ScreenQueen

STONEWALL ( American )

2007-08-19T05:03:00.000+10:00

"See; there's as many Stonewall stories as there's gay queens in New York; and that's a shitload of stories, baby!" 'La Miranda' leads us into her story, and continues throughout with a barrage of caustic and snappy one-liners. After some actual footage of the infamous Stonewall riots, we backtrack to a dramatized version of events. Matty-Dean is fresh chicken: right off a Greyhound from the deep south, and finger-lickin' good. Straight away he meets a gay rights campaigner, but it's when he falls in with 'La Miranda' and her chums that he really lands in the thick of it. Between crooked cops and the Mob, his hopes of a more tolerant lifestyle in New York are immediately shattered. However, you can never underestimate the resilience of a bunch of drag-queens, nor their ability to lip-sinc under pressure: even through the campest of sixties girl-group numbers! It may be a fictionalised account, but the gritty portrayal of these sarcastic queens: their frocks and timely musical numbers, make the period come alive. I can't wait for the stage production!

A LOVE TO HIDE ( French )

2007-08-15T17:21:00.000+10:00

Visually superb, this film evokes the era so perfectly that at first it seems like a sort of Gallic 'Brideshead Revisited'. Handsome Phillipe works for the resistance in occupied WW2 France. His boyfriend, Jean, has had a relatively priveleged life as the youngest son in a family-run laundry. He is the apple of his parent's eye: to the chagrin of his mischievous big brother. With the influx of uniforms, business is booming, so the older boy is keen to show his elderly folks that he is a worthy heir and successor. Their Jewish competitors having been closed down, one by one the Jewish customers also fail to collect their laundry. He spots the opportunity to score a little contraband and lots of francs: bringing the family much relief from wartime privations. Unscrupulous characters are only too pleased to pay him for inside info about any newly vacated properties. However when Sarah, a Jewish childhood friend seeks refuge, the brothers give her work in the shop. The jealous older boy falls in love with her, but she is more interested in Jean's dashing boyfriend and his work for the underground. Meanwhile, the Nazis are becoming decidedly less tolerant of the homosexuals in their ranks. Even though our characters are all living dangerous lives, the conclusions are more shocking than anyone can believe.

BLIND SPOT ( American )

2007-08-08T15:26:00.000+10:00

James Franco is Danny: a student who has scored a place at an up-market school on account of his swimming prowess. But he's a fish out of water until he meets and starts a relationship with an older guy; Darcy. When his man offers to take him away on a trip and then stands him up, Danny goes looking for some answers. A bit of snooping leads him to Darcy's home, where an attractive but distraught female is also missing him. Although each is unsure of the other's relationship to the fugitive, it is apparent that something is seriously amiss, and so they set off to search together. The trail quickly leads them into deep trouble. They realise that not only is Darcy secretive about his love-life, but his business affairs are dodgy too. Enter another handsome stranger. This guy is also on the scent trail, but he's much tougher and seems to know his way around the underworld. Unsure of his motives, they are forced to bow to his expertise, and so the trio join forces for what will be a very bumpy ride. Each has a piece of the puzzle but doesn't know who to trust. The stakes are high, the adrenalin pumps, and the plot twists and turns right through to a breath-taking climax.

STRAIGHT JACKET ( American )

2007-08-02T17:41:00.000+10:00

Just like Rock Hudson when he and Doris Day were at their shiny, squeaky-clean best, our hero; Guy Stone, is married off to the company secretary. The marriage of convenience is meant to forestall any gay rumours, but no-one has bothered to let poor secretary Sally in on the secret. Overcome by her new-found fame and fortune, she throws herself into the Hollywood highlife. Meanwhile, like Rock and Doris before them, they play a game of musical beds as he dodges the dreaded consumation. When Guy meets the man of his dreams (and mine !) he is faced with the ultimate dilemna: the man or the money? With computer graphics used to enhance the retro feel, and actors who look flawless enough to be air-brushed, this movie could be set in the fifties or the here and now. You may laugh yourself silly, but it just shows how little the celluloid closet door has opened in all that time!

