Category Archives: Gay theme

Drama, Gay theme, Love Story, Nudity

A Single Man (2009)

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From NetFlix:

This stream-of-consciousness, 1960s-era drama centers on a day in the life of George Falconer (Colin Firth, in an Oscar-nominated role), an English-born, Los Angeles college professor reeling from the recent death of his lover of 16 years. Fashion designer Tom Ford makes his directoral debut with this luminous film, which is based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel. Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Ginnifer Goodwin, Lee Pace and Nicholas Hoult co-star.

Sadly quiet and understated day in the life of a man grieving for his dead lover of 16 years. Mixed in with a stream of memories is his careful (almost comical in one scene) planning for his suicide at day’s end.

Toward the end one of his students (probably gay) both provides a ray of light amid the darkness and tries to prevent the suicide. Forgive my scepticism, but isn’t that student a bit too mature for his age ? However his character does provide a sweetness to counter George’s despairing outlook.

Such a movie says that finally gay-themed films have matured to a stage where they can avoid cliches such as death from AIDS (the lover dies in a car accident), being closeted, effeminate men, etc. Critics seem to think that Colin Firth has made his mark in this production.

I will not even hint at the film’s perfect end.

2008, Gay theme, Talking Heads

Ciao (2008)

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From NetFlix:

After the death of his close friend, Mark, Jeff (Adam Neal Smith) begins corresponding via e-mail with Andrea (Alessandro Calza), an Italian with whom Mark had an online relationship. Upon Jeff’s suggestion, Andrea comes to visit, and the two men explore Mark’s life and grow closer. A quiet and tender look at relationships and desire, this drama also stars Ethel Lung, Chuck Blaum and John Boles.

Essentially a very quiet talking heads film, there is not a cliché in the entire film, unlike so many gay-themed films. Nor is there any sex. Jeff lived loved Mark but Mark did not reciprocate. Andrea and Mark were a possible pair but Mark dies. Andrea comes to visit Jeff despite Mark’s death and eventually helps Jeff to mourn and accept the situation. It may sound dull (as in, where’s the sex and violence) but I found the film interesting.

Question: Could this story have worked if the relationships were straight instead of gay ?

2009, Could be boring, Drama, Gangs, Gay theme, Love Story, Nudity, Redemption, Unusual, Violent, Vulgar

44 Inch Chest (2009)

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From NetFlix:

After his wife, Liz (Joanne Whalley), cheats on him, gangster Colin Diamond (Ray Winstone) gets his revenge by enlisting his underworld pals to kidnap her hunky French lover (Melvil Poupaud) in the feature debut of director Malcolm Venville. Top British actors, including Ian McShane, John Hurt and Tom Wilkinson, round out the cast of the crime thriller, penned by the screenwriters of another memorable Winstone vehicle, Sexy Beast.

You will not see much actual violence in this film. You do see Colin punch his wife. You do see a bloodied French lover after a beating. But that is NOT the point of the film.

Colin and his pals are rough crooks. They spend most of their time using the same foul words over and over until it gets quite tiresome. Colin has that British accent in which “worth” sounds like “wurf”.

Talk, talk, talk. Possibly this was initially a play because it sounds that way. For the most part the film is a monologue delivered by Colin.

Basically the theme of the film is true love and its loss. More than that I will not say for fear of spoiling.

NOT for everyone. You might prefer a root canal.

2009, Child Molestation, Crime, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Drugs, Gangs, Gay theme, Rape, Suspense, TV Series, Violent, Vulgar

Southland (2009)

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From NetFlix:

This hard-hitting drama follows the trials and triumphs of a group of dedicated Los Angeles cops, including tough veteran John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz), who begins this show’s first season training rookie patrolman Ben Sherman (Benjamin McKenzie). Other characters sworn to serve and protect include Detectives Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott) and Lydia Adams (Regina King), single-mom patrol officer Chickie Brown (Arija Bareikis) and more

If you liked “NYPD BLue” or “Law and Order”, you will love “Southland”. Full of tense crime scenes and personal stories, the series is DYNAMITE! Enough said.

