Favorite LGBTQ2S+ Films

[CaptainWagner]

So life really got in the way of Pride Month Movie Marathon but I'm trying to get back on track and clear some from my list before June is over.

Pariah (2011) d. Dee Rees
(streaming on Prime)

Dee Rees' semi-autobiographical debut film, a poetic coming-of-age tale carefully woven by Rees' proudly distinct voice. Great acting from both the young talent and the veteran actors cast as the parents. Kim Wayans is especially terrific as a tyrannical but deeply layered mother. I didn't love the shaky cinematography, and it doesn't necessarily take any daring narrative leaps for this type of story, but Rees perspective rests in an all-too overlooked portion of the queer experience and it stands out all the more for that. Powerful stuff. 4/5

 

[psylockolussus]

Brokeback Mountain

 

[Batgirl0202]

So life really got in the way of Pride Month Movie Marathon but I'm trying to get back on track and clear some from my list before June is over.

Same here Captain. There's only so much time and I didn't get around to seeing anywhere near as many films this month as I would have liked

I'm gonna try to celebrate this coming weekend by finally watching Bros and My Policeman...

But hey, we don't need to limit our viewing of queer films to just Pride month! We've got queer-themed horror movies for Spooky Season, queer-themed Christmas movies for the Holidays...

We can keep the fire burning all year long

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah, I’m sad to say that I haven’t seen much in the way of queer movies this month either between travel, family stuff, work and Diablo IV lol. However, I did see Across the Spider-Verse, which may or may not be considered an LGBTQ film; I’m going to say that it was, given everything with Gwen and her story.

On the TV side of things, I’ve been watching The Other Two and also periodically been watching this show called From that has some cool queer characters in it. Also, Glamorous on Netflix sounds great; I’ll be checking that one out for sure.

 

[Shedhut]

All about my mother by Pedro Almodovar comes to mind.

 

[Deck Rickard]

All about my mother by Pedro Almodovar comes to mind.

Good one! Love that movie.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Also, does Fast X count? I haven’t seen it yet but I’ve heard that Momoa’s character is queer and he’s the only good thing about it? Lol

 

[CaptainWagner]

Also, does Fast X count? I haven’t seen it yet but I’ve heard that Momoa’s character is queer and he’s the only good thing about it? Lol

I have no idea what the intent for Momoa in that movie is but I've loved every clip of him

All about my mother by Pedro Almodovar comes to mind.

Most of Almodovár's work would fit in. Brilliant guy, one of our all time greatest out directors.

 

[Batgirl0202]

Pride Movie Marathon: My Policeman

Watched this with my roommate and we were both sobbing like babies by the end.

I'll admit that at first I thought this was going to be a very problematic film. The treatment of one of the main characters really rubbed me the wrong way initially (you'll know what I mean if you watch it).

However, as the movie progressed I started to understand what the filmmakers were trying to convey. The main trio of characters were all deeply flawed people who did reprehensible things to each other, but they acted out of that most basic and powerful of human emotions: love.

Add in the fact that these people were operating in a violent, intolerant, oppressive atmosphere, and the choices they make become even sadder and more tragic.

Technically the film is sumptuous and gorgeous. The flashbacks to 1950's Brighton are convincingly evoked, the period details are top notch, and the acting is beyond reproach. Harry Styles in particular is a revelation. Part of me was worried that the film would end up being a vanity piece for a pampered pop star, but Harry sold me on his performance as a man simultaneously incapable of either expressing or repressing his desires. We're not quite in Heath Ledger Brokeback Mountain territory here, but close. Powerful stuff...

At the end of the day this is a real film about real people who, at the moment of their greatest happiness and satisfaction, are torn down by a cruel world that doesn't care enough about us to allow us to be ourselves. I wouldn't exactly call the movie uplifting but it is ultimately life-affirming.

