Survey: What is Your Favorite LGBT Movie?
(Photo Credits: Screengrab from IMDb)
It’s as the title says, guys, what is (are) your favorite LGBT movie(s)? Mine is a film I’m sure everyone has heard of: Brokeback Mountain (2005, Ang Lee). In my humble opinion, Brokeback Mountain is one of the greatest and most poignant love stories ever told. And yes, I’ve also read (many times in fact) the original short story by Annie Proulx published in 1997 with which this film is based on.
For those who have yet to watch the film, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) who met and fell in love during the summer of ’63 while working together as sheepherders in Wyoming. Shot in Alberta, Canada the film has a beautiful backdrop, plus, it has a stellar cast (I love the four actors who played the lead characters especially Ledger and Hathaway).
But I love Brokeback Mountain because of the important message it imparts. Yes, the movie is tragic and sad not to mention both Jack’s and Ennis’ longing is heartbreaking but there are a lot of lessons to be had.
(Warning: Spoiler Alert)
Ennis’ and Jack’s romance started and ended that summer in Brokeback Mountain. Both men went on to marry other women—Jack to Lureen Newsome (Anne Hathaway) and Ennis to Alma (Michelle Williams). What followed was an affair that spanned 20 years which was not exactly what Jack wanted. He wanted to be with Ennis so bad and he was willing to drop everything. He even made it clear to Ennis during one of their arguments, telling him bitterly, “You have no idea how bad it gets! I’m not you. I can’t make it on a coupla high-altitude fucks once or twice a year!” But Ennis was afraid that either he or Jack would die of homophobic violence which is why for him Jack will always just be his “fishing buddy.”
Although it was killing Jack inside, this arrangement would probably have continued because by his own admission, he didn’t know how to “quit” Ennis so their clandestine meetings would have went on. There was one flaw in the plan however, and it’s that we humans have expiration dates and for Jack, his end came way too soon.
Jack Twist died of a “tire accident” at 39.
Brokeback Mountain showed us not only what it means to lose the person we love the most but also how important it is for us to receive or reciprocate the love we are given by our loved ones. The film also showed us what it means to live in fear and how deep-rooted homophobia can affect and ruin the lives of LGBT people and their respective family. And lastly, it is one thing to breakup but to not give your love a chance is another.
Indeed, in Brokeback Mountain, Ennis had to live the rest of his life knowing he could have had chosen a life with Jack, albeit peppered with homophobia. He had 20 years to change his mind but he did not and now time had ran out on them. Jack is dead so Ennis had to live alone for the rest of his life left with nothing but regret, their great memories together, and the shirts he and Jack wore on their last day in Brokeback. And all Ennis can do now is hung said shirts in his closet beside a postcard of Brokeback Mountain which he takes a look at and touch from time to time but it was dreams of Jack that are especially bad. When Jack was alive, Ennis chose to hide in the closet and now that Jack is dead all he could do is keep their memento in his closet.
Jack on the other hand, never got what he wanted, not in life and certainly not in death. He wanted to live with Jack and run the family ranch with him in Lightning Flat, Wyoming and in death, he wished for his ashes to be scattered in Brokeback Mountain but his father refused.
Anyway, so that’s my most favorite LGBT movie and short story, what about you? Share it with us in the comments section below.
Seems like I’ve seen numerous LBGT films the past few years. Gerontophilia was cute and charming, Boys Don’t Cry was good, and yes, Brokeback was great.
Saw brokeback mountain but never got into the story. For me, my top pick is personal best
There are many movies that I would catch a glimpse of on cable while I dated women. I never had the chance to sit down and watch because I was always so busy. When I realized that THIS was more than a passing interest, I shared with an online friend how difficult it was coming to this realization so late in life. He suggested I see a movie called WEEKEND (2011) with Andrew Haigh directing, I doubt many have even heard of it.
