being the one that has garnered the most praise (along with the most controversy). “The Homo” revolves around lifelong prisoner John Broom’s (Scott Renderer) obsession with fellow inmate Jack Bolten (James Lyons). Told through Broom’s thoughts, much of this story within a story is communicated through flashbacks and vignettes that develop the characters of the two men.
Renderer is among the few experienced actors that Haynes uses, and communicates his longing mostly through his eyes in reaction shots that are as well acted as anything I’ve seen recently. Most of his dialog is done through voiceover—the following lines are very revealing about his character:
“Prison life was not new to me. I’d lived in them all my life. In submitting to prison life and embracing it, I could reject the world that rejected me.”
Although sexual lust is accepted in adult prison, real homosexual love is looked at with disdain, and Broom doesn’t want his inmates to regard him as the biggest fruitcake in the joint. Yet we know his internal thoughts and his longing for Bolten. This portion contains the film’s most homoerotic scenes—the camera’s sensuous movement across Bolten’s body scars and the night scene with Broom and Bolten pretending to sleep while next to each other. It also contains the most brutal images with an anal rape scene and a spitting scene that reportedly caused some 57 people to leave the theater at Sundance.
1. Happy Together (1997)
After more widespread release of In the Mood for Love, Kar-wai Wong has been receiving notice for his directing skills, as evidenced by his workshop at Cannes this year. Although I was first attracted to his films through the current release, I find Happy Together an even better film. The film follows two homosexual lovers, continually on an emotional roller coaster, who decide to take a vacation from Hong Kong and travel to Argentina to "start over.” It’s a simple story, but it makes a fine character study and contains some fine acting performances by Tony Leung, Leslie Cheung, and Chen Chang (of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame)
Lesser known to American audiences, Tony Leung is one of the finest screen actors in the business. While some will be familiar with his work in John Woo’s Hard Boiled or as the unrequited lover in Kar-wai Wong’s In the Mood for Love, Leung has puts in one of his most moving character studies in Happy Together. At once joyous with his partner only to see the relationship sour, Leung’s character suffers jealousy but retains his dignity and his sensitive and caring nature when his unfaithful lover returns in desperation. Just watch Leung’s instinctual rejection of his former lover’s sexual games. He acts so naturally and honestly that it certainly doesn’t feel like he’s acting.
Leung also subtlely communicates his longing and hope for another relationship with Chang’s character, but refrains. The pain of his lost love remains, and he gets a heartfelt crying scene in. As always, Leung’s eyes and body language communicate far more than his words. If he made American films, he should be in Oscar consideration nearly every year.
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Member: John Nesbit
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Watching movies and baseball, now reviewing at oldschoolreviews.com
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