Movie Reviews -
Gay Themed

This film technically should be blocked strictly in the LGBTQIA+ category. This is a very universal story, but the fact that a poet's muse happens to be a young boy would probably not go down very well by straight audience and hence I guess the reason this film is gaining popularity in the LGBTQIA+ circle. While initially the movie tarts off well, somewhere it loses track and is hampered by contrived drama. Hyeon, is a 30-something man, married, working as a part time teacher but really enjoys writing poetry. His poems are full of beautiful expressions but lack depth and passion. Their financial condition is not the best but his wife has decided that she wants to have a child. He is not a very sexual person and hates the idea of sex even for a child and they eventually start going for IVF, since thats what his wife demands. HIs mundane boring life and his libido suddenly spike when he watches the boy in the newly opened doughnut shop making out with another girl. He is excited...

There are a few films that are heralded as classics that revolve around drag queens. Drag is always been a fascinating topic and great stories can be told through movies. Thankfully with changing times, most makers are trying to give a chance to real drag queens as the stars of these films. And I am really liking that. This film has a very simple straight forward story (if you can call that), but with a short running time, it keeps you mostly entertained. 'Cherry Pop' is the local dive bar that regularly hosts drag shows. Every now and then, there is a brand new drag queen who give their first ever drag performance and are called 'Cherry'. So, we have a new 'cheery' in the mix of the regular drag queens in the bar. We have Kitten, the MC, who is katty like you would expect, we have Zaza, the queen of queens, who is being suicidal because her muse has passed away. There are 2 experienced queens who are constantly at loggerheads and ready too rip each other a...

A drama that delves into the life hardships of marginalized people cannot be an easy watch. Especially if that person happens to be gay and teen. this film surprised me with its sincerity in projecting the pains of a teenager, who is not struggling because of his sexuality, but just to live and make ends meet. This is definitely not an easy film to watch. Socrates is 15 when his mother suddenly passes away. They left his father's home. Give that they come from very poor area, Socrates has to figure out a way to earn for himself and to make sure he can pay the rent. And hence starts the process of him knocking on familiar doors in the hopes that someone opens up to provide understanding and shelter. We don't know yet why Socrates left his father's home but he will do anything to avoid going back to him. He eventually get a temporary gig at a construction site where he meets fellow worker Maicon. Before you know on another day the two men are making out. They talk, have ...

Some people would argue that in times where LGBTQIA community is fighting for their rights, a film about gay hustler and a serial killer is probably not the thing t hat you want to be seeing but then art is never supposed to be politically correct. So, in that sense I will not question the storyline itself. But this is not to say that we can ignore, what a terribly badly acted and directed this film was. Connor lives with his drunk abusive father and his sister who will soon be a cop. When his father catches him kissing another boy, he is thrown out. Before you know, Connor becomes a hustler satisfying older men. We have a parallel second story of Milton, who is obviously gay, which doesn't go down well with his very religious parents. He has a crush on a classmate who doesn't return Milton's advances. His family is blown apart soon. A few years later, we see that Milton has now violent impulses and he kills men who do not reciprocate to his advances. And Connor, while...

Who doesn't like a good romantic film, especially when it has a happy ending. This film is a perfect example of how when done right, a simple story can be so much effective to hold to audience's attention. This film is a journey of self-discovery to learn what we have to offer. I am really amazed that this film is not popular among the LGBTQIA audience. In my opinion, this film deserves a lot better. As a young boy, Justin knew he was different and gay but under the watchful eye of his very strict father, he was never allowed to act upon them. Slowly, Justin learnt how to hide his true emotions and feelings and started to write them down. Of course when he moves to college, things are different. He is open about his sexuality and has an amazing circle of friends, Brooke being his best friend. His father usually calls him twice a quarter and because of years of built up of father's pressure makes Justin hurt himself one way or other when his father calls, making him a f...