THAT Film …
How do I explain? It spoke volumes about what I thought ONLY I felt inside. Exquisite, poignant, and painfully beautiful at the same time, as it toys with the idea of what is ART! No spoiler here, but as you shared above Dave (the train station scene in “Weekend” made me want to stand and shout at the screen), Thank God we have movies such as this, to remind us how important the HERE and NOW are!
Mine would be Jeffery, that kissing scene at the end was pretty hot for two straight actors. Also Torch Song Trilogy. “MAMA”
1. To Forget Venice (Franco Brusati, dir. )
2. My Beautiful Laundrette
3. Teorema
4. A Very Natural Thing
5. Boys in the Band
6. Die Consequenz
7. La Cage aux Folles
8. the tv movies and shows (Soap) that dared show gay love
9. Blazing Saddles (gay sex jokes in the original)
10. Midnight Cowboy (gay subtext)
11. Cruising
Those are among the best gay movies of the 1970s, some are forgotten now.
Luchino Visconti made great gay-themed movies or scenes in movies, like The Damned (if I remember correctly).
My favorite is the movie Jeffery the kissing scene at the end was the best kiss by two straight actors on film. Also I love Torch Song Trilogy, “MAMA”
I’m going to hurt people feeling on this one and i dont give a dam. I dont care about seeing a movie with gay sh** in it. When I go to a movie I dont want to think. There to much sh** going on in real life. I dont want to see it in my movies. I want to know why does gay sh** have to be pushed on movies now? I took my kids to see Black Panther and loved it. Then I read that people wanted it to have a gay seen in it. Its sh** like this that makes us so hated. My kids are kids and that’s what I want them to be. I wish that gay and lesbian groups would stop pushing sh** in movies. Its beginning to turn people off.
I feel the same way about breeder shit. I get so sick of being inflicted for two hours of my life with a deluge of teenage boys with pussy on the brain syndrome or old men well beyond Viagra reminiscing about their hormones and exploits during the civil war. I can walk outside and see that every morning. If I had to nail it down to one gay film that was my favorite, I don’t think I could. There’s so many that capture topics that are relevant to us and show the world that we are the same as they are when it comes to life altering experiences that I can’t pin one down specifically. Brokeback was good, but then so was Torchsong Trilogy and Three degrees of separation as well as The Boys in the Band and Priscilla.
Beautiful Thing
Hands down, Big Eden.
One of the best spoken lines of acceptance of homosexuality from a family member EVER ! ! !
I totally forgot about that one! Thanks for the reminder. I should watch it again.
Ah, the last scene of BBM, he’s in that small trailer, looking out at the road and cornfields. Alone, Sad. Only Memories….
I agree that “Brokeback Mountain” is one of the best gay-themed films ever made but it is also one of the greatest tragic love stories, of ANY genre, EVER. During the holidays I love to watch and re-watch “Make The Yuletide Gay”; it’s always good for a laugh. Say what you want but “The Birdcage”, and its French inspiration, “La Cage Aux Folles”, still make me laugh 20 and 40 years later, respectively. Paul Rudnick showed us in “Jeffrey” that there is laughter even with AIDS. More recently I am all about “Call Me By Your Name” which I went and saw in the theater 5 times. Simply magical.
A minor quibble with your opinion piece. You write that “[b]oth men went on to marry other women …”. Other?
OMgosh. If you are quoting the moderator, simply use the capital in the quote … and they both went on to marry ‘others’ because American men could NOT marry [each other] in 1963 [or ’73, or ’83, or ’93 for that matter] therefore, the inference was already made … so:
“Both men went on to marry otherS [women]”
Yes, Brokeback Mountain for sure.
For me it’s Victor / Victoria, what can I say I love Julie Andrews
I agree that BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is one of the GREATEST love stories ever put on film….I have too other favorites…CALL ME BY YOUR NAME and LOVE SIMON…I could watch these three movies time after time and never tire of them…they portray same sex love and discovery in the most beautiful way possible….I think we all, as gay men, can relate to all of these films.