2003, Biographical, Drama, Explicit sexual discussion, Gay theme, Lawyers, Mostly About Sex, Nudity, True Story, Unusual

Angels In America (2003)

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From NetFlix:

Tony Kushner’s groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play about love, loss and loneliness — the basis for this six-hour HBO miniseries — took more than 10 years to make it to the small screen. Starring Al Pacino (as real-life legal counsel Roy Cohn) and Meryl Streep, the drama examines the first few years of the AIDS epidemic in the mid-1980s, set against the moral absolutism and unresponsive backdrop of the Reagan Administration.

After doing my best to discourage you from watching this long two-disc, six chapter theatrical production turned into a film, persist if you must. Although definitely not for everyone, I enjoyed this film. If nothing else, it is certainly original.

Why you should NOT see this film:

  • Much of the dialog is just psycho babble or worse. Sometimes it just doesn’t make much sense.
  • The lines are said as though you were watching a play on stage, that is to say, it is a declamatory style of speaking. It makes Meryl Streep seem wooden.
  • The plot centers on AIDS. Oh yes, and it is all about AIDS. Moreover there is a lot of discussion about AIDS.
  • Talk about Magic Realism. Emma Thompson as an angel is over the top. Have you even seen an angel have lightning bolt sex with a human ?

Still not convinced, hey ? Then Padre Antonio will give you a brief historical background. An excellent summary of the life of Roy Cohn may be found in the Wikipedia article.. For this film you only need to know that:

  • Roy Cohn is despised by the left as a conniving, self-serving bastard. Read ALL the Wikipedia article to see why.
  • Roy Cohn is closely associated with the anti-communist Senator Joe McCarthy and the FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover (enough said ?)
  • Roy Cohn was instrumental in convicting Ethel Rosenberg.
  • Roy Cohn was an active, closeted gay man who hypocritically persecuted gays in public offices.
  • Roy Cohn, though never convicted of a multitude of accusations, was eventually disbarred for many reasons.
  • Roy Cohn died of AIDS while protesting that it was liver cancer.

And now for Ethel Rosenberg. Again see the Wikipedia article. Notable items:

  • It is still debateable that Ethel was guilty.
  • Roy Cohn was instrumental in convicting Ethel Rosenberg.
  • Meryl Streep really was made to look just like Ethel.

OK, some reasons why you SHOULD see this film:

  • Al Pacino is pitch-perfect as Roy Cohn.
  • You get to see each actor play several parts. Can you spot them?
  • If you have a special place in your heart for Mormons, you will love this trip. Patrick Wilson is pitch-perfect as a gay Mormon who seems to have stepped out of Gentlemen’s Quarterly.
  • And where else could you see an angel having electric sex with a human ?

HAVE FUN !

2009, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, Drugs, Explicit sex, Gay theme, Medical Theme, TV Series

Nurse Jackie (2009)

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From NetFlix:

The great Edie Falco (in a Golden Globe-nominated role) stars as feisty emergency room nurse Jackie Peyton, who boldly navigates the storm of patients, doctors, fellow nurses and her own demons at a New York hospital — occasionally with the aid of unprescribed prescription drugs. A wicked combination of dark comedy and poignant drama, this Showtime series also stars Eve Best, Haaz Sleiman, Merritt Wever, Paul Schulze and Peter Facinelli.

Following the “acceptable trash” tradition of such important TV series like “Arrested Development”, “Nurse Jackie” fits right in there with its mixture of medical cynicism, sexcapades, etc. Throw in some pathos and family drama (e.g. a daughter with anxiety syndrome). Finally there is a heavy emphisis on drug addiction. Nurse Jackie herself is addicted to pain pills and has daily midday sex with the pharmacologist who supplies her with the pills from the hospital storeroom. All of which should paint a picture of total nonsense which is not for everyone.

I LOVE TRASH!