This is exactly the kind of mindless braindead gay "comedy" films that I am afraid of ruining my time. I really can't believe that anyone at all will find this film funny by any means, and if people do, then there is definitely something wrong. We need to really make people aware of the difference between trash and good cinema. David and Kyle are celebrating their 10th year of being together. Taking a clue from one of their other gay couple friends, they decide to maybe try out opening up relationship and make a few set of rules. Only dating, no sex etc etc. Kyle gets an online profile created on a dating app by his sister and meets a couple of weirdos. Meanwhile David is approached by a hot younger student of his and they end up having sex. They both feel odd and decide to put a stop to this open thing. But David is again approached by his hot student and he can't control. Kyle finds them together and they break up. Eventually love is stronger, they both get to ...

Although this film is from Taiwan, it is set in the town of Chengdu in China. We have seen a few films in many languages where social stigma about being gay is depicted in a humorous way. The thing with comedy is that you have to be crisp and to the point, which is somehow missing in this film. Wu Gang and Sam are a gay couple who have been together for over three years. To give into his mother's pressure, Gang gets into a fake marriage with Yang Duo. Yang is a lesbian who has been in a steady relationship with another girl. But when after the wedding, the other starts showing up unannounced at their home, Duo is forced to move in with Gang which leads to her breakup with her girlfriend. At one such event, the mother shows up with Gang's sister and she asks Duo to convince her to get married. We soon realize that the sister is also gay and before you know the sister and Duo are getting together. Some awkward hilarious scenes with a very dominating mother follow, who even f...

This is an independent gay themed film which feels like it was made on a very shoestring budget, mostly because the production quality doesn't seem that high. But then the film came back in 2007. I was surprised to see a few very explicit sex scenes, which I dont think I have seen in any other Pinoy movie before. Set in small town Lobo known for its lighthouse, we meet Mateo, the 20 year old caretaker of the lighthouse. The local legend says that the lighthouse in inhabited by a fairy who seduces desirable men who can then never marry. He has been doing that for 3 years and since has been dating a girl. City boy Jerome soon arrives into town and Mateo becomes his caretaker. Mateo is also looking for his father in the same town who abandoned him. Jerome befriends Mateo and before you know they get into a physical relationship. The day of Mateo's wedding is when Jerome leaves back to Manila. Mateo cancels his wedding and goes to Manila to be with Jerome. Jerome welcomes him ...

There are not many Indian films that question and talk about sexuality, given that its the producer of largest number of films worldwide. So, in that sense, this is a film with a beautiful story of a transgender who faces prejudice from society but fights on. Sadly, screenplay is a little weak but a good performance by the lead actor is definitely worth applauding. Mathukutty leaves home when he is being pressured to get married. He knows that he has been born in a wrong body and goes for sex change operation to become Marykutty. The problems and predujice just begin when she moves back to her native town. Disowned by family, the town parish priest gives her all the support. She is determined to become a sub Inspector and joins a coaching institute to prepare for the exam. In between, with the help of priest she also works as a Radio Jockey hosting a popular show "Hapiness Hour". A lot of the film is focussed on how she is most mistreated by the local police authorities ...

This is an interesting film on the whole concept of a thruple. Bisexuality is at the core of this film and it at least asks all kinds of questions that people in such situation would have , mostly from the perspective of how society will perceive them. But sadly, the overall impact of the film is not the greatest. Th elove story somehow feels shallow. Nacho, an accountant meets Ana at a party in Buenos Aires and they get along well. Things become interesting when Sebastian, the bartender starts flirting with both of them. Both of them find this interesting. Noah is starting to accept that he is bi. Before you know the trio is spending a weekend in a nice big country house belonging to Sebastian's friend. Sebastian tells them that he has historically been dating women but on 2 different ocassions he had extended relationship with a couple and thats when he realized that its the only kind of relationship he would ever want. He says that he doesn't want to join a couple who i...