Agreed! CMBYN was great (once I got past the complete lack of subtext or overt display of attraction prior to the discussion of said attraction at the memorial statue). I have read where the use of outdoors, flies, and fruit are used to convey beauty and blight in the same frame, if so Luca Guadagnino is that genius!
Love Simon, sweet film, love the familial relationships, especially how a kid so together and wholly privately accepting of himself, causes so much pain to self and others by not being openly honest. Something I notice here, when some bloggers make fun of celebrities coming out, and do not realizes that it takes courage and respect for others and self to take a leap into the unkown! Good additions to the list Charles!
Latter Days is a real roller coaster ride. Young, super sexy and original music.
This I my favorite as well. Bother the movie and the book. I thought they were absolutely wonderful.
I liked it as well, the blond guy has a beautiful body, that ass!
Maurice.
My favorite is the UKs 2014 film Pride. Its based on a true story!
I can’t dispute the impact of Brokeback. (I can’t watch it without crying.) But there is one that came before it you should also check out. Maurice (pronounced Morris) by E.M. Forester and given the same lush film production as his A Room With A View. Both have themes of longing and unrequited love in a repressed society.
James Wiliby (Maurice) falls in love with college chum Hugh Grant who can only take their feeling so far before retreating behind his obligations as an English gentleman. Heartbroken Maurice finds solace in the under groundskeeper (Rupert Grim). Early performance by all when the actors were incredibly handsome, not to mention a lovely young Helena Bonnam Carter. But Maurice is a gay love story, written by Forester at a time when that love dare not speak its name let alone be published. So it was put in a trunk until long after his death. Check out the film.
Very easy question … Redwoods by TLA Releasing
Winter kept us warm, The Ritz, Beautiful Thing, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the desert, Were the World Mine, Stonewall (1995), Hedwig and The Angry Inch, The Birdcage, A Single Man, just a few that popped into my head.
Totally agree, Redwoods done in 2009 is great. Try to get through it without crying. Touching, funny, loving and tragically sad all at the same time. Definitely worth a look.
The movie was “Beautiful Thing”, I first saw it at the Austin Texas Gay Film Festival in the mid 90’s in my early 20’s. Ended up going home with a beautiful thing myself that night, although it only lasted til the morning.
I have three…
1.) BROKE BACK MOUNTAIN… for all of the obvious. I’m now inspired to read the original text.
2.) SHELTER with Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe… a young man recognizing his emerging homosexuality while trying to hold his family life together.
3.) TRICK with Christian Campbell and J.P. Pitoc… what was supposed to be a subway pickup blossoms over the course of a late evening and early morning, music and humor.
I think “Love, Simon” was a really great movie. It really paints a picture of hard it is to come out, especially when your young, in school, and the struggles of hiding the fact that your gay. I and my BF seen it together at a theater.
Spoiler alert: It’s interesting as “Simon” chats and wonders who “Blue” is, (his unknown gay friend online), he tries to figure it out throughout the movie. In the end, they come out to each other with their classmates watching at a carnival riding a Ferris wheel. The other neat thing is not only do they come out as gay, but they also come out accepting each other racially as well, as “Simon” is white and “Blue” is black. In the end you see them kissing each other as their classmates cheer them on.
Torch song trilogy is my favorite LGBT movie. The reason is I think it teaches self respect it also teaches if someone can’t love you for you even if it’s a family member and they have no business in your life. The movie teaches you to love yourself and those that can’t love you for you away with them teaches us not to settle for less and we want and what we deserve we also teaches you to accept yourself even when others won’t and also makes you realize why am I settling for Less when I don’t have to. The Movie Brokeback Mountain is a very powerful movie it teaches to not be scared of love. so many of us have missed out on that great love because we were concerned about what others thought and how others feel. Here’s a thought I want to pass along to those that may read this: “Why are you putting your life on hold and willing to lose out on love because you’re concerned about what people might think of you and one that you will fall in love with. That person or persons that you are scared of hurting or making mad are they putting their life on hold and willing to lose the love of their life so you don’t be mad at them?” This is a lesson in life I have learned late and at age 52 my greatest fear in life is that I will never know true love.
