All wonderful lists, Kirb. However, based on your choices alone, I'm gay,
which would be news to my wife. Seriously, a number of your titles,
categorized as they are - I've never seen - which I'll correct by putting them
into my rental queue. Less seriously, you deserve a 50-lashes from a chariot
whip administered by Charlton Heston (an odd juxtaposition of a person vs. a
character) - for leaving 1954's "A Star is Born" with Judy Garland - off of
your LAST list. Garland's turn in that pic is the greatest one-woman singing
performance I've seen on film, probably followed by Streisand in "Funny Girl"
(although my wife HATES the latter pic). -d.
Subject: Re: [MOPO] FIFTY ESSENTIAL GAY FILMS
From: ki...@movieart.net
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:02:21 -0500
CC: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
To: davidmkusum...@hotmail.com
OK. Here's my choice of 5 wonderful films - not a best list - just important
films with a theme centrally about being gay - that speaks to a wide audience
both gay and straight.
MAURICEBROKEBACK MOUNTAINTHE MUDGE BOYPERSONAL BESTANGELS IN AMERICA
there are others worthy, I'm sure
Now
here's a list of 5 great films in which a gay character(s) figures
importantly, critically in the film but which is not, essentially, about
being gay
LAWRENCE OF ARABIATHE CRYING GAMEBEGINNERSANOTHER COUNTRYMY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE
AND
5 films in which the gay-lib (to use a sixties phrase) zeitgeist
proscribes the film but which are essentially about something else
MIDNIGHT COWBOYMILKROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOWPHILADELPHIADOG DAY AFTERNOON
AND 5 FILMS WHICH ARE CHERISHED ALMOST UNIVERSALLY BY ALL REAL GAYS !!
AUNTIE MAMEWHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLFALL ABOUT EVEBROKEBACK MOUNTAINSOME
LIKE IT HOT
If you haven't seen any of these, put them on your list. I'm sure I've
omitted some worthy movies.
K.
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:22:46 -0700
From: davidmkusum...@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: FIFTY ESSENTIAL GAY FILMS
To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
I know what you mean. But in my list, I use "essential" in the same way I
might apply it to "Birth of a Nation." The latter is a racist film that's
unfortunately "essential." I also forgot to mention "The Hours," over which I
remember Kirby and I had a bitter debate more than 10 years ago about; (he
liked it, I did not). I did not put "La Cage aux Folles" on my list probably
for the same reason
I left off "The Birdcage" and the 2005 film version of "The
Producers." Not a big fan of over-the-top camp. (And I can't reconcile
this with why I have "Rocky Horror" on my list.) However, I'd love to get
people's thoughts about MGM musicals - because there is so much subtext in them
that many "straights" completely missed - or insist do not exist. -d.
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:09:48 -0400
From: fdav...@verizon.net
Subject: Re: FIFTY ESSENTIAL GAY FILMS
To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
I
hate "best" lists and "essential" is just a euphemism for "best".
Films that should be on this list that i think no one mentioned are
"Wilde", " LaCage Aux Folles" and "Women In Love" and any number of MGM
musicals.
Sent from my iPadDate: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:50:20 -0700
From: davidmkusum...@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: FIFTY ESSENTIAL GAY FILMS
To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Interesting thread.
What constitutes "essential"?
And how can one have a discussion of this subject and not more deeply address
"Milk," a fine picture I liked A LOT more than loved - yet to me - was more
historic and satisfying than the overrated "Brokeback Mountain"? BTW, as has
been documented on these boards, my favorite picture of 2005 was not
"Brokeback," but "Capote," for which Philip Seymour Hoffman won an Oscar for
Best Actor.
My list would include the "obvious" titles, even "mainstream" pictures which -
if not explicitly about gays, lesbians or transgenders - spotlights a LGBT
character or characters with an "inclusive" impact on ignorant audiences. Off
the top of my head is the office-cooler impact of actor Rupert Everett in the
1997 rom-com, "My Best Friend's Wedding." Little seen "cult" or underground
pictures aimed at LGBT audiences do less for me because they preach to a choir
whose legitimacy is validated. To me, there's still enough prejudice for more
"crossover" films to be made which further knock down the walls of intolerance.
(Parenthetically, I think the war is being won on one front, as manifested in
the gay marriage debate, with nearly 60% of Americans in favor, a complete
reversal of the same poll 10 years ago.) I think this trend will continue as
more movies and actors and celebrities come out - and more "ignorant straights"
realize their favorite people, e.g., Ellen DeGeneres, Anderson Cooper, Jodie
Foster, are gay.
