Saturday, January 5, 2013

50 Essential Gay Films

Brad and I are Busy Bees this weekend and we're still working on posts about our resolutions for the year. But I came across this article and skimmed it and thought your guys might be interested in it.
The beginning paragraph is this:

Which gay movies deserve a bigger audience? We asked our favorite directors, entertainers, and artists to help us compile a hit list.

I'm not familiar with a lot of these titles, so I want to watch the trailers and see which might be worthwhile to watch.

What do all of you think about the list? Have you seen many of these movies? Do you have some favorites in this list? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Here's the link to the article: Out.com "50 Essential Gay Movies"
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37 comments:

  1. I'd seen some of these ages ago but they weren't labelled as "gay" movies specifically.
    BTW Madison, I woke up at 7:30AM & saw you hadn't commented yet and went back to sleep so you could be first. It's after 10 you slug! LOL.

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    1. LOL. Where is that "slug"?

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    2. DRAT!! Foiled again!! I forgot. *hangs head*

      I woke up this morning and stayed in bed for a good long time reading Eric Arvin's "The Rest is Illusion". It's SO good!

      Then I had a hankering to try and make myself a chai latte. Not bueno. Burnt tongue. Owie. :-(

      Okay, off to check out this movie list. I wish Netflix had a better Gay selection. It's funny, cuz Netflix remembers what you watch and uses it to make suggestions for you. My hubby watches tons of documentaries about all sorts of boring things and lots of sci-fi (which is cool). And I watch gay movies and chic flicks. Our queue is hilarious!

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    3. That's my house too! Hubby with his tornado, slimy bugs & war stuff and me bugging him to check the score on the tennis match. Cause even though there are 3 TVs in this house we'd rather be together & argue about what on! Lol.

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    4. Tornadoes, lol. I don't get the fascination. No way in hell I'd stand outside with my videocamera if there was a tornado in the area.

      I actually like when hubby watches documentaries because I can tune it out and read. It's when he puts on Family Guy or South Park with the cartoon voices that I have to leave the room...

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    5. I'd like to see your movie list! And yeah, I can't handle animals killing each other especially the young ones. Once I asked hubby why the photographer doesn't help. He said that you have to let nature take its course, like its natural for a photographer to be there anyway.

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    6. I know! I've thought the same thing! Why don't they help that poor innocent gazelle?? Hubby doesn't watch nature documentaries, though. He watches stuff about politics, economics (all that banking industry stuff), history, car racing, physics, going green, etc.

      I was falling asleep the other night while he was watching something about household chemicals and I heard, "Women who work at home are 47% more likely to develop cancer." And I was like, EEEEEEEKK!

      I'll have to think about my own list. I've watched quite a few gay-themed movies, but most of them aren't very good. I've found that books offer much greater depth of emotion and entertainment for me.

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  2. I've seen Rope and The Last of Sheila several times; two very different films, but both extremely entertaining.

    For me what was interesting in Rope was that both MC's appeared to be gay, with Farley Granger in the submissive role; all very low-key, you understand.

    The Last of Sheila was not a big deal when it was first released, but later took on cult status. I always felt it was an extremely well-thought out mystery.

    I recommend both films.

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    1. I've heard of The Last of Sheila so I'll be checking that one out. Haven't heard of Rope but I'll look it up. Thanks.

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    2. Rope is Hitchcock from 1948, and if you are a fan, this is one to catch. He really was a master of subtlety in terms of gay undertones in many of his films.

      The Last of Sheila is good because it has a surprise ending. You really have to pay attention with this one; no chatting during the film. :)

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  3. Ooh, you should watch The Lost Boys if you haven't already. I was always drooling over Kiefer Sutherland as opposed to the Coreys, but there is a lot of vampire prettiness in that movie. One of my favorites from back in the day.

    I haven't seen many on the list - there's some I want to check out too.

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    1. The Lost Boys is one I haven't heard of. Love Kiefer, though. Will check it out.

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    2. You haven't heard of The Lost Boys? I JUST NOW realized how old I am... gee thanks.

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  4. I've seen at least 12 of these. I'd definitely recommend Torch Song Trilogy, Midnight Cowboy, My Beautiful Laundrette, Cabaret and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Victim with Dirk Bogarde is a black and white film and of course Dirk Bogarde was a gay actor playing a gay man. Very brave of him in a time when it was against the law to be gay and gay men were sent to prison. I've not seen The Naked Civil Servant but I've read the book and Quentin Crisp became a hero of mine for saying (you'll like this, Matty) that he never dusted because after dust reached a certain thickness it never got any thicker! That's been my dusting philosophy ever since :o)

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    1. Oh man! Quentin Crisp is somebody I've always wanted to read more about. Some older friends of mine have mentioned him and I've seen pics of him in all his fashion glory. Love those hats and scarves he wore.

      And that quote of his about dusting is going on our fridge right now!!! Love it! ;)

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    2. You call it "quote", I call it "alibi"! lol.

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    3. Ha! You sound just like Brad! ;)

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    4. I have to support Brad too, even though I'm a Matt!

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    5. Sorry Brad, for telling Matt about this. *hangs head*

      But I know your reward system will win out!!

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  5. How can "Boys Don't Cry" not be on that list? Well, it's transgender, not M/M, but still a must see. Very, very heartbreaking though. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0171804/

    Actually, pretty much none of the gay-themed movies I've seen are on that list! We need to make our own list...