2008, Could Be Sad, Crime, Drama, Explicit sex, Gay theme, Love Story, Nudity, Violent

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Stuck in a terrible job, recent college grad Art Bechstein (Jon Foster) struggles to enjoy the last summer of his youth. Things begin to look up when he meets a beguiling couple (Sienna Miller and Peter Sarsgaard) who show him a new side of his hometown, Pittsburgh, and of himself. But as he and his new friends get into increasingly intense situations, Art is forced to choose between family, friendship and love.

Thanks to NetFlix for suggesting this sweet, sad, jewel of a surprise. John Foster (as Zack in 15 episodes of “Accidentally On Purpose”), Peter Sarsgaard (as David in “An Education”), and Sienna Miller (as Camille Foster in “Camille”) are pitch perfect. Also Nick Nolte is perfect as the gangster father.

Perhaps it is easy to play an emotionally hesitant role as does John Foster, but in this case it was exactly what was needed as a contrast with Sarsgaard’s somewhat out of control character. And Sienna Miller is just plain sweet.

More I will not say because there are some surprises along the way. Definitely not for children: there is sex and violence. Nonetheless it is a sweet film.

2006, British Mystery Series, Car Chase, Complicated, Conspiracy, Drama, Gay theme, Gritty, Love Story, Suspense, TV Series, Violent

The State Within (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Jason Isaacs stars in this Golden Globe-nominated political thriller as Mark Brydon, a British ambassador to the United States who finds himself caught up in a complex conspiracy that could prompt a dangerous shift in political power. After a plane explodes over Washington, D.C., under suspicious circumstances, Brydon must scramble to uncover the truth before war breaks out. Sharon Gless, Ben Daniels and Lennie James also star.

Of the two discs, disc 2 is the better, so please persist. The story just gets better and more tense as it progresses. Just about all the actors in this British TV series (6 episodes on 2 discs) are excellent. Jason Isaacs is the perfect tower of strength in this involved conspiracy to start another war in the fictional former Soviet republic of Tyrgyzstan. Sharon Gless, the Secretary of Defense who is trying to start another war for personal gain, played Coleen Rose in 5 episodes of ‘Nip/Tuck”. Perhaps the Wikipedia article will help you remember who plays what government position.

There is violence. One scene involves a gruesome execution.

Often I can interrupt a film and return later (a benefit of NetFlix). But in this case the conspiracy was so compelling that I was glued to my seat. As is so often true, these British TV series are dynamite. Don’t miss this one!

2008, Biographical, Documentary, Fashion, Gay theme, Italian, Love Story, True Story, Unusual

Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Tracing Valentino’s life from his 70th birthday to his final couture show, this fashionable documentary captures the spirit of the legendary designer’s influence on the style and substance of the way we look. Highlights include an intimate, behind-the-scenes peek at his relationship with longtime business partner and lover Giancarlo Giammetti, as well as an up-close and personal look at the designer’s creative process.

"Tony, I want to see 'Valentino: The Last Emperor"
"Kathy, you mean that fashion film ?"   "Yes"
"Why would anyone want to watch an hour and a half about a fashion designer ?"
"You get all those NetFlix DVDs that I don't even care about, and I really want to see this one"
"Ooooooookay, if you insist"

Had this fashion documentary not been made, we would have lost some notable moments in a part of the world’s culture that I certainly did not know even existed. It’s a bit like a tour of Machu Picchu or seeing the exquisite terracotta army of the first Qin Dynasty ruler Shihuangdi. Who knew ?

One of the dominant themes of this documentary is the 50 year relation between Valentino and his life partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Kathy’s comment is “Giancarlo must be some kind of saint”. It was fun watching the two bicker about trivia, as in “you have applied too much tan today”. But what came through loud and clear was that they truly love and need one another. Valentino is the impractical dreamer, the creative force, but without Giancarlo’s gentle guiding hand, Valentino would have gone nowhere.

