The Frameline LGBT film festival winds down this weekend and having seen many, but not all, of the films, I want say bravo to Frameline and congratulate them on a job well done.
Not all were great - but very diverse and progressive and almost all of the bases were covered - except for perhaps the bears!
But of what I saw, here's a recap, focusing on the best. Actually I decide to make three categories of Good, Better and the Best and have five movies each category. Think of this as the first annual Pulse Prizes for GLBT films.
THE GOOD
"August" is one of the sexiest movies that played at this year's festival. "August" starts off as the story of Troy, who returns to Los Angeles after spending some time in Spain. But we soon learn it's really the tale of Jonathan, the partner he left behind who has moved on with Raul.
While the plot seems to have been told before, there is still a freshness in this story, thanks to Eldar Rapaport's direction. And whoever is paired with whom, all three men look fantastic and there's a few titillating but not overly graphic sex scenes.
"Weekend" would certainly be a European companion to "August" as it has a pair of sexy actors and some nice, real sexual chemistry. It also can be considered a dramatic version of the American comedy "Trick" because the men start off as a one night stands, but it develops into much more than that. Each learn a little more about themselves and each other as the "Weekend" unfolds.
“Leave it on the Floor” almost didn't make my list as I wasn't a fan of the songs sung off stage and can't believe there are that many hot men in the DL. But since I am still thinking about it, it truly has made an impact.
I wish we had more depth on the Imperial Courts and underground ballrooms within the gay community, but this movie barely delves into that, making you want more. And if for nothing else, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the drag name introduced in this movie, Queef Latina. Move over Syphilis Diller and Suppositori Spelling, there’s another drag name for me to love.
Then there's “Going Down in La La Land.” I am a big fan of its writer/director Casper Andreas, who brought us the very cute but mistitled “Slutty Summer” and”The Big Gay Musical,” he takes a darker road here but to equal satisfaction.
“La La Land” is about a cute young man who ends up in LA but, while trying to get legitimate work, gets offered porn roles or as an escort. Before falling too deep into this world, he meets a famous TV star that wants a relationship on the DL (popular theme at the festival). This isn’t all romance though as some skeletons of our sexy young man creep into his new world, especially with director Andreas himself playing the part of as a strung out photographer. He usually plays the sweet, innocent and smart character. This time he’s pure slime and carries it off well.
But if you're looking for yet another gay movie to add to your Halloween collection, try "Unhappy Birthday." While not a gore fest at all, this is an intriguing tale of some friends that go to a island to connect with a long lost sister. This actually should be considered a suspense film as it doesn't have odd creatures or constant gory murders to truly be a horror film.
But writer/directors Mark Harriott and Mike Matthews must have seen tons of horror and suspense films as they do a great job pacing the story and making you feel uncomfortable, even before anything really happens. It helps they introduce us to a few odd characters and often seem to film from the next room or through a window, causing us to feel as if someone is watching....maybe they are. Worth a watch but think it's more a psychological drama rather than the return of Freddy, Jason or "Halloween's" Michael Myers.
"Night Watch" is a well crafted import from the UK with several characters who have secrets and connections to each other during World War II. It's like a great puzzle in which the audience gets a few pieces to put together but, alas, some key elements are seemingly missing. Just when you give up trying to figure it out, the film flashes back three years and then we learn more about the missing pieces and the puzzle gets more clear. This flashback technique is key to the film's success and keeps its audience on its toes throughout.
(Don't count there where six movies...couldn't narrow it to five.)
BETTER
“Becoming Chaz” has more substance than you’d imagine. Other than the sexual identity issues Chaz discusses, we learn more about dealing with body issues and Chaz takes his experience and tries to help other young people who are dealing with their own sexual identity. Chaz proves to be just regular person - like you and me - and almost completely stays away from talking about life as the child of stars.
"Hannah and the Hasbian" should be a story full of melodrama, but writer/director Gordon Napier has created a fresh often riotous story of a pair of women breaking up, intercut with scenes of one the first got together. Emily O'Brien-Brown as Hannah is a great physical comedian and easily get you wrapped up in her world as she comes to grips when her partner, played by Matylda Buczko, breaks up with her as she wants to be with man (and quickly labeled by Hannah as a hasbian - a former lesbian). While both women bring so much to the table and have great chemistry, the movie is stolen by Mahalia Brown as their acid-tongued, quick witted roommate.
"With You" is a loving tribute to Mark Bingham, the brave gay man who has been declared one of the heroes of Sept. 11. One might think it relives that tragic date, but it's actually uplifting has his mother carries on his memory and kind of paints us a picture of the man behind the hero. What makes this movie really work is to see all the Bingham had done to smash the gay stereotype mold and really opened the door to many others that came after him.
"Cho Dependent" shows what a true and great talent Margaret Cho is and a friend to the gay community. Having thought she can never top herself from having seen so many other of her stand-up comedy routines, I almost passed this up as there are so many movies to see. But I am glad I didn't. Damn girl, she's still fresh, funny, outrageous and topical. What a talent and friend we have in Cho!
"eCupid" almost seems like a recipe for predictable. But the characters are very sweet and cute - you want them as your own friends. This might be considered the gay seven year itch in which a semi bored partner decides to see what else is out there by surfing the night. He soon discovers there's no place like home - thanks in part to Morgan Fairchild, who is almost like the gay version of Glinda the Good Witch.
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