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  7. I just browsed this "Top 100" list which has newer films on it, and I came up with my list of movies that I've seen and liked. There's a bunch listed on that site that I haven't yet watched, but look interesting. Mine is an eclectic list--hopefully it won't get spammed with all the links.

    Brokeback Mountain
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1QdJt9E-f2A

    Latter Days
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4M77ATX4IXE

    Boys Don't Cry
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0171804/

    Shelter
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rY-QCC1Y_Y8

    A Beautiful Thing
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf0fvLprGk4

    Philadelphia
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l433n5zAxAU

    Bent
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TtcfmJG3JnE

    Priest
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TtcfmJG3JnE

    Breakfast with Scot
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XvVhE-QP8L4

    I Love You Phillip Morris
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TtcfmJG3JnE

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    1. Oh--the link to the "Top 100" list is here:
      http://www.afterelton.com/movies/2012/09/greatest-gay-movies

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    2. Great list Madison, I've only seen 13 of these and some of them are the same ones as were on the "Out" list. I love La Cage aux Folles in the original French version and the Hollywood Birdcage version. Also The Wedding Banquet - the Chinese father in this film was such a touching character. At least on this list there are some happy films. In so many gay films there is no happy ending. That's one thing about the m/m genre in books - lots of happy endings!

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    3. I've seen all of these except Priest and I Love You Phillip Morris. Bent was a bit confusing, but all in all, I enjoyed all of them!!

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  8. I've seen 2 "gay" movies that i thought were by far the best of the genre and that were among the very best i've seen regardless of category.

    One, Angels in America, was made for tv but regardless it's available on DVD, etc. and is outstanding: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_in_America_(miniseries)

    The other, Fellini Satyricon, is subtitled but it's an amazing movie by one of the greatest directors who's ever lived, with great music by Nino Rota. It's on DVD but it's a spectacle in every sense of the word and shouldn't be missed if it's ever being shown at a movie theater: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyricon_(film)

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    1. Oh yes, I remember seeing Angels in America on TV here in the UK. It was very moving. Definitely worth watching.

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  9. Speaking of gay movies & documentaries, I forgot about the upcoming film, Bridegroom An American Love Story. I'm sure you've heard the story of Shane Bitney Crone and the loss of his partner Tom Bridegroom and his subsequent treatment by Tom's family and various officials. Since I donated to Kickstarter that raised the money to make the film, us donors were asked to send in our picture to be used in the movie poster and our names in the credits. So touched to be a part of this and it's one documentary I cant wait to watch!

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  10. Love, love Thom Fitzgerald's BEEFCAKE, about gay photographer Robert Mizer and his Athletic Model Guild...it's funny, touching, educational (the censorship issues he faced in the '50s and '60s will blow your mind), and sexy as hell. The DVD extras are worth seeing, too!

    --Trix

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  11. Oh! Oh! I thought of two more that I've seen and really liked. One is called "Patrick Age 1.5" and it's about a gay couple (takes place in Sweden) who adopt a child. They're expecting a one-and-a-half year old boy, but when the child is delivered, he's actually a 15-year-old. And he's homophobic. He's got nowhere else to go so they agree to keep him for a few days until other arrangements can be made. Patrick ends up really bonding with one of the dads. I won't give more away--it's an excellent story!
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067733/

    The other is called "LA Mission" and is about a hispanic father (a widower) who discovers his only son is gay. In his culture, being a man is all about being "macho" and tough, and he's devastated to learn this about his teenage son. The movie is about the father's struggle to come to terms with and accept his son for who he is, and to shrug off the prejudices that have been ingrained in him for so long. It's very good.
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1200272/

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  12. Most of the ones in the list I haven't seen. A few I have and didn't consider them "gay" movies. I did a blog post last year listing a BUNCH of full-length and short movies. Feel free to bounce over to my blog (pitiful as it is... lol!) and take a peek.

    http://blogbyamy.blogspot.com/2012/04/movie-list.html?zx=f0928dee84178411

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  13. I only have seen Maurice from that list. :(

    Besides the ones I already talked about in one of your post about movies, I have seen since and loved:

    -"Breakfast with Scott" and "Patrick Age 1.5" mentioned here already,

    - Undertow (Contracorriente), story of a closeted gay man in a tiny, very traditional fishing village in Peru. Loved loved this one.
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1368491/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

    - Romeos, A drama centered on the relationship between a young man and a transsexual who is transitioning from female to male. Amazing movie.
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1830792/

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  14. Priest is the most beautiful movie I've ever seen. If you don't laugh as well as sob in the course of that film, you have no soul.

    And I wonder why Sunday, Bloody Sunday is always left off these lists. It's another British masterpiece, classy and understated yet very poignant, about a young bisexual guy having simultaneous affairs with a straight woman and older gay man, who know each other through mutual friends. The directing (by John Schlesinger) and acting are superb.

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    1. Priest is on Netflix. I saw it years ago, but I'm going to watch it again tonight! I've got my tissues ready.

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    2. I found info on the Priest film you're talking about (not the 2011 one with Paul Bethany). It sounds heartbreaking.

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  15. Jay Bell just vlogged his top 10 gay films! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gbYowwJDu8

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  16. I forgot to mention this excellent tv mini-series based on the novel Brideshead Revisited http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083390/ John Gielgud was hilarious in his role as the father of Jeremy Irons' character.

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