Most romantic gay movie?- Page 4

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:28pm

Back to ALL OVER THE GUY for a second.

I never knew so many folks saw the damned thing. It played non-stop on cable about a year and a half ago, and I kept landing on it. It certainly kept you watchin'-- but what was the point? I remember when one plot turn (!) involved the nerdier guy -- naturally, he's the one who was committment-oriented and forever yearning (and loved GONE WITH THE WIND, of course--not WOMEN IN LOVE) -- giving in, opting to bottom for the non-committed one--the shallow fella who kept saying "do the math." If you step back from it ... It's a movie about, uh Top Gun worship, so to speak, and Bottom Feeding, because the cold, indifferent behavior of the anti-relationship half of the story is very much romanticized. The cold "straight-acting" top is perceived to be the catch, and the less cute "fem" is so needy that you can't imagine getting through BRUNCH with him, let alone a relationship. Okay, it's been 18 months since I saw it, but this is my memory. Correct me, afficianados. It perpetuates more than a few intra-community myths. (Topic: Why can't the "needy" one ever be the catch--and, uh, maybe, the butcher of the two? Talk amongst yourselves.)

Updated On: 9/2/04 at 01:28 PM

[GTP]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:35pm

Auggie27, it seems you and I saw the same picture. You remember it correctly from my point of view, but I'm not one of the film's fans. Maybe someone will tell us why they liked it. A different perspective would be nice.

-Jerry

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:42pm

At least the butch one was the alcoholic!

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:42pm

I own this one because it has Sasha Alexander who played Gretchen, Pacey Whitter's sister in season 4 of DAWSON'S CREEK, the best show to ever air on television.
Jerry, hold me. I'm missing it now.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:49pm

Dawson's Creek went SO downhill once they got to college, don't you think, Matt?

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:50pm

Pop, I KNOW you did not just go there.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:53pm

Big Eden, definitely...it's one of my favorite movies of all time. I don't think it ever fails to move me, and that's rather difficult, as I have no soul.

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:53pm

I still cried during that final episode.

I LOVE JEN!!!

AND GAY DADS!!!!

AND GRAMS!!!!!!!!

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:53pm

I am afraid I did, Matt. I loved it up until they went to college and then half way through that season it really fell apart.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:55pm

Popculture boy, you are officialy on Matt_G's SH*T list.

Don't make me quote Jen's speech to Amy that she videotaped!

"Hi, Amy. It's Mom. If you're watching this it means I'm not around anymore. And I know how much that sucks for both of us..."
Shall I continue, because on Madonna's name I'm crying now.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:57pm

I didn't watch that whole entire season, Matt. I stopped midway through the previous season. The Halloween episode was my last one. Sorry. But I did love it up until then. Does that help?

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:57pm

No.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:58pm

Fine. Go ahead and hate me.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 1:59pm

Thanks,GTP. I went back and read your earlier, rather more astute observations (I was clearly hung up on who "did" what to whom) on the film's bigger concerns and anthropological implications re the gay community's depition in movies. Interesting, that ALL OVER THE GUY had the most airplay on cable. I suppose the presence of Doris Roberts helped its profile). It seemed like one of those gay plays satirized in the Tolin play, LAST SUNDAY IN JUNE (?).

No one here will agree, because the story has a sad ending... but I still like the relationship between Peter Finch and the bisexual Murray Head (!) in SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY. It was made in 1971, and even then it turned the sugar daddy syndrome inside out, because the younger guy didn't need his money or prestige--he was an artist, and found the materialistic trappings of the older man pretentious and un-PC (for the time). It brilliantly brought issues of class and America-envy into its story, and avoided making middle age pitiful and youth perfection. Amazing, how fresh all that seemed--and still is. Finch wasn't pathetic, just truly in love, and Head wasn't an exploiter or in the closet--just complicated. Of course, now thatI'm closer to Finch's age, it's a LOT more romantic to me than it was in 71.

Updated On: 9/2/04 at 01:59 PM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:31pm

Wow, this thread grew overnight. I posted it 3am last night out of insomnia.

I loved Trick, and have it on DVD - it's such a great modern-day gay fairy-tale. And perfect for showtune-loving gay guys like us.

Maurice is also a classic. The love scenes are so beautiful. I adore Rupert Graves (and you get to see a lot of him, heheheh). You gotta give props to Ivory-Merchant for making such an exquisite gay movie. And it ends happily! Yay.

Someone asked about Another Country: it's not really a "cuddle up in a blanket with your boyfriend" kind of movie - in fact, it's actually a political movie. But it was the first gay-themed movie I ever saw, and I absolutely fell in love with how the gay romantic lovers were depicted: very wistful, painted with an innocent light.

Anyway, "Another Country" was originally a play, also starring Rupert Everett in perhaps his first professional performance, ever. It's a fictional account of infamous spy Guy Burgess ("Guy Bennett" in the movie/play), who spied on his own Britain for Communists and was defected to Russia in the 50s. Burgess was openly gay. Another Country tries to theorize as to why someone from Britain's aristocracy, educated in the "public school system" (equivalent to private school here in North America), would betray his country. Very interesting movie, with great performances. I thought Rupert Everett's affections for Cary Elwes' character were beautifully conveyed (the scene of them in the canoe is the most romantic scene ever filmed).

Try to rent it, it was one of the first major British films that dealt with homosexuality. If you loved Maurice, you'll also love Another Country. I think it also caused a huge trend/fetish for the private-schoolboy look.

Updated On: 9/2/04 at 02:31 PM

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:36pm

And if the story of Another Country intrigues you, check out the mini series Cambridge Spies, which deals with it in intimate detail and has a dream cast to boot.

[GTP]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:44pm

ANOTHER COUNTRY comes out on DVD this month, if I'm remembering correctly. I saw the film theatrically when it first came out back in the '80s. I was in high school at the time and hadn't really seen any other scenes of gay romance other than that hot scene from MAKING LOVE with Michael Ontkean and Harry Hamllin. I loved ANOTHER COUNTRY at the time, and I'll definitely check it out again on DVD. I can't wait to see how well it holds up for me after twenty years.

Hugs to Matt_G to get him through his DAWSON withdrawal.

-Jerry

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:47pm

Thank you. It's been a very difficult year for me. I do watch my episodes all the time but it's not the same. I cried and was consoled by Miss Mary Beth Peil which made me feel a little better, though.

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:48pm

Matt, would you not agree that California Kings is the most romantic gay movie of all-time?

I am appalled it has not been mentioned here yet.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:49pm

I think I will have to agree with you on this. Those guys really loved each other and you could tell.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:49pm

It was so special, since it was the 'first time.'

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:49pm

It was so touching.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:50pm

ANOTHER COUNTRY comes out on DVD this month, if I'm remembering correctly

Really? That's uber-good news. I've had trouble finding it new on VHS. Do you know which version it is? The original had a coda detailing what happened to each of the schoolboys, but the re-released one didn't. Not that it matters, it's still the same movie.

UPDATE: It IS coming out on DVD!! (No pun intended.) I'm so happy, this makes my day. I keep remembering how GORGEOUS Rupert Everett and Cary Elwes look in this movie. (Colin Firth, too.) They look so young and fresh-faced, they're captivating onscreen. And the cinematography is beautiful.
"Another Country" on DVD (Amazon.com)

Updated On: 9/2/04 at 02:50 PM

[Matt_G]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:50pm

The fact it was the first time was the most beautiful part about it.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 9/2/04 at 2:52pm

i also love all over the guy and i'm looking forward to Brokeback Mountain i'm sure that will be very romantic!!