Arts & Culture :: Movies

Bombing 'The Prom'

Bombing 'The Prom'

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Dec 21, 2020

Ryan Murphy has entered the musical film fray with his big screen version of the 2018 musical 'The Prom,' but stumbles with his well-intentioned adaptation of the story about has-been celebs invading a high school prom to champion a teen lesbian.

'Mank' takes a new twist on the life of the noted screenwriter

'Mank' takes a new twist on the life of the noted screenwriter

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Dec 8, 2020

Based on a screenplay written by his late father Jack, director David Fincher returns with a retro-infused biopic about 'Citizen Kane' screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz.

Being trans, playing gay; Hollywood & TV's evolution

Being trans, playing gay; Hollywood & TV's evolution

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Dec 2, 2020

The news of Elliot Page's coming out as transgender spread across the internet. At the same time, with less fanfare, actor Viggo Mortensen raised eyebrows with his defense of playing a gay character. Both show how LGBT actors and portrayals are evolving.

Film profiles trans patients who choose surgery

Film profiles trans patients who choose surgery

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Dec 1, 2020

In the past few years there has been a quiet revolution in medical treatment and surgery for transgender patients, aided by the Affordable Care Act, giving people an opportunity to have health care services hitherto unavailable to them.

The Yuletide's gay: new holiday TV movies

The Yuletide's gay: new holiday TV movies

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Dec 1, 2020

Once again, holiday movies will abound on your TV screens for the Christmas season, but this year there's a bit of a queer twist to the festivities. For the first time, holiday films made especially for queer-inclusive families air this season.

Ammonite's allure: Francis Lee's sapphic follow-up film

Ammonite's allure: Francis Lee's sapphic follow-up film

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Nov 23, 2020

Following the success of his debut feature, 'God's Own Country,' writer/director Francis Lee's 'Ammonite' is definitely worth watching, primarily for the incandescent performances from Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan.

'Frank' talk: an interview with actor Peter Macdissi

'Frank' talk: an interview with actor Peter Macdissi

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Nov 23, 2020

IN 'Uncle Frank,' Alan Ball's second full-length feature, Peter Macdissi plays Walid, the partner of Frank (Paul Bettany). Both warily travel from Manhattan to the deep South for a family funeral. Macdissi discussed his work on the film.

'My Neighbor, Miguel' — loving short documentary on San Francisco artist

'My Neighbor, Miguel' — loving short documentary on San Francisco artist

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Nov 21, 2020

What do you do when your neighbor is a famed local costume designer? If you're Daniel Navarro, you make a film about him. In 'My Neighbor, Miguel,' the life and creations of gay Latino designer Miguel Gutierrez gets a well-deserved intimate portrait.

Good as Golding: an interview with 'Monsoon' actor Henry Golding

Good as Golding: an interview with 'Monsoon' actor Henry Golding

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Nov 17, 2020

Actor and straight ally Henry Golding has become one of the most recognizable names and faces on film. In his latest independent feature, 'Monsoon' he plays a gay man returning to Vietnam.

Forever Amber: queer rom-com's cute and complicated

Forever Amber: queer rom-com's cute and complicated

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Nov 17, 2020

Gay filmmaker David Freyne gets personal with his Ireland-set queer rom-com 'Dating Amber.' Set in 1995, two students at a Catholic high school —Eddie, who's gay, and Amber, who's a lesbian— decide to 'date' each other.

BlaQ ArTed filmfest showcases new works by local artists

BlaQ ArTed filmfest showcases new works by local artists

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Nov 15, 2020

Short films by nine Black queer, trans, and nonbinary emerging youth filmmakers will be streamed online, with a drive-in opening night at Oakland's Chabot Space & Science Center.

Mother dearest: 'Stage Mother's familiar tropes

Mother dearest: 'Stage Mother's familiar tropes

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Nov 10, 2020

There's so much familiar territory visited in gay writer/director Thom Fitzgerald's 'Stage Mother' that watching it conjures feelings of déjà vu.

French twists: Gay rights movements and dance moves in 'Proud' and 'Bare'

French twists: Gay rights movements and dance moves in 'Proud' and 'Bare'

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Nov 10, 2020

'Proud' portrays the evolution of a family over three decades, using important gay rights decisions in France as markers for significant events in the character's lives. 'Bare' documents an all-male nude dance created by Thierry Smits in 2016.

The Lawyer: Lithuanian love story

The Lawyer: Lithuanian love story

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Nov 3, 2020

Gay activist and filmmaker Romas Zabarauskas discusses his third film, the intense and passionate 'The Lawyer,' about a bisexual Syrian refugee and his legal advocate.