Some "crossover" pictures are actually more impressive to me when they shake
foundations. (As to Bruce's point, I think "Midnight Cowboy" would have been a
better story if the characters played by Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman were gay
or bi-sexual, who loved each other until its tragic end. But wishing it
doesn't make it so, and homosexuality is unfortunately depicted as strange in
that picture, i.e., see Rizzo's speech to Joe Buck about his "John Wayne"
clothes. But I still include "Cowboy" on my list; and it's compelling that its
director - John Schlesinger - was openly gay when it was made - 1969 - during a
time of greater intolerance).
For me, some of the best pics include "Lawrence of Arabia," subtle as it was
for 1962, knowing what we know now about T.E. Lawrence. Yet in the back of my
mind I think masterful films like 1975's "Dog Day Afternoon" were punished by
academies and guilds - because of discrimination against gay or transgender
characters. I can watch the Best Picture of 1975, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's
Nest" - and watch "Dog Day Afternoon" - and the latter is still more
entertaining - without the self-serving nobleness that afflicts "Cuckoo's
Nest," a film with no gay characters. 2005's "Crash" winning Best Picture over
"Capote" (and not the more popular choice, "Brokeback Mountain) - still feels
criminal to me.
My list below represents titles I thought of - on the fly - hence is not
comprehensive, and includes pictures already mentioned before. Most are
unfortunately "crossover" pictures. To me a film that's "essential" doesn't
necessarily have to be good, i.e., I put 2011's "Beginners" in that camp
because while it's pretty dull and snarky for my standards - the entire film
turns on an elderly man's decision to come "out" so late in life - and how this
impacts himself and others. However, I left "The Kids are Alright" OFF the
list because I didn't believe for one moment that Julianne Moore's character
would suddenly go "straight" just because she's momentarily lonely. Finally,
"Boys in the Band" is very dated and is almost unwatchable today - but it's
essential because it has a ground-breaking element that forces it to become a
part of history. This is a personal list that's very flawed and I'd have to
look in my journals to conjure up a more complete list. -d.
In no particular order:
Dog Day Afternoon
Milk
Capote
Lawrence of Arabia
Transamerica
As Good As It Gets
Gods and Monsters
Brokeback Mountain
Midnight Cowboy
Shelter
Personal Best
My Best Friend's Wedding
Boys Don't Cry
Boys in the Band
Rent
Beginners
Philadelphia
Torch Song Trilogy
Long Time Companion
Angels in America
A Beautiful Thing
The Crying Game
Love! Valour! Compassion! (stage version is superior)
Bent
Victor Victoria
Monster
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:30:07 -0400
From: lobb...@rogers.com
Subject: Re: FIFTY ESSENTIAL GAY FILMS
To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Yes Kirby, I agree with you. Besides, this is a very haphazardly put together
list, the product of asking many people to contribute one name. That was the
disjointed result. Assuming that obvious titles like La Cage aux Folles, The
Birdcage, Victor Victoria, Brokeback Mountain etc., weren’t included because
they’re……too obvious, here are a few other titles that could’ve been included,
in addition to titles mentioned before :Yentl
The Sergeant(Rod Steiger)
As Good as it Gets
Big Combo(1955)
The Best Man(1964)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
The Dresser
Fortune and Men’s Eyes (1971)
Lawrence of Arabia
Staircase(1969) Burton and Harrison
Sunday Bloody Sunday(1971)
No Way to Treat a Lady(1968)
Reflection in a Golden Eye
Zeev
From: MoPo List [mailto:mopo-l@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU] On Behalf Of Kirby
McDaniel
Sent: March 17, 2013 2:24 PM
To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Subject: Re: [MOPO] FIFTY ESSENTIAL GAY FILMSBOYS IN THE BAND is to me to be
what would seem to be a quintessentially gay film, but which just doesn't
resonate with folks today. I think it is largely forgotten, even though it was
to some extent groundbreaking.
Kirby McDaniel
MovieArt Original Film Posters
P.O. Box 4419
Austin TX 78765-4419
512 479 6680 www.movieart.net
mobile 512 589 5112
On Mar 17, 2013, at 9:52 AM, Joseph Bonelli <joebom...@yahoo.com> wrote:"Boys
in the Band" is not on the list. Hmmm...... JoeFrom: Kirby McDaniel
<ki...@movieart.net>
To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2013 9:49 PM
Subject: [MOPO] FIFTY ESSENTIAL GAY FILMS
Ok, all you wannabe-gays, here's your chance to get with the gay film
sensibility.
Comments?
http://www.out.com/entertainment/movies/2011/02/09/50-essential-gay-films?page=0,0
Kirby McDaniel
MovieArt Original Film Posters
P.O. Box 4419
Austin TX 78765-4419
512 479 6680 http://www.movieart.net/
mobile 512 589 5112
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