My favorite would be “Long Island Expressway” (aka: L.I.E.). “Brokeback Mountain” would be my second favorite.
Longtime companion for the bitter sweet ending and Beautiful things
I always thought that Brokeback Mountain was over rated. Jake Gyllenhaal as good of actor as he is, always looked uncomfortable during the couples scene with Heath Ledger. It also seemed that they kind of glossed over that relationship too. Or danced around that subject of two men in love. I think there should’ve been just a little more to their relationship, or shown a little more to it. Everything is just inferred.
brokeback made me feel good cause it made me think about the world back then 1963 before my time and i still love it
Certainly “Brokeback Mountain” is a sweet and endearing story, even if it had a tragic ending. The ending itself is true for millions of people, whether gay or straight, “love lost,” through death or circumstance, is never a happy ending. Although the romanticism in the movie will make it a timeless classic, I do not believe it tells the full story of the LGBT tragedy through time.
I give my accolades to the movie “Prayers for Bobby” (also a book written by Leroy F. Aarons). Being raised Catholic was enough trauma for any human being. Having Sigourney Weaver play the role of my mother was shocking. But the ending result of the lead character Bobby (played by Ryan Kelley) is the debate many LGBT people deal with, whether at one time in their life or on a regular basis. “The Self Hate” that is taught by our parents, our siblings, our friends and peers, as is instilled by “many” religions, is the real tragedy.
Fortunately, the current interpretation of the Bible on homosexuality is disproven by the work of Kathy Baldock (Executive Director of CanyonWalker Connections @ http://www.canyonwalkerconnections.com ). It is her work that gives validation to every LGBT member, proving their sanity and self worth. (Her book is: “Walking the Bridgeless Canyon.” The video highlighting the book is on YouTube: “Untangling the Mess by Kathy Baldock”). And it is her work that proves “Self Hate” is something that should be unfounded. It is only then that we can replace “self hate” with “self love” and begin the lives we all deserve.
Love, Valour, and Compassion
I think Beautiful Thing(1996) is my favorite with Were the World Mine(2008) as a close second.
soldier’s girl is my favorite
I did like “Brokeback” very much. I also liked “Love, Simon”.
God’s Own Country. Weekend and The Way He Looks. The second two I believe are on youtube. Oh and of course, Paris is Burning.
I was wondering when somebody was going to mention those two movies. I just watched them within the last 2 weeks on Netflix. I’m so in love with Fabio Audi great actor. Guillermo Lobo (Leonardo) was also great but Gabriel (Fabio Audi) my man, glad he’s single now. Giovana (Tess Amorim) I was kind of sad for her because she was left out of the relationship but was glad that they were together at the end as friends and she was happy for Leonardo. Definitely both movies are worth watching.
In reference to my reply. I was talking about The Way He Looks. Great cast Fabio, Leonardo and Tess. God’s Own Country and The Way He looks are worth watching.
Free Fall
Personally I can identify with Latter Days living in Utah and having the Mormon backgroundand believe that is the best in that genre.
Basic instinct
Hmm. ‘Latter Days’, ‘GUYS AND BALLS (German Movie)’, ShortBus (I guess that is an everything kind of movie), BEAUTIFUL THING, Do Comeco Ao Fim, SOLDIER’S GIRL, 20 Centimeters (Very good). There’s so many more. The ones in all caps, are my all time classic favourites.
I kinda feel like the world wasn’t quite ready for a mainstream gay movie, so it kind of ruined a certain actor’s chances of being cast in other movies. At least, that was the way it seemed to me.
Oh and who can forget ‘To Wong Foo: Thanks for everything’.
At this point, ‘Moonlight’! It was beautifully acted, wonderfully directed, the sexual energy was THICK but handled so subtly! And, I think what I loved most is it wasn’t salacious! It focused on the EMOTION, the CONFLICT, the LONGING and ISOLATION, but not the sex! It was A BRILLIANT work of art!
