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It's been bothering me...
15 years ago
GOODBYE, FAREWELL, OH WAIT WE JUST MET I AM SO SORRY.
So, it's not like I've seen that many, but...
Just recently I finally watched the two films that could probably be considered the most "mainstream" of cinema with gay protagonists, of at least the last decade, that is Brokeback Mountain, and I Love You Phillip Morris. So here's my beef...
Why is it that both of these films are ultimately some of the most depressing pieces of cinema out there? I mean ILYPM can make you laugh a lot, but in the end, it is kinda bleak and melancholic. And BM, well... You know.
That, and for me as a young man coming to terms with his sexuality, why is it that in either of these films I feel repulsed to relate with the protagonists in either piece? Both are irreversibly flawed people (in the end, neither change the key flaw of their personality, something that most protagonists are given the honor of achieving). In the end, I don't want to identify with either of the protagonists, which I recall is kinda what the LBGT community has been trying to achieve in cinema since pretty much the dawn of filmmaking.
I'm repulsed by either character, and although I sympathize with their plights, I still feel like they are horrible men in general. I want to go watch one of these films one day and say, "That's the man I want to be!!!". I'm all for realism of the plight of modern cultural biases and the issues of AIDs and all that jazz, but in the end I'd like to feel a bit better/safer about being who I am. Granted, I'm basically asking for fluff films to be made (and I really HATE happy endings as a film scholar), but there are times I'd just like to watch, relate, and be happy about my inclinations. Not ashamed, uncomfortable, worried, or filled with anxiety as to what I am getting myself into. Cause I honestly don't have experience in that field, and it isn't like I can look to my biased, bigoted, religious parents for comfort in those aspects.
And when can gay couples stop existing as punch-lines? Seriously.
Anyone know of any cheerful films about gays? I've seen at least one film with a happy lesbian couple, Saving Face, and I highly recommend that film...
But seriously, anyone? Cause I need to wash the tears and frustration out of my eyes. At least I Love you Phillip Morris made me laugh for a little while...
Just recently I finally watched the two films that could probably be considered the most "mainstream" of cinema with gay protagonists, of at least the last decade, that is Brokeback Mountain, and I Love You Phillip Morris. So here's my beef...
Why is it that both of these films are ultimately some of the most depressing pieces of cinema out there? I mean ILYPM can make you laugh a lot, but in the end, it is kinda bleak and melancholic. And BM, well... You know.
That, and for me as a young man coming to terms with his sexuality, why is it that in either of these films I feel repulsed to relate with the protagonists in either piece? Both are irreversibly flawed people (in the end, neither change the key flaw of their personality, something that most protagonists are given the honor of achieving). In the end, I don't want to identify with either of the protagonists, which I recall is kinda what the LBGT community has been trying to achieve in cinema since pretty much the dawn of filmmaking.
I'm repulsed by either character, and although I sympathize with their plights, I still feel like they are horrible men in general. I want to go watch one of these films one day and say, "That's the man I want to be!!!". I'm all for realism of the plight of modern cultural biases and the issues of AIDs and all that jazz, but in the end I'd like to feel a bit better/safer about being who I am. Granted, I'm basically asking for fluff films to be made (and I really HATE happy endings as a film scholar), but there are times I'd just like to watch, relate, and be happy about my inclinations. Not ashamed, uncomfortable, worried, or filled with anxiety as to what I am getting myself into. Cause I honestly don't have experience in that field, and it isn't like I can look to my biased, bigoted, religious parents for comfort in those aspects.
And when can gay couples stop existing as punch-lines? Seriously.
Anyone know of any cheerful films about gays? I've seen at least one film with a happy lesbian couple, Saving Face, and I highly recommend that film...
But seriously, anyone? Cause I need to wash the tears and frustration out of my eyes. At least I Love you Phillip Morris made me laugh for a little while...
I WANT TO PUNCH THAT SUCKY CARY GRANT IMPERSONATOR IN THE FACE UNTIL IT COMES OUT OF HIS PATOOT.
But aside from that, it was cute, albeit with awkward dialogue ("I can't believe you've done that" the sequel redux part 2 the second. seriously it was his boyfriend's catchphrase.). AND DAMN IT WAS DAMN SKIPPY CHEERFUL IN THE END. Thankies. I needed that.
BUT CARY GRANT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT YOU SUCKY IMPERSONATOR YOU PROBABLY ARE BRITISH AND CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AMERICAN AND CARY GRANT BUT THAT DOESN'T EXCUSE YOU FOR SUCKING SO BAD YOU HORRIBLE IMPERSONATOR.
He COULD have been the SHOW STEALER of the damn movie. But he sucked and made me laugh because of how terrible he was in particular. I never laughed with his dialogue, I laughed at its execution.
And they needed someone with prosthetics experience to finish out the "Cary Grantisization" of his face (a new bold field in plastic surgery...).
Obviously I'm stuck on the Cary Grant bit, but the rest of the movie was pretty good. Thankies again!
And that scene with the mom and the boyfriend getting to know eachother? I was almost certain that would have ended in awkward but understandable attempt at a kiss, because basically he took the other guys mom on a date. And she seemed pretty "taken" if ya know what ah mean.