Good Gay Theme Movies

[Brayon]

To date, I've watched several Gay theme movies, and have been sorely disappointed. The "Eating Out series" is an example of Bad Gay films. "Shelter" was good, like the exception to the rule. This is just my opinion, but it just seems most of the English language Films, are just bad. From the quality of Acting, Storytelling, to Production itself, they all seem less than C-list movies. The foreign films being much better quality. Does, anyone have a suggestion on a Good Gay Theme movie?

[FormerMember4]

I actually rented one a few nights ago... Very good, does have some deep moments. Its called Akron! 

[Brayon]

I'll look that one up @BlindAmbition.

[Palantir]

I just watched Akron last week too and agree with BlindAmbition's recommendation. - quite moving and thoughtful.

[FormerMember4]

You are right though... Its 2017. And we've made huge progress. Except the American film industry doesn't recognize us. 
 Only independent filmmakers and studios are making them. Moonlight was good as well. The filmmaker said it took about a decade to get it made. 
 I'm tired of the recycled stereotypical characterization. I'm not a flaming queen cokehead slut. I want real characters who aren't either. 

[Zeoanne]

Hi, BHopper. I've watched a few movies by director Casper Andreas that have been quite good. Some are Violet Tendencies, Going Down in La-La Land, and Between Love and Goodbye. Casper himself acts in quite a few of the movies and he's hot as all get out! (at least for my taste). And I totally agree, a lot of the movies I've watched the acting is atrocious! Sometimes I ask, "where the hell did they find these people?" Answer: right off the street (no schooling). 

Good luck finding great ones out there.

[wildone]

I'm conflicted, I watched King Cobra the other night on Netflix. Did I think it was bad, no. Did I think it was good, not sure

 

It has a lot of 'bigger' name actors in it. Just the story kind of shows the dirty side of the gay porn industry. I guess you could call it the gay version of Boogie Nights. At least it had a budget and the sound stages and actors to make it better than the average North American gay movie.

 

I'm curious what others thought.

[FormerMember4]

2 minutes ago, wildone said:

I'm conflicted, I watched King Cobra the other night on Netflix. Did I think it was bad, no. Did I think it was good, not sure

 

It has a lot of 'bigger' name actors in it. Just the story kind of shows the dirty side of the gay porn industry. I guess you could call it the gay version of Boogie Nights. At least it had a budget and the sound stages and actors to make it better than the average North American gay movie.

 

I'm curious what others thought.

That movie was just ok to me... Acting was ehhh, subject left you feeling dirty!

[Former Member]

On 5/3/2017 at 1:14 PM, BlindAmbition said:

I actually rented one a few nights ago... Very good, does have some deep moments. Its called Akron! 

“Try harder!”

 

I have brief descriptions of the dozens of movies I saw last June at Frameline40, 2016 San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival. Most of the better, and certainly not all, LGBTQ films are shown at Frameline. Due to the fact that the festival has up to four venues simultaneously presenting movies, it is impossible for any one person to see all the programs. I see the majority of the expected-to-draw-larger-audiences programs.

 

If you are looking specifically for a US production with a Gay protagonist, I suggest Pushing Dead and Closet Monster. I have other suggestions if you are open to seeing documentaries, foreign films, and LGBTQ themes other than just Gay.

[Brayon]

10 minutes ago, droughtquake said:

If you are looking specifically for a US production with a Gay protagonist, I suggest Pushing Dead and Closet Monster. I have other suggestions if you are open to seeing documentaries, foreign films, and LGBTQ themes other than just Gay.

 

I am open to any suggestions, or recommendations you might have.  I'm not one of those GLBT snobs, that has to have Gay this, and Gay that, but sometimes, you want to see two guys in a good storyline romance, comedy, action, etc.

[Former Member]

There’s another thread about Short Films in The Lounge, I listed 5 of my favorites there.

[Former Member]

Gay movies are usually targeted towards one of two different audiences. If the target is mainstream, the two protagonists might not even kiss! (eg Philadelphia) If the target is Gay men, there will probably be gratuitous full-frontal male nudity. (The Eating Out and Another Gay Movie/Sequel are examples of that)

 

Gay film festivals are well aware of the power of an enticing picture of sexy, shirtless young men. Festivals have to make money too. Sexy, shirtless young men draw crowds. Crowds prefer lighter themes. Serious movies may be more important, but draw fewer viewers.

 

DVD covers will also tend to show similar images. Marketing properly sells more product. No sales means no new product.

 

 

Film festivals are the place to see the widest variety of content. Under the Obama Administration, many US Embassies sponsored LGBTQ Film Festivals. Please attend LGBTQ film festivals. Do some searching, there are smaller festivals in surprising places (often in colleges and universities), there might be one near you!

[FormerMember4]

I agree with @droughtquake Closet Monster was very good. Check Netflix, I know It was on there a few weeks ago.

[Brayon]

@droughtquake I checked for Festival in my area, and Tampa has one, in October. Seems I got my Fall plans started.

 

@BlindAmbition and @droughtquake I will add that movie to the list. I just found Akron and got that set to watch soon. Also, I found that Short Film thread. I'll check those out as well.