LOGGERHEADS ( American )

2007-08-02T16:13:00.000+10:00

A very sombre and subdued movie which consists of three stories that switch back and forth between separate time periods. In common is the character of Mark, played by the georgous Kip Pardue, who arrives every year to sleep on a North Carolina beach and guard the eggs of the endangered Loggerhead Turtle. When the local sheriff tries to move him on, the hunky George offers him a room (who wouldn't !) at the run-down hotel he has inherited. Each is isolated by their own private grief, but a tentative relationship develops. Meanwhile, a mother's search for the son that she gave up for adoption years ago, has lead her to an uptight wife and her stern and unforgiving husband. The complex stories and relationships depicted are offset by dialogue as sparse as the beautifully shot coastline and spartan interiors. Despite a sometimes gloomy atmosphere, and the fact that it takes a while to work out the time jumps and how the stories tie together, this is nonetheless a thought-provoking and well-made film.

BEAUTIFUL THING ( English )

2007-08-02T15:16:00.000+10:00

Barmaid and single mum, Sandra, is struggling to bring up her son Jamie in a council flat at Thamesmead housing estate, on London's outskirts. She's a tough nut, and naturally concerned to find that the boy has been skipping school to avoid bullying by his classmates. On one side lives another distraught mother, with a drop-out daughter who's only interest seems to be listening to Mama Cass at full volume. The other neighbours are an all male trio consisting of an alcoholic father, one son who is a petty crook, and a younger son, Ste. Ste is one of the 'blokes' at school and football, and normally wouldn't let on that he knows Jamie.Then one night after he's bashed by his brother, the motherly Sandra takes him in. The only problem is that the two boys will have to 'top and tail' in a single bed. I don't think I have to tell you where the story goes from there! The Mamas And Papas soundtrack adds enormously to the feelgood factor of this film, as do Leah's hilarious antics and Sandra's stoner/hippy boyfriend.One for the true romantics.

CAMP ( American )

2007-08-01T15:16:00.000+10:00

Every Summer Camp Ovation plays host to "a bunch of freaks": kids who excell at drama, music and song. For the most part their folks are glad to be shot of them, and for the regulars this is the one place where they truly feel at home. Sharing a dormitory are one group who are joined by a new guy: a handsome guitar-player with the voice of an angel. Pretty soon everyone's batting their eyelids at him, trying to find out which way he swings. Unfortunately, he's in such need of affection that he schmoozes each of the friends in turn, and a bit of dissention results. Of course he's found out, but nobody can stay angry at someone so cute. Egos boosted all round, they head off to a grand musical finale (a-la 'Fame'), performed to an audience of astonished parents and a surprise celebrity guest. This funny and uplifting flick is even more amazing when you consider that the talented teens play their real age. Consequently all the filming was done during a few weeks of school vacation.With a brilliant script, lyrics, performances and very little funding, it's proof to Hollywood that quality musicals are still possible.

OPEN CAM ( American )

2007-07-26T17:14:00.000+10:00

When we think of gay movies it's usually thrills of another kind that spring to mind, but this is a flick that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's 'Rear Window' (or maybe 'Queer Window'), using the latest technology and hot-looking guys to reel you in. A trail of gay murders are linked to a cyber-sex slut, Manny, and hunky Hamilton is on his trail. Despite the fact that one of these men may be a killer, the electricity between the two is palpable. Is Hamilton his stalker or protector? When Manny's computer-rooters start to get snuffed while he's watching them online on open camera ...... well, you'll have to see the movie to find out what transpires. Not recommended to see on a first date!