***Spoiler Alert***
‘Love, Simon’ was definitely a close second! It’s SO relatable in many ways! Being being outed in highschool, siblings finding out, the conversations with your parents that are awkward because you aren’t ready for them, having supportive family, but being mad at the support because it feels intrusive… That, too, was a GREAT film!!!
Have not made it through movie, but I got to read the story, early. Loved it. I I was floored when I heard about movie. The book is beautiful, please read.
Although Brokeback Mountain and Call me By Your Name are on my list, my top pick is Red Dirt starring Dan Montgomery and Karen Black.
Big Eden. It’s a definite much watch!
Queer as folk, was so hot when it first ran, could not wait for the next week.
Brokeback and Call me by your name….can’t say which is my favorite…like both. Want to the next version of Call me by your name.
“Burning Blue” if you never seen it i implore you to do so… one of the best gay movies out there..navy pilots, the boys are way good looking during the time when dont ask dont tell was in effect…
I didn’t like Brokeback Mountain at all. It doesn’t matter how you spin it for me. It was a story about infidelity. Yes, yes, I know, it was hard for them and all, but it didn’t really paint a pretty picture of being gay. For me, one of my all time favorite LGBT movie is, and I can’t believe no one here has mentioned it yet, is Prayers for Bobby. This is a movie every parent and person should see.
The other one I liked was “Love, Simon”. I honestly thought this was a well done movie and it really depicted the struggle gay teenagers go through. The one thing I didn’t like was the ending, it was too perfect. I would have liked it better if Simon never found out who Blue was. The film would have been better if it was about self acceptance. Even if he didn’t find out who Blue was, it wouldn’t have mattered. It would have been a bittersweet ending yes, but ultimately it was all about him coming out, being accepted, and the whole Blue situation helped made him a more confident and proud gay man ready to go to college.
Yes, it IS true that infidelity is an existing parallel theme, whether emphasized or not, in any situation where a gay guy is in a heterosexual marriage. However, the ROOT cause of such infidelity is the cultures’ condemnation of homosexuality as “abnormal, perverted, etc.,” rather than a normal variation which occurs in nature. Once any culture has condemned a naturally occurring status, truth will out, and gay will seek gay and the infidelity results. Had not culture first condemned, the heterosexual marriages would not have occurred in the first place. Granted, once a gay guy chooses to enter into a heterosexual marriage, there is the unfortunate status of the female wife being the recipient of the infidelity, either mental or physical infidelity or both. One could impugn the moral integrity, or not, of the gay guy when he is physically unfaithful to the wife, as apparently Southern Baptist icon President Jimmy Carter has applauded “lusting in his heart.”
I have a few favorites. 1) The way he looks. 2) mudge boy 3) To Wong Foo, Thanks for everything. I know Brokeback Mountain was a good movie but there a some that are so much better. I don’t look at them as lgbt ️ movies, I try to see what the director is trying to get acrossed.
The movie Adam & Steve.
Jeffrey, Torch Song Trilogy, Birdcage
One my favorite movies ever, starring the biggest movie icons at the height of the physical beauty, with the ultimate Big Daddy ever, the multi-talented singer Burl Ives, and with classic lost love themes of various kinds, lushly brought to the screen, Tennessee William’s “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” probably Elizabeth Taylor’s best acting she did besides “Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Oh, yes, and Paul Newman playing the gay son.
Then, there is the film musical “Cabaret” based on the earlier film “I am a Camera,” and their respective stage versions, all based on Christopher Isherwood’s stories about his life in Berlin under the Weimar Republic.
“Boys in the Band” was a powerful and depressingly tragic and true-to-life film, a monumental film of its day.
I like tootsie and Victor victoria because it introduced straight people to get concepts.
I have many favorites.