Love, Simon was one of the most talked about queer movies of 2018. No wonder makers came up with a wonderful idea of doing a spin off of the film. This is a 10 part series telecast on Hulu. Victor is a Latin teenager, whose family has just moved to the new city and will now be going to the same school that became popular thanks to Simon's perfect love story. His parents are from a modest family and he has a sister and a younger brother. The parents moved out of their home because the mother had an affair, which the kids eventually find out. Simon is struggling with his sexuality and is not sure if he is gay, straight or something else. He introduces himself to Simon and they both start chatting on instagram, with Simon giving Victor advice. Victor soon makes best friends with Felix and before you know him and Mia, a popular girl in school, start going out. We are also introduced to Benji, the openly gay kid in school who part time works at a barista. Victor feels attracted to ...

The Younger (Taiwan) Hao became a male masseur to make ends meet and pay for his grandmother’s costly medication caused by her recent stroke and her Alzheimer’s. The job forced him to deal with his previously suppressed sexual urges for men. Hao begins to lose the balance he once had with family, work, and himself. The Distance Between Us and the Sky (Greece) Two strangers meet for the first time at an old gas station. One has stopped to gas up his bike, while the other is just stranded. Lacking the 22.50EUR he needs to get home, he will try to sell him the distance that separates them from the sky. Orange Zest (Germany) Two guys just dance on their feelings for each other depicting 3 different stages of love in a gay man's life. Moros en la costa (Spain) [Breaking and Entering] A poor young Arab is called to his mansion by Angel for a hookup. But when the parents unexpectedly come back home, angels begs him to hide since he is only 16. More secrets will now come...

This film is a perfect blend of romance, drama and some comedy as well. I have to admit that personally I am drawn to dysfunctional family dramas and I quite enjoy them. This film not only focuses on the dynamics of a gay relationship in a still conservative Vietnamese society, but at its core its about family values and how extended families live together, support each other and what do they all expect from one another. Nau Van returns home to Vietnam from USA after quite a few years. The occasion is his father's death anniversary and moving of his tomb. Joining him is Ian, his boyfriend, which no one is aware of. Ian is of Vietnamese origin and has been in US since he was a kid. Part of Van's plan is to also come out to his mom. The mother lives with 2 other sisters, one is married with 2 kids and other is single. Together all of them take care of Van's grandmother who has senile dementia. When introduced, granny thinks of Ian as her grandson and takes an instant lik...

This is a very moody and broody film that makes you wonder and think. We have seen a few films with gay hustlers trying to make ends meet and eventually looking for companionship. The film is similar but with its differences. This is strictly a transactional exchange but somewhere both parties are involved are maybe looking for something more (not necessarily love). Also interesting to note that this whole German film is in English. Young and rich German guy Lars meets Waseem on a hookup app on a railway platform and takes him home. Waseem's rules are clear. No kissing and he will only fuck. They have a good time, with barely any exchange of words. Afterwards, Waseem goes home to a communal Syrian refugee shelter where he has to share a communal shower and deal with bunkbed roommates. Lars is intrigues enough with Waseem to want to meet him again. When Waseem responds to Lars' curiosity about him with chilly silence, the German playfully extends the transactional nature of...

Touted as a film that follows an overly complicated exploration of racism, homophobia, family dysfunction, police corruption, prejudice (racial and gender), and most important gay homophobia! What it ends up being is a contrived and confused film which is all over the place stretched beyond belief before it starts to make a point. William Boyals is a successful lawyer from south, who is gay and he keeps himself busy with work. he is off and on seeing another guy in the city. In a small neighborhood of New Orleans, a young gay man is killed outside a gay bar. When the local cops dismiss the murder as a suicide and refuse to do anything about it, his mother reaches out to Boyals for help. When he comes to town, he meets a lot of people, untrustworthy cops, closet black gays unwilling to help, hateful white trash and finally his mother that disowned him when he came out of the closet to be a successful gay man. Boyals is attacked by different men and he struggles to find the killers....