MAMBO ITALIANO ( Canadian )

2007-07-26T12:26:00.000+10:00

It's the Italian immigrants' turn to show us their innate comedic potential, and 'Mambo' delivers in spades. We're talking big hair, big jewellery, loud clothes, and ditto for the women. Stylised over-the-top decor provides the perfect backdrop for the frantic antics, when two extended families go head to head in a battle of one-upmanship. All perfectly normal with an up-coming Italian wedding, but there's another unusual issue here. Why would two single, red-blooded guys think of leaving home, much less moving in together? Needless to say, when the penny finally drops, it does so pretty loudly. Nino and Angelo are the Italian odd-couple, and they'll each deal with the fall-out very differently.

GO! ( American )

2007-07-26T12:05:00.000+10:00

Apart from the fact that one of it's virtually unknown actresses later shot to fame by marrying a major Holywood poof, this is not a specially gay movie. It does, however tell several interconnected stories, where some of the characters are more than a teensy bit homo. All the events take place during a single chaotic night, involving a diverse bunch of characters who cross paths at a suburban supermarket. It's the holiday season, but everyone's party plans go astray, as things get alarmingly out of hand. A clever and unique narrative structure, coupled with pitch-black humour make for one of my favourite flicks; straight or gay.

COTE D'AZURE ( French )

2007-07-26T11:49:00.000+10:00

French farce at it's best; this little souffle keeps the laughs coming thick and fast, right through to the quirky 'Bollywood' ending. On a family holiday in the beautiful south of France, each member suspects that some of the group are not completely straight. No-one or nothing is as it seems. Everybody is jumping to conclusions, running around for secret rendezvous, and narrowly missing the others. With so much going on it's only a matter of time before they all start to collide, and surprising truths come to light.

EATING OUT ( American )

2007-07-26T11:30:00.000+10:00

It's a simple story really: Kyle's friend Gwen has a penchant for guys who like guys. He also has a straight mate, Caleb, who's been desperately randy since his girlfriend dumped him. Kyle convinces him to play gay because he reckons chicks can't resist the challenge, so it's a surefire way to get layed. Enter Marc, the new hunk on campus. Which team is he on? Will Kyle or Gwen get him, and how far will Caleb go to maintain his gay disguise? In their lustful frenzy no-one has thought to consult Marc. If, like the characters, you've lost the plot by now, don't worry: just relax, have a good laugh, and enjoy the eye-candy!

STARSHIP SURPRISE ( German )

2007-07-16T13:34:00.000+10:00

Til Schweiger is possibly the best-looking actor ever, and is the major reason for watching this silly sci-fi spoof. More handsome than Han Solo, he is litterally the straight guy around whom all the other camp send-ups swirl and swish. Referencing just about every science-fiction character and cliche, we take a romp through time and space: the actors sometimes seeming to make it up as they go along. The humour veers from over-the-top campness to subtle background nonsense and clever genre references. Special effects equal any of the big budget behemoths that are being lampooned, and give the film a polish that seems at odds with the ludicrous script. Lots of fun though, if you're in a light-hearted frame of mind.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASSALA ( Anglo/Indian )

2007-07-16T13:07:00.000+10:00

Take some old-world thinking and some new-world money; mix up a big ethnic wedding and you're sure to get some laughs. Add a sprinkle of gay characters and it's bound to be twice as funny. It's a formula that's been cooked up now for just about every racial minority, but this time its an arranged marriage for a cute Anglo-Indian boy. Only problem is: he already has a long-term male partner. When they try to fob off the family with a marriage of convenience to the white boyfriend's older, and substantially fatter aunt, the ploy goes horribly wrong. The whole family converge to give them a full-blown traditional ceremony. Much hilarity ensues, but I have to say, like many Indian movies, it's the beautiful filming of of sumptuous sets and costumes that fill the senses. I enjoyed this picture so much that it was only days later when I realised there had been no actual shots of the male couple touching. I think that makes it what they used to call a 'romantic' comedy.