Everyone (2004) directed by Bill Marchant. Two men are getting married, both families are arriving, and a quirky, random guy, brilliantly played by Brendan Fletcher, makes everything work for everyone. Warm, fuzzy, makes you feel the love. The stunning Mark Hildreth is one of the grooms.
Ciao (2008) directed by Yen Tan. Mark dies in the first scene. His friend Jeff is dealing with the fallout of the accident. Mark’s internet date from Italy arrives. Breathtakingly beautiful visuals and long, steady camera angles.
Pit Stop (2013) directed by Yen Tan. Gay grownups. Nuff said.
The Full Monty (1997) directed by Peter Cataneo. Not really a gay themed film, but the little back story between Lomper and Guy is sweet and the way it is shoulder-shrug-accepted by the rest of the guys sweeter.
Beautiful Thing (1996) directed by Hettie MacDonald. Two not-quite-attractive teens fall in love. Sweet and touching film. Linda Henry magnificent as the understanding mother. Interesting directing/acting in the two scenes in the gay bar, one when it’s just a bar, one after the characters know it’s a gay bar and the subtle changes in the things that are played up and therefore noticed.
Gods and Monsters (1998) directed by Bill Condon. Ian McKellan and Brendan Fraser have a quirky chemistry. Interesting take on a straight guy becoming comfortable being an older gay man’s crush and eventual friend.
Outing Riley (2004) directed by (and starring) Pete Jones. Apparently post-release retitled to If Dad Only Knew. Four Irish Catholic brothers dealing with Dad’s death when the youngest one comes out. Nathan Fillion’s scene after taking drugs he didn’t know were as strong as they were is delightful.
Waiting for the Moon (1981) directed by Jill Godmillow. Just brilliant. Linda Bassett and Linda Hunt as Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. Saw it in an art house when it first came out. Not at all true to the facts of their lives, but beautifully played and filmed. Your breath will catch in the fireside scene when the camera shows the flickering light on Andrew McCarthy’s face. Not sure if it is available on DVD, but try to find it.
Maurice (1987) directed by James Ivory. Hugh Grant is a prick, James Wilby deserves better, but ends up with Rupert Graves. Get the DVD and watch the wonderful extras.
For a Lost Soldier (1992) directed by Roeland Kerbosch. Troubling film, but beautifully done. A Canadian soldier in the Netherlands during WWII takes the virginity of a pubescent boy.
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) directed by Stephen Frears. Very early Daniel Day-Lewis as the street-tough boyfriend Johnny.
Zerophilia (2005) directed by Martin Curland. Twisted and fun. If you are a zerophiliac you can change gender with a very strong orgasm. Guy meets girl. Guy meets girl’s ‘brother.’ Guy becomes girl. Girl meets original girl. By the time it’s over the quite-literally-gender-fluid characters have had sex with each other (in an apparent marathon) in every possible combination. Early appearance of the magnificent Kyle Schmid.
I love many of your choices..I love Philadelphia(1993) with Tom Hanks..soundtrack with Springsteen and Peter Gabriel and Neil Young..cried thinking about ex partner who had died of HIV..Longtime Companion(1989) nice movie dealing with HIV..Maurice..heartbreak with an English stiff upper lip and a smoldering Hugh Grant(1987). The Wedding Banquet(1993) and Lan Yu(2001) were awesome as well and I got to see
Asian men loving each other in a nonstereotypical way
URBANIA!
“maurice” was, and is, the great gay love story of the modern era, first in the novel written by EM Forster in 1917 and at the author’s request not published until after his death in the early 70s. Then in the superbly understated film of the same name, released in 1991, I think, that captured the suppressed desire of the love that dared not speak its name. Here is where I jump ship from the gay cruise everyone seems to be on, and drag my steamer trunk to the below deck bunks of some belching sooty freighter bound for South America. No dancing queens, no straight actors playing queer, no anal rape, and it was rape that Ang Lee so beautifully shot that it almost made us think it was something else. The sad thing about “brokeback mountain” is that it was not the gay love story we wanted or needed to experience as the fin de siecle of the evolution of gays in history and the cinema. It was “maurice” in tight jeans! Which isnt a bad thing but its not a great achievement, that would have been two cowboys who find each other and have the cajones to love each other no matter what society thinks. That would have been the best gay movie ever, and it still might be
the greatest gay-themed movie of all time is also the most beautiful movie in film history, Visconti’s masterpiece “Death in Venice”
without a doubt, ” The Birdcage” is the best. I laughed my ass off the whole movie. The housekeeper was so funny, especially when he wore shoes.