Highly recommended

 

[Deck Rickard]

So I recently watched Red, White and Royal Blue; adorable queer rom com. Rom coms (even gay ones) aren’t normally my thing but this movie was great and I highly recommend it.

I also watched Bad Things, which is sort of a low budget, queer version of The Shining. While Kubrick fans might not be impressed, it’s still a fun little movie with some hot moments.

On the TV side of things, recently binged Lioness, which has a great lesbian love story in it. Also looking forward to The Fall of the House of Usher, which looks delightfully scary and queer.

 

[Sithborg]

Gotta add Bottoms.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Gotta add Bottoms.

Hoping to see it next week! It looks so good.

 

[Batgirl0202]

Bros (2022)

What a delightful surprise! And I'm not just saying that because Luke Macfarlane is one of the hottest men on the planet

Yes it follows the rom-com formula to a tee but that's precisely the point, and the charming performances more than make up for the lack of any real surprises. The film even provides meta commentary on the inherent tragedy prevalent in so many queer-themed films, and wisely keeps the proceedings light, entertaining, and effervescent.

I'm just sorry that it failed to gain any mainstream traction because I would have loved to see more movies like this bankrolled by major studios. Hopefully the film finds its audience on streaming; I believe its fanbase will only grow as more folks discover it.

Highly recommended

 

[Deck Rickard]

Bros (2022)

What a delightful surprise! And I'm not just saying that because Luke Macfarlane is one of the hottest men on the planet

Yes it follows the rom-com formula to a tee but that's precisely the point, and the charming performances more than make up for the lack of any real surprises. The film even provides meta commentary on the inherent tragedy prevalent in so many queer-themed films, and wisely keeps the proceedings light, entertaining, and effervescent.

I'm just sorry that it failed to gain any mainstream traction because I would have loved to see more movies like this bankrolled by major studios. Hopefully the film finds its audience on streaming; I believe its fanbase will only grow as more folks discover it.

Highly recommended

Yeah, I really liked it too and I wish it would have done better at the box office. And yes, Luke MacFarlane needs to be in more things… preferably with his shirt off…

 

[Deck Rickard]

So Bottoms was a total blast. It was definitely NOT what I was expecting; they totally leaned into the absurdism and it was probably for the best. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Highly recommend it.

 

[Sithborg]

So Bottoms was a total blast. It was definitely NOT what I was expecting; they totally leaned into the absurdism and it was probably for the best. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Highly recommend it.

The amount of background details I want to pause on to get a better look at is insane.

 

[Deck Rickard]

The amount of background details I want to pause on to get a better look at is insane.

The football player just casually in a cage in the classroom killed me.

 

[Batgirl0202]

So Bottoms was a total blast. It was definitely NOT what I was expecting; they totally leaned into the absurdism and it was probably for the best. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Highly recommend it.

The amount of background details I want to pause on to get a better look at is insane.

Glad you guys both enjoyed it!

Bottoms is definitely on my radar. I'm also looking for some good queer-themed horror movies to add to my Spooky Season viewing list! I found one on Prime that actually takes place on Halloween. I'll try to fit it in sometime this week...

Sadly I haven't been able to find my all-time favourite LGBTQ2S+ slasher film on any of my streaming subscriptions. Thankfully I bought it on DVD years ago - I don't think it ever got a Blu-ray release...

 

[Batgirl0202]

Firebird (2021)

The story of Sergey and Roman, two Russian servicemen stationed at Haapsalu Air Force Base in Soviet-occupied Estonia in 1977, and their forbidden love affair that could result in five years of prison camp were they to be discovered. Sergey (Tom Prior) is completing his state-mandated time in the Soviet Air Force when he meets fighter pilot Roman (Oleg Zagorodnii). Sparks immediately fly between the two men (and who could blame them, both are gorgeous) while both fake interest in the lovely secretary Luisa (Diana Pozharskaya) in order to avoid detection and keep their affair under wraps. Things get really complicated when Roman ends up marrying Luisa and fathering her child, all the while continuing his affair with soulful Sergey across the span of several years. Things end as predictably as can usually be expected with stories of this nature.

