Homophobia In Film- Page 2

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:29pm

I didnt know that was a stereotype.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:30pm

I think it's more of a stereotype that most gays are smart and funny than that they aren't.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:31pm

"Gays have no sense of humor" is the mission statement of WILL & GRACE.

I'm surprised noone has mentioned DEUCE BIGALOW: EUROPEAN GIGOLO. "I don't care if people think I'm a murderer, just that they don't think I'm gay."

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:37pm

"Gays have no sense of humor" is the mission statement of WILL & GRACE.

If we're sliding over to tv shows, no show in recent memory had more queer panic than Everybody Loves Raymond. Talk about unfunny.

I never found Will & Grace all that funny, but I wouldn't go so far as to accuse it of being homophobic.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:38pm

"Gays have no sense of humor" is the mission statement of WILL & GRACE.

I have no idea what that means.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:39pm

I was sarcastically stating that I hate WILL & GRACE like the plague. THE PLAAAAAAAGUE, I SAY! Such an awful, awful, awful, awful show.

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:40pm

It means it's not an HBO series that four people watched.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:43pm

well, I hate "I Dream of Jeannie" but that doesnt make it homophobic.

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:45pm

It's anti-djinn, though.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:46pm

I have to disagree about Mrs. Doubtfire. Harvey's character at least had a lover, he wasn't a lonely, can't find the right guy and never talks about it type. I think it was an honest portrayal of a loving gay couple, and the Uncle Frank/Aunt Robert line was probably what they always called them. It seemed like a throwaway line. I've seen it a number of times, and found not a lick of homophobia at all.

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 4:59pm

For its gay pedigree (and the fact that it was a terrible, terrible movie notwithstanding) I thought Madonna and Rupert Everett's The Next Best Thing was virulently homophobic.

In one scene, Rupert pretends to be the screaming queen lover of a straight man to humiliate him, but that's a drop in the bucket compared the the overriding message of the film.

Spoilers (?)

Madonna's character becomes pregnant and she and Rupert raise the kid together, because he thinks he's the father. Turns out he's not, but Maddie doesn't share that fact with him until Rupert makes their mutual parenthood inconvenient for her. Then she not only tells him he's not the father, but she takes him to court to sue for custody, where he is shamed and humiliated for his "seedy" gay ways (all information that came from his so-called best friend). Dejected and destroyed, Rupert is finally allowed by Maddie to see his son.

The moral of that movie seemed to be that it was all great and well to be the gay accessory when it was convenient, but never dare to bite the straight hand that feeds you.

The fact that this movie starred not only an out gay actor but also arguably this generation's biggest gay icon still confounds me to this day.

Updated On: 3/5/07 at 04:59 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 5:10pm

While I agree that many films do perpetuate gays in a negative way, I don't agree that many of the films listed are really homophobic or necessarily perpetuate gay stereotypes. Like The Birdcage, for example. Without the lead character's effeminate mannerism and penchant for drag, the story simply doesn't exist. And it's not as if this is some sort of unrealistic character who's existence depends solely on the outcome of the straight characters. It is a gay man, who prefers to be recognized as his son's mother, is accepted by his son and future daughter-in-law, tries sacrificing his own identity for the love of his son, but ultimately triumphs with truth in the end. The gay characters are protagonists who are ultimately portrayed as heroic. Are people offended by their behavior or mannerisms, because seriously...

And Silence of the Lambs? Are we supposed to pretend that all serial killers are straight? Wouldn't that be heterophobia?

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 8:09pm

Much less people on this site.

Updated On: 6/2/07 at 08:09 PM

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/2/07 at 6:59pm

Bump.

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 11:14am

Haven't really seen most of the films listed in this thread. And, that's ok. It's just a movie....it's not real...it's pretend. If a film has homophobia, or anytype of phobia....what difference does it make? If you don't like it, then don't watch it. How does that effect us? It's a film makers vision....not the person who watches it.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 11:34am

What an ignorant statement.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 12:14pm

I recently went to the movies and saw a trailer for the new Adam Sandler movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and was shocked at how homophobic it was. I really can't believe it even got made.
Updated On: 6/3/07 at 12:14 PM

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 12:26pm

Erik, from everything I've heard about "Chuck and Larry" it's not homophobic at all and actually ends up being very touching in the end....hehe touching in the end....Seriously though, alot of the interviews with Sandler have pointed up that the film isn't homophobic. What is appalling is the studios decision to sell the movie that way. Cause they know that if they sold it as Kevin James and Sandler in Hot Awkward Love....it wouldn't sell. On the other hand, if the film isn't homophobic and the studio is using the trailers as a bait and switch, then good for them. Bottom line is, most of the comedy will come from them being put into situations that "challenge their manhood". What's important is that the situation be used to laugh and teach a lesson and not become a cheap joke at the gay community's expense. I do have faith in this movie however.

And Radigirl; I just don't see eye to eye on your assertation of But I'm A Cheerleader. I don't feel it was sanitization at all. It played up the rediculousness of the 50's Happy Family in Pastels mentallity. A wonderful film I thought.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 12:27pm

We'll see..after viewing the trailer I don't see how it possibly can't be homophobic but I hope you're right.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 12:30pm

Well, the trailer of I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU... is homophobic and tries for cheap laughs, particularly the wedding scene bit. I can't speak for the film as a whole, but the trailer left an ill taste in my mouth.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 12:32pm

I fully agree the trailer does come off that way. I think it's sad that they feel the only way to sell the film to a wide audience is to "Make fun of dem friggin queers...lets ride the tractor to that movin picktyure baybay". But welcome to $=everything in the commercial movie industry.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 1:47pm

yeah mainstream gay-themed films usually get sold in extremely unkoo ways. i remember the trailer for brokeback mountain that made it seem like jack and ennis just became really really really good friends.

chuck and larry was written by the same team who wrote sideways (who, by the way, also wrote the gay-themed ELECTION) so i have a feeling it's not homophobic at all. still not going to see it in theaters because the audiences are going to piss me off. it's bad enough just watching the trailer in theaters. i cringe whenever it pops up because i know the audience will piss me off. Updated On: 6/3/07 at 01:47 PM

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 2:22pm

Yeah, Cruel, but you also didn't see the blatant homophobia racism etc. in 300, and that movie didn't go out if its way to hide how vicious it is.

I'll wait and see about this CHUCK AND LARRY thing. I have a feeling it will try to have it both ways, lots of offensive gay panic jokes with a happy message of tolerance at the end, so they can pretend they didn't mean it and defuse any criticism.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 2:47pm

it may of some ease to some of you that Chuck and Larry has GLAAD's seal of approval. that may concern some of you lol. and Adam Sandler is def not a homophobe. big daddy (is that the name of the film?) had a positive gay couple.

what's exhausting and frustrating is the audience. but I sorta feel like they are just getting it out of their system. and the more they 'gross out' the more it speaks to their own internal fears, etc.

I think things are getting better, though there are still films and shows that continue to include homophobic moments. but I do feel that it's waning.

I think the best thing we can do is not give them our money and warn others who feel as you do.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 2:50pm

i don't recall any homophobia in 300. i could possibly see where someone could read the kicking-the-messenger-into-the-bottomless-pit scene as racist but the Spartans themselves came off even worse, in my opinion. They came off as unintelligent belligerent pigs that would gladly do extremely stupid stupid things to protect their pride instead of using their common sense. All in the name of freedom.