Mine would definitely be
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
also
“Get Real.” It changed my life. Second best would be “Big Eden” because it reminds me of my grandparents cabin and there acceptance.
I adored Boy Culture.
I am fascinated at how many approaches there are to this. In my work I encounter teenage girls. Some have a designer purse. Some have an NPR tote adapted as a purse. Some have a Hello Kitty! purse. Each appreciates and identifies with the purse she carries. What is it that underlies such differences in artistic taste? Is it the same type of thing that underlies differences in culinary taste? Some want eggs benedict with a fine hollandaise and others want Froot Loops. Do the artistic, cinematic, and culinary tastes at all coincide? Is there a concommitant spectrum of emotional taste?
Does it make sense that someone who carries DG, loves Maurice, enjoys a liver pâté with pickled red cabbage, also like the warm/fuzzy end of the story spectrum? Do Birdcage, <Hello Kitty, Taco Bell, match up with high camp characters?
Some might call it “maturity”or “sophistication” but I wonder if there is a way such things are actually measured without being judgemental?
Haven’t seen it mentioned here, but I love a movie call “Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party.” It’s available on Netflix. The movie examines sexual angst when growing up/living evangelical and the title character deals with coming out and internalized homophobia.
I must admit I haven’t seem most of them mentioned, but will say Brokeback Mountain was really good. Also thought Love, Simon was really good. I appreciate all of the titles everyone has mentioned, as I hope to search out and watch some of them, as many of them I have never seen.
God’s Country
Brokeback Mountain, Moonlight, Call Me By Your Name, Love Simon, Birdcage
Not a mention of “Mambo Italiano”? Clever, stylish film with an unseen twist of an ending. Canadian film, no less.
CONSENTING ADULTS was one of the first TV movies about coming out (along with DOING TIME ON MAPLE DRIVE.) TOP GUNS hottie Barry Tubb played a college athlete coming to terms with his sexuality. Beautiful performances also by Martin Sheen and Marlo Thomas as the parents. Even-handed treatment of an at-the-time controversial subject.
IT’S MY PARTY is an incredible ensemble film about a man’s “going away” party when he learns his AIDS-related brain condition is terminal. Not at all as depressing as that synopsis might suggest. Eric Roberts and Gregory Harrison are ex-lovers, with additional terrific performances by Margaret Cho, Bronson Pinchot, George Segal, Lee Grant, Marlee Matlin and more.
I went to see Brokeback Mountain at the movies with a male friend of mine when it first came out. We had both kind of heard about the “situation” of the movie. When Ennis takes Jake in the tent while drunk, I remember the lump in my throat I could not swallow. I thought my friend was going to get up several times throughout the movie and did not. We later ended up living together for the longest time that I have ever lived together with another man. We had our moments of homophobia raising its ugly head many times, but somehow we still maintained our relationship. I realized the mistakes that I made along the way and I suppose so has he, because even though he has a wife ( who I know and knows me), and two children, we still kid each other about why we can’t quit each other. I don’t know what else to say other than that this life is weird and if you find someone that you enjoy snuggling up with at night, then go for it, because I think the main theme from Brokeback Mountain is that life is way too fucking short. And yes, Brokeback Mountain is one of my favorite movies ever and I watch it every time it is on and yes I cry all the time at the end. And no more beans! Live and love each other, please.
