Movie Reviews -
Gay Themed

The summary of the film said "An erotic thriller about a young artist whose obsession with a taboo fetish leads to life altering consequences." You feel this could be an interesting film, but so much disappointment instead.  starts out slow and some of the beginning seems irrelevant. Then it gets into the true premise of the film, but never explains the motivation of the characters. I was so confused at so many places but I thought it will get better. But it doesn't. Thomas, a young gay black man is an erotic artist by profession. He lives with his boyfriend Amadi but secretly explores his sexual fantasies by hooking up with guys through apps. He is fascinated by role play and BDSM but never gets to explore that with Amadi. One night at a gallery opening, he meets a white man named Lee who enjoys DBSM, and he soon becomes enmeshed in a racially-charged relationship that threatens to push his boundaries further than ever before. Meanwhile, Thomas’ white friend and fellow a...

The way this film is treated with periphery of a bromance, it feels as if the makers had Chinese censorship in their mind. Regardless there is ample hint of BL here even though the interactions are strictly of that of a bromance. It's a simple story of two friends who have a very very close relationship with one another but are also worried about what future will hold for them. The film is uncomplicated with a very relaxing and cozy overall vibe to it, somewhat similar to what those Christmas gay movies give you. Haru and Aki are friends from school and they had decided they will live together once they into university.  Aki is an amazing cook, who cooks mouth watering dishes , but is a messy person. So Haru balances him in keeping the house clean behind himself and Aki. A lot of film time goes into see Aki prepare these scrumptious dishes which both of them enjoy. They have the same social circle and all their friends have come to accept that these two are super close and there is...

When you have names like Pedro Almodovar, Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke associated with a project in the gay space, the expectations are naturally tremendous. I have to say, I was slightly disappointed that this was going to be just a 30 minute short film. I hoped for a full length feature film even without knowing absolutely nothing about wha the film is about. Nevertheless, I was still very much looking forward to this  romantic cowboy story which has more than what meets the eye. This film is not a story of two men who are struggling with their sexuality like some of these other stories. Instead it focuses more on the past as its subject — past romance, past promises, past regrets. Silva, a ranch owner crosses the desert to come meet Jake, the town sheriff. The two of them have an instant rapport meeting after almost 25 years. They spend the day and night together and we are told they were former lovers. But there is more to Silva's purpose of this visit. A murder in town has hap...

The scenario is almost too familiar within the queer movie scene. A comedy about group of friends gathered at a remote seaside home for a long weekend, sounds too familiar; something that we all have seen. So what's different here? The friends in this case have come together to help a playwright flush out his play inspired by Roman Emperor Hadrian and his much younger male lover. Directed almost like a play itself, the plot had potential, but I felt somewhere it gets lost in its own aspirations. James is an aging playwright, writng a play inspired by a love story. Athis weekend abode in the woods, he has with him a young actor Jay. He is young, almost comically clueless about any worldly affairs including famous writers or AIDS crisis etc. This play material is totally beyond him and he can't figure head or tail of it. Also expected to join them soon are James' old friend Charlotte, a has been star who now just play too her social media audience and Jay's boyfriend Call...

Gay film lovers are definitely familiar with the name Scud, a filmmaker who makes weird eccentric films and who's somehow still keeps getting money to make these films. IMO these are nicely packaged soft porn films, which are so not my type, but here I am again, watching his film and continuing to wonder, how do I find myself every time in this situation. I can just take solace in the fact that this film has been announced as a the final feature by Scud. Clips from previous works, mainly Adonis (2017), enter the story and blur the ever-so-fragile line between documentary and fiction, the actors and their roles. The premise of the film itself is odd. The ghost of a young soldier who gets raped multiple times in a single night by men whom he loved, bids farewell to his mother and travels the world to see his transgender sister. By possessing living bodies, he meddles with the romances of unfaithful lovers along the way in Taiwan, Japan, Spain and Thailand. He meets a soul mate amid t...

The story of this Japanese BL is nothing new. We have seen this plenty of  times in many shows, where both the leads are into each other but neither is able to express their feelings leading to all kinds of situations, sometimes funny sometimes awkward and then eventually the truth and love prevails. The setting is of course different here. And the other great thing about this show is that it is only 3 episodes of about 45-50 minutes each, so you can easily binge watch it. Aoyagi has just been offered the lead role in a BL show. He got famous thanks to an orange juice commercial when he was a kid but since then he hasn't done much substantial. He lacks confidence and doesn't believe his career is notable. Turns out his co-actor on the show is one of the most famous and upcoming BL actor Akafuji. Although Aoyagi tries to introduce himself to his costar, Akafuji seems standoffish around him. Aoyagi worries they may not get along in the long term. The crew suggests that the two ac...

Wow. This was such a beautiful tender film. A story of love, longing, freedom, loss an most importantly a tender gay love story in the midst of it all set in a juvenile center showing us the angst of some vulnerable teens. This film is so important in so many ways. The film is set in a juvenile center where a few teen boys and waiting for what's to become of their life. We meet Joe, who is three weeks shy of being presented before a judge who will hopefully grant him freedom. He has been waiting patiently along with many of the boys in the center, but the arrival of a new troubled boy William changes things. Suddenly his huger for that freedom dissipates. Frantic, passionate moments, typical of any teenagers exploring their sexuality, are snatched whenever possible in a place where all physical contact is forbidden. And before you know it, a relationship blossoms, awakening new, disruptive desires in Joe. They spend late nights listening to the radio and knocking against the connec...

I am surprised I missed this cute little mini series from 2018. With just 4 episodes each of about 10 minutes duration, the show explores the modern day gay dating world, particular to San Francisco, through a multi-diverse array of friends, lovers and a man lost inside the hook up culture, desperately trying to escape seen through the lens of our protagonist Jackson, the