In fact the minutiae involved with fashion must be daunting. There are an awful lot of unsung heroes. In a certain sense everything depends on the skill of the seamstresses. It’s a lot like computer programming: omit a semi-colon and the program stops working. Today it would be impossibly costly to sew by hand thousands of sequins on a gown. I buy my clothes at Target (pronounced “Tar-jay”).

Every now and then I see a fashion photo of some female model. Quite often they are made to look like freaks. Not so with Valentino. Of course, all his beautiful models are stick thin (dare I say anorexic ?). But his trademark was long flowing gowns that really made the models beautiful.

I copied the following paragraph from the internet:

Produced and directed by Matt Tyrnauer, Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine, Valentino: The Last Emperor provides a first-time glimpse into Valentino’s world of bygone glamour. Filmed from June 2005 to July 2007, the crew shot over 250 hours of footage with exclusive, unprecedented access to Valentino and his entourage. The resulting non-fiction film is a portrait of an extraordinary partnership, the longest running in fashion, and a dramatic story about a master confronting the final act of his celebrated career.

Indeed the film leads up to Valentino’s sensational farewell celebratory show and party in Rome. It’s fun seeing how many celebrities you can recognize (Princess Di, etc). But the circumstances are not entirely happy. Valentino’s company is purchased by a giant corporation in which only the bottom line is important (sound familiar ?). His world has changed so much that Valentino retires. Little by little his former group of loyal workers are replaced.

And don’t miss his five pugs!

1997, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Gay theme, Love Story, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Redemption, Unusual, Violent, War

Bent (1997)

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From NetFlix:

In this drama based on the play by Martin Sherman (who also wrote the screenplay), a Berlin homosexual is caught up in the Nazi hysteria during World War II. After being forced to kill his lover, he’s placed in a concentration camp and lies to get himself classified as Jewish rather than gay. But several rule-breaking incidents and his love for a fellow male prisoner bring him to admit his true nature. Mick Jagger appears briefly as a drag queen.

If you see this film before you watch “Walk On Water” you might appreciate the second film more. “Bent” offers a unique view of Nazi cruelty, especially as directed towards homosexuals. This view couples well with “Walk On Water”.

I watched this film because I was trying to find films with Clive Owen. “Bent” only increases my appreciation of his acting skill. He is willing to take unusual, possibly controversial roles. I only hope he resists the temptation to which Anthony Hopkins succumbed, namely taking stupid roles in order to make money. Sadly, “Duplicity” comes close to that mistake.

This could be a difficult film for you to watch because:

  • Initial scenes show decadent public entertainment in Berlin including explicit homosexual activity. Indeed Berlin at that time in history was very decadent.
  • When the two male lovers are first captured, they are put on a train to Dachau in which the goal was to break their spirit and hopefully eliminate them before they arrived at Dachau. One of the partners is brutally tortured and Clive Owen is forced to deny he knows the victim and must beat that victim who is thrown bodily off the train.
  • The officers insist that Clive Owen perform straight sex on a 12 year old girl who is in fact dead during the encounter. The German officers laugh and have a gay old time.
  • In prison Clive finds a new gay acquaintance Horst. The two are forced to repetitive, meaningless hard labor moving rocks back and forth.
  • Needless to say, they cannot touch one another. At one point they verbally work thru a sexual encounter in which each achieves orgasm. It proves to them that they are still alive.
  • All along Clive managed to be classified as Jewish as opposed to gay. Toward the end of the film the officers cruelly kill Horst and ask Clive to dispose of the body.

As a side note on hypocrisy, many Nazis (some of them leaders such as Roehm) were openly homosexual. You can find an enlightening article on Homosexuality in the Nazi Party.

Jude Law, Mick Jagger, and others have cameo roles. I challenge you to spot Jude Law.

The music, believe it or not, was written by Philip Glass. He must have been very young because the music is beautiful.

If you can stomach the harsh details and try to ignore them, you will watch a story of a guilty man finally forgiving himself and admitting of love. Do NOT expect a happy ending.