Thanks A4A for this post because I was able to add a few titles to my Netflix DVD que. Here are some of my favorites of which a few have already been mentioned above like Brokeback Mountain, Maurice, Beautiful Thing (1996), Free Fall, Shelter, Latter Days, Pride (2014), Torch Song Trilogy, The Way He Looks & Soldier’s Girl. Here’s my list of additional movies I think are some of the best GLBT films out there.
Cut Snake
God’s Own Country
Handsome Devil
Akron
Boys (2014)
4th Man Out
Holding the Man
Those People
Burnt Money
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Birthday Cake
Beyond the Walls
Men to Kiss
Strapped (2010)
4 Moons
The Bubble
Monster Pies
Out in the Dark
Kill your Darlings
Five Dances
Oy Vey! My Son is Gay!
Yossi
The Talented Mr. Ripley
“Boys in the Band” started the way that many gay men were living.” Making Love” gave white gay men a better look. “Torch Song Trilogy” showed how white gay men were being treated by straight society & they love was worth fighting for. Langston Hughes & other Black poets were writing about gay love from the black man’s perspective, but no movies were about black gay men that didn’t put us as a screaming feminine walking & acting male running after any man that walk down the street. Lookin for Langston”. “Brother to Brother”, was the first black gay movie that looked like me. There were days I walked a little feminine & days that I maned up. I was back & forth when it suited me, not anyone else. I had to fight for most of the time too. “Tales of the City ” talked about relationships on better level & HIV/AIDS. The Bands Plays ON” tells how HIV/AIDS got started & how straight America didn’t want anyone to know they could get HIV/AIDS like the Gay & injected drug user. Which would have made live much easier, instead of watching so many people die before something was to be done for HIV/AIDS. “Philadelphia” showed how the white gay & black population was being treated by a dominated by white straight America in a law firm. ” Paris Is Burning” showed how people of color were trying so hard to find a place where they belonged. Many were thrown out of their homes more often than you think & the streets become their home, playground, place of work, battleground, wounds of experience, masking of pain, heartache & survival of the fittest. How live the way you wanted to live without the world being able to who you’re really not. To blend in just like everyone else. “Moonlight because it’s the closest to how my world was. Still need a movie that portrays how many black gay men lived & are stilling living now.
Latter Days, My Beautiful Laundrette, Tom at the Farm, Kinky Boots, Hedwig and the Angry Itch, Different for Girls, Broke Back Mountain, The Adventures of Princella Queen of the desert.
But my all time favourite has to be: Beautiful Thing. I cry all the time. Such a lovely movie.
One of the earliest gay movie, That Certain Summer
A tragic one is The War Boys, MUST SEE!
The Broken Hearts Club
Maybe this movie doesn’t fit into a favorite as a gay movie, as it’s a documentary but very truthful I recently came across the movie “I am not your Negro”. A documentary by James Baldwin, Samuel Jackson. I personally can not believe the hatred, and horrible treatment that white people inflicted upon those of the black race here in the United States and elsewhere. Makes me ashamed of the white race, even though I am white. I don’t know how white people could have shown so much hatred, violence and even murder of people just because they were black. Unfortunately it still goes on today. People wonder why there is so much violence and poverty among the black race. All you need to do is look back at the past of how black people were treated and in many cases today still are. Even law enforcement and judges don’t treat black people equally compared to the white counterparts today. This movie basically explains the hatred from the 50s, 60s, 70,s and even today. It (the movie) also talks about Martin Luther King, and Malcom X. Obviously I have never been raciest. We are all human beings, contributing to society regardless of our talents and positions in life. Oh yea, imagine back then (60s-70s,etc) if a black person would have come out as being gay as well back then years ago. Why can’t people just get along, respect each other, regardless of racial, religious, and nationality differences.
I like the film The Big Eden I even purchased on DVD and I watched it at least 10 times.
If you ever get the chance check it out. I would be interested to hear if you enjoy the film.
1. Maurice
2. Out in the dark
3. The bubble
4. Undertow
5. Hawaii
6. The Weekend