THE WEDDING BANQUET ( American/Chinese )

2007-07-16T12:30:00.000+10:00

Long before Ang Lee made 'that' movie about sheep-herding, self-loathing trailer-trash, he made this little gem. One of the first to spot the potential of the big ethnic/gay wedding, he squeezes every drop of mirth from the situation here. Simon and Wai-Tung have been happy together since they met in college five years ago. Wai invests in New York property for his parents in far off Taipei, and is running out of excuses for not accepting any of their arranged brides in return. A solution seems to present itself in the shapely form of a female tennant from Shanghai. She's in desperate need of a greencard; he needs a wife to keep the folks at home happy. Problem solved? Of course not! Mum and dad wouldn't dream of missing their only son's nuptuals, so they jump on the next flight for the States. Pretty soon things are getting hilariously out of hand. The viewer may be too busy laughing to notice the attention to detail that have become the hallmarks of Ang Lee's later films. Every nuance of the characters is deftly observed: the camera work and framing precise and filled with detail. As Wai-Tung's father 'The General' remarks of a particularly fine calligraphic scroll: "there is not one 'loser' stroke".

SUMMER STORM ( German )

2007-07-16T12:10:00.000+10:00

The land that invented 'angst' brings us this touching tale of coming out. Just like a Bel Ami picture with humour and a script, except that the only cox in sight are sitting at the back of a canoe. Tobi has a crush on his best friend and rowing team-mate; Achim. (I can't say I blame him either !) When boy and girl teams from all over Germany gather for a competion near Berlin, our Bavarian bumpkins find themselves camped next to to the 'Queerstrokes'. Of course this situation is fraught with complication as some of the crew-members forget which team they're on. There will be lots of laughter and tears before a Summer storm finally clears the air. You're bound to feel a little nostalgia for your own lost innocense: real or imagined .

THE EDUCATION OF MASSIMO OLIVEROS ( Philipino )

2007-07-16T11:34:00.000+10:00

Massimo hasn't even reached puberty yet, but for as long as anyone can remember, he's played the feminine roll: cooking and cleaning for his all male family. This might seem odd to western sensibilities, but no-one in this tight-packed Manila slum bats an eye-lid. It's a convenient set-up for his father, who is also relieved that this gentle son isn't risking his life in the not-so-legal family business. Local police are in on all sorts of nefarious behaviour, until a hunky new officer shows up on the beat. There's something about a man in a tight uniform that even the young Massimo can't resist! Pretty soon he's following he object of his affection around like a puppy. To the amusement of the rest of the station, the boy wants to cook and clean for his mentor, just as he does for the men that he loves at home. Instead of abusing the situation, the concerned cop uses his influence over Massimo to help the youngster. Shot in only a few weeks on location, with the real inhabitants and on a g-string budget, this is an exceptional piece of work. The untrained young actor carries the film with brilliance and humour, and the director gives great dignity to his people.

IGNORANT FAIRIES ( Italian )

2007-07-12T16:44:00.000+10:00

Doctor Antonia and her husband have a seemingly ideal life in their chic villa outside Rome. He is killed in a freak accident, and from that moment on her life will never be the same. Still numbed by grief, she receives her husband's belongings when they are shipped home from the office. With them comes a tiny clue, indicating that Massimo may not have been the man with whom she thought she'd shared everything since their schooldays. A bit of sleuthing reveals that not only has he been leading a double life for seven years, but horror of horrors, he has been living la dolce vita with another man! Michelle is not just a gorgeous guy: he comes with a large circle of flamboyant and Bohemian friends. His world is such a stark contrast to the staid and tranquil life of their marriage that Antonia begins to be drawn into it, just as her hubby must have been. Using her medical expertise as a pretext to regularly visit one of the group, who is dying of AIDS, she gradually loosens up and becomes accepted into the fold. Although the two main characters remain fairly morbid and grief stricken throughout, there is much fun and frivolity provided by their dead husband's large and motley family of gay friends. At home, the attitudes of Antonia's mama and her maid are a crack-up. There are lots of different and well-rounded characters: many that pleasantly defy the stereotypes.