What separates Firebird from its contemporaries is authenticity. The attraction between Sergey and Roman is completely believable and organic, without the icky predatory aspect of such films as Call Me By Your Name. The film is based on the real Sergey Fetisov’s memoir, so the true story nature of the film provides extra resonance to augment the tragic events. Sure there is a component of predictability to the proceedings but I personally found the film to be very affecting.

My only real sticking point is the treatment of poor Luisa, who loves Roman and lives a lie of a marriage with a partner who is secretly in love with somebody else. Similar to the damage done to Michelle Williams' character in Brokeback Mountain, the film's thesis is the external forces that ghettoize queer people into leading inauthentic lives, but how fair is this to the women in the men's orbit? The point of course is that intolerance and suppression affect not just the principles but everyone unfortunate enough to be collateral damage; however, that is small comfort to the woman who has tried to build a life with a character who prefers the company of his male companion.

Having said all that I really enjoyed this movie and have carried it with me for days now, which suggests everyone involved with the production did their job.

 

[Silvermoth]

Oh yeah I saw that one too. It’s really good

 

[Deck Rickard]

Firebird (2021)

The story of Sergey and Roman, two Russian servicemen stationed at Haapsalu Air Force Base in Soviet-occupied Estonia in 1977, and their forbidden love affair that could result in five years of prison camp were they to be discovered. Sergey (Tom Prior) is completing his state-mandated time in the Soviet Air Force when he meets fighter pilot Roman (Oleg Zagorodnii). Sparks immediately fly between the two men (and who could blame them, both are gorgeous) while both fake interest in the lovely secretary Luisa (Diana Pozharskaya) in order to avoid detection and keep their affair under wraps. Things get really complicated when Roman ends up marrying Luisa and fathering her child, all the while continuing his affair with soulful Sergey across the span of several years. Things end as predictably as can usually be expected with stories of this nature.

What separates Firebird from its contemporaries is authenticity. The attraction between Sergey and Roman is completely believable and organic, without the icky predatory aspect of such films as Call Me By Your Name. The film is based on the real Sergey Fetisov’s memoir, so the true story nature of the film provides extra resonance to augment the tragic events. Sure there is a component of predictability to the proceedings but I personally found the film to be very affecting.

My only real sticking point is the treatment of poor Luisa, who loves Roman and lives a lie of a marriage with a partner who is secretly in love with somebody else. Similar to the damage done to Michelle Williams' character in Brokeback Mountain, the film's thesis is the external forces that ghettoize queer people into leading inauthentic lives, but how fair is this to the women in the men's orbit? The point of course is that intolerance and suppression affect not just the principles but everyone unfortunate enough to be collateral damage; however, that is small comfort to the woman who has tried to build a life with a character who prefers the company of his male companion.

Having said all that I really enjoyed this movie and have carried it with me for days now, which suggests everyone involved with the production did their job.


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Thanks for the reminder about this film. I wanted to see it when it first came out but then I kinda forgot about it. I’ll definitely add it to my list.

 

[scarlet-witch]

So Bottoms was a total blast. It was definitely NOT what I was expecting; they totally leaned into the absurdism and it was probably for the best. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Highly recommend it.

I didn't realize how much of a parody of high school films it was going to be. Definitely made it work so much better than I thought it would for me.

 

[JoeyVimsanteThe]

I am not gay. But I liked My Own Private Idaho.

 

[Batgirl0202]

I am not gay. But I liked My Own Private Idaho.

That is a great film Joey, not doubt about it!

And just so you know, this thread is for everybody, not just members of the LGBTQ2S+ community

Thanks for participating and welcome to The Hype!

 

[Deck Rickard]

Somehow I’ve never seen My Own Private Idaho despite having a bit of a crush on Keanu back in his Point Break days and being told in my younger years that I looked like River Phoenix, lol.