 

7 hours ago, droughtquake said:

Gay movies are usually targeted towards one of two different audiences. If the target is mainstream, the two protagonists might not even kiss! (eg Philadelphia) If the target is Gay men, there will probably be gratuitous full-frontal male nudity. (The Eating Out and Another Gay Movie/Sequel are examples of that)

 

Gay film festivals are well aware of the power of an enticing picture of sexy, shirtless young men. Festivals have to make money too. Sexy, shirtless young men draw crowds. Crowds prefer lighter themes. Serious movies may be more important but draw fewer viewers.

 

DVD covers will also tend to show similar images. Marketing properly sells more product. No sales mean no new product.

 

All very true. Also, one part of the Gay Community I dislike. All the emphasis on Gym Pack Rats, and shaming anyone that doesn't spend 5 hours a day in one.

[William King]

Beautiful Thing (1996 British)

 

http://dai.ly/x3x0sdt

 

[Former Member]

I like My Beautiful Launderette.

Spoiler

In the US, it, along with A Room with a View (1985), was our introduction to the incredible talent of Daniel Day-Lewis. Unfortunately, it was originally shot for television and the production values reflect that. If you can overlook that, the story is unusual and interesting to watch. I particularly enjoyed Johnny (Daniel Day-Lewis) licking Omar's (Gordon Warnecke) ear out of sight, but in front of Johnny's National Front friends.

 

A Room with a View (1985), while not overtly Gay, has some subtle and not quite so subtle hints hidden in its plot.

Spoiler

 

It is a Merchant Ivory Production with all that that implies. The stellar cast includes Maggie Smith, Denholm Elliott, Judi Dench, Simon Callow, Helena Bonham Carter, Julian Sands, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Rupert Graves. For a Gay audience, there are hints that at least one character might be a closeted Gay man – and then there’s the notorious bathing scene with Rupert Graves, Julian Sands, and Simon Callow. It was a multiple Academy and BAFTA Award winner.

 

Even if you disagree with my reading of the hints, EM Forster (author of the novel the movie was based on), James Ivory, Ismail Merchant, and Simon Callow are/were all Gay. Denholm Elliott was bisexual.

 

 

Another Merchant Ivory Production of an EM Forster adaptation was Maurice, based on a posthumously published novel (due to its overt Gay theme).

Spoiler

A large number of this cast previously appeared in A Room with a View (and other Merchant Ivory films). Featured are James Wilby, Hugh Grant, Rupert Graves, Denholm Elliott, Simon Callow, Phoebe Nichols, and Ben Kingsley. Hugh Grant in a very early role, his possibly only Gay one.

 

Edited May 12, 2017 by Former Member
streamlining

[William King]

Another good British film is Pride (2014), based on a real history and about the miners strike in Thatchers Britain in the 80's.

 

 

 

[Wesley8890]

On 5/3/2017 at 7:00 PM, Rush said:

Hi, BHopper. I've watched a few movies by director Casper Andreas that have been quite good. Some are Violet Tendencies, Going Down in La-La Land, and Between Love and Goodbye. Casper himself acts in quite a few of the movies and he's hot as all get out! (at least for my taste). And I totally agree, a lot of the movies I've watched the acting is atrocious! Sometimes I ask, "where the hell did they find these people?" Answer: right off the street (no schooling). 

Good luck finding great ones out there.

Going down in La-La Land is a favorite of mine

[William King]

My Own Private Idaho (USA 1991)

 

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a gay hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves) is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.

 

[FormerMember4]

2 hours ago, William King said:

Beautiful Thing (1996 British)

 

http://dai.ly/x3x0sdt

 

I love that movie!

[Brayon]

Keep them coming, please. I'm keeping a list.

 

Saw Closet Monster last night. I would recommend it.

[FormerMember4]

16 minutes ago, BHopper2 said:

Keep them coming, please. I'm keeping a list.

 

Saw Closet Monster last night. I would recommend it.

Was it still on NF?

[AK79]

2 hours ago, William King said:

Beautiful Thing (1996 British)

 

http://dai.ly/x3x0sdt

 

 

I love that movie as well.  It is one of my favorites. 

 

An other one I like is Total Eclipse (1995) staring Leonardo DiCaprio.  But then again I basically love everything with Leo in it.

[Brayon]

39 minutes ago, BlindAmbition said:

Was it still on NF?

Yes, along with a bunch of others. There's an international one, I think I might watch later after I finish bingeing on House of Cards.

[Former Member]

There are two very sexy and sexual French movies that I can recommend.

 

Stranger by the Lake (L’inconnu du Lac) is a mystery that takes place at a lakeside nude beach. Several of the characters spend most of their time naked.

Spoiler

Body doubles were used only for the sex scenes.

 

Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo (Théo et Hugo dans le meme bateau – also sometimes called Theo & Hugo) takes place in real time.

Spoiler

My favorite French writer/director duo, Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau produced an incredibly sexual movie. There is no dialog for the first 15 minutes, but there is plenty of communication. Clearly, much of the sex is real and unsimulated. But the action soon moves away from the sex club and out into the Paris night.

 

Edited May 12, 2017 by Former Member