Arts & Culture :: Movies

Cured: documentary on anti-gay psych wars

Cured: documentary on anti-gay psych wars

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Oct 26, 2021

Patrick Sammon and Bennett Singer's documentary 'Cured' focuses on the background, struggle, and eventual victory that convinced the historic 1973 decision by the American Psychiatric Association to declassify homosexuality as a mental illness.

The vampire's closet: 'Dark Shadows' star Jonathan Frid in new documentary

The vampire's closet: 'Dark Shadows' star Jonathan Frid in new documentary

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Oct 26, 2021

A new documentary recalls the life and career of Jonathan Frid, the actor who played Barnabas Collins, a 175-year-old guilt -ridden vampire on 'Dark Shadows,' the horror-themed daytime soap opera that became enormously popular during the late 1960s.

50 years in 50 weeks: scares of 1999

50 years in 50 weeks: scares of 1999

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Oct 20, 2021

In late October 1999, film writer Gary Morris focused on the San Francisco Film Society's Dark Wave series, a three-night mini-festival of unusual independent films screened at The Victoria Theatre.

Bland 'Dune' - also, Frank Herbert's dug-up homophobia

Bland 'Dune' - also, Frank Herbert's dug-up homophobia

  • by Brandon Judell
  • Oct 19, 2021

Attending the morning screening of 'Dune' at the New York Film Festival, I was hoping for an LGBTQ romantic comedy about the Pines on Fire Island. What I got was 'Star Bores.'

Film fan family: Michael Koresky's movies & mom memoir

Film fan family: Michael Koresky's movies & mom memoir

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Oct 19, 2021

Gay film critic Michael Koresky's innovative and captivating book, 'Films of Endearment: A Mother, a Son and the '80s Films That Defined Us,' skillfully intertwines movies and the events in his and his mother Leslie's lives.

Music, menus & motion: Mill Valley Film Festival faves

Music, menus & motion: Mill Valley Film Festival faves

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Oct 12, 2021

The Mill Valley Film Festival returns for its 44th year October 7- 17, with in-person and online screenings. A few notable features: documentaries about Leonard Bernstein, Julia Child, and The Velvet Underground.

Gay rom-com 'Bros' begins filming in NYC

Gay rom-com 'Bros' begins filming in NYC

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Oct 9, 2021

Soon after gay Twitter calmed down about the Billy Eichner feature film project 'Bros,' which will feature an all-LGBT cast, costar Luke MacFarlane posted a few on-set tight T-shirt thirst-trap photos on his Instagram account.

Chris Kelly: 'The Other Two' co-creator on finding truth through gay comedy

Chris Kelly: 'The Other Two' co-creator on finding truth through gay comedy

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Oct 5, 2021

"Fame is a mother," reads the tagline for 'The Other Two,' the acclaimed HBO Max comedy series. Whether or not you've seen the show, you've probably already laughed at the writing of the show's co-creator, Chris Kelly.

Chosen family viewing: The Lavender Tube on Pauli Murray, Nuclear Family, Clickbait

Chosen family viewing: The Lavender Tube on Pauli Murray, Nuclear Family, Clickbait

  • by Victoria A. Brownworth
  • Oct 5, 2021

Happy LGBTQ History Month, everybody! How better to celebrate than with some compelling new queer history? Amazon Prime, HBO and Netflix have some superb new offerings.

50 years in 50 weeks: 1996's cinematic 'dyke twist'

50 years in 50 weeks: 1996's cinematic 'dyke twist'

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Sep 29, 2021

The film 'Bound,' described in the October 3 issue of the 'Bay Area Reporter,; was 'Noir lite with a dyke twist.' The Gina Gershon/Jennifer Tilly stylized romance got off to a passionate start only minutes into the crime flick.

Oh, dear: 'Evan Hansen's major and minor misfires

Oh, dear: 'Evan Hansen's major and minor misfires

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Sep 28, 2021

Adapting stage musicals for film is very tricky and the list of successful Broadway musicals that made poor films is legion. We can now add the misfire exploitative disaster 'Dear Evan Hansen' to that ignominious list.

Sixth B.A.R. Talk focuses on film & TV

Sixth B.A.R. Talk focuses on film & TV

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Sep 27, 2021

Cinema and television through five decades of 'Bay Area Reporter' coverage will be discussed by two prolific film writers, Brandon Judell and Brian Bromberger, on Oct. 7 at 6pm. Arts & Nightlife Editor Jim Provenzano moderates the online panel.

'Bloodsisters' - groundbreaking lesbian BDSM video re-released

'Bloodsisters' - groundbreaking lesbian BDSM video re-released

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Sep 21, 2021

Originally released in 1995, Michelle Handelman's documentary 'Bloodsisters: Leather, Dykes & Sadomasochism' educates and enlightens while preserving the history of San Francisco's lesbian BDSM community.

Eyes of Tammy Faye: dramatic adaptation of the televangelist documentary

Eyes of Tammy Faye: dramatic adaptation of the televangelist documentary

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Sep 14, 2021

Jessica Chastain stuns with mascara-eyed sincerity in the narrative adaptation of the acclaimed documentary, 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye,' about the rise and fall of televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.