K.M.O. ( Spanish )

2007-07-11T14:02:00.000+10:00

It's Madrid in the heat of summer. An assortment of couples have arranged anonymous assignations at the same time and same well-known landmark: the geographical centre of Spain; known as kilometre zero. Predictably, they all end up with the wrong partners, and this clever little plot device allows us to follow several separate but interwoven stories as they unfold. The cute young country boy gets a warm city welcome; the hooker gets a 'pretty woman' make-over; the straight boy gets a bit bent; the hunky hustler finds a sugar-mama and a couple of gay guys find true love. Others gain closure for long-term issues, and in general everyone, viewers included, gets the warm and fuzzy treatment. There's even a beautiful title song at the end to set your flamenco fans fluttering.

BALLS ( German )

2007-07-09T17:01:00.000+10:00

The words 'German' and 'comedy' are not often linked in a sentence, but for the last decade or so we have seen more and more funny stuff from this country. As we know, the Teutons handle everything they touch with style and polish: in this case it's balls. Here we have what is basically a smalltown story, but there are none of the obvious budget constraints and hesitancy that we may have seen had it been filmed elsewhere. Quite relevant too, when the philosophy behind the flick is that gays, even in sport, are the equal or superiors of their straight counterparts. 'Ecki' is destined to an obscure future in his family's smalltown bakery, except for two seemingly irreconsilable passions. He likes both boys and football. Once he is outed and vows to beat the straight bullies with a gay team, the rest of the story follows a fairly predictable path. He visits his sister in Dortmund, where they gather a hilarious bunch of misfit soccer players together. It has to be said that they all display astonishing tactical and ball-handling skills. Plenty of laughs are to be had as their boozy, washed-up coach whips the team into shape for the gay-straight showdown. Of course, during all this our hero also manages to find true love; paralleling the on-field match to it's nail-biting finale.

YOSSI AND JAGGER ( Israeli )

2007-07-06T16:44:00.001+10:00

Short but sweet. Set against the surreal snow-covered backdrop of an Isreali army outpost, we meet some very real and contemporary characters. Compulsory military service throws together all sorts of young men and women. In this case they are also crammed into claustrophic underground bunkers, but good humour seems to reign, as they all make the best of a bad situation. Some fraternise more than others, and "Jagger" (who thankfully is much easier on the eye than his rocker nick-namesake) has a pretty good thing going with his affable superior officer. Yossi is a career soldier and of course, this being the army, neither man has control over his own destiny. My only complaint of this movie is that I would like to have seen more. The Winter uniforms cover all that prime beefcake for most of the time, and the brief encounter may have been lengthened a bit. Perhaps with a little insight as to how the relationship developed in the first place, under what are after all, fairly unusual circumstances. However, the characters do all feel very real, and it is a pleasure to share this small time and space with them.

COWBOYS AND ANGELS ( Irish )

2007-06-29T15:32:00.000+10:00

I sometimes think that anything said with an Irish accent can't help but charm, and that all the Gaelic lads look like boy-band material. It's certainly true in the city of Limerick, where angelic Vincent works his magic on straight-mate Shane; who turns out to be more of a "cowboy" than his cherub face suggests. A brush with the underworld gives a little bit of a serious edge to what is ultimately a funny and heartwarming experience.

SHORTBUS ( American )

2007-06-28T17:25:00.000+10:00

There are so many great elements to this film , but it is most notorious for the graphic depiction of full-on sex, and lots of it. However, unlike the gratuitous groping that we see in most movies, bonking is the central 'thrust' to this story. It basically deals with the role of sex in relationships; in particular those of an odd assortment of patrons at a New York club called 'Shortbus'. Apparently the actors worked together over a long period of time and helped to develop their own characters and interactions. The net result is an intimacy which few other movies can achieve. The sheer reality of the sex scenes has set a benchmark which this film dares anyone else to equal. It'll get you thinking, get you horny, but most of all it'll get you laughing through even the raunchiest of scenes! You can empathise in turn with the mental metamorphosis that each of the quirky characters is undergoing. It has some of my favourite opening 'shots' ever, so don't arrive late: I only wish I could have been there for the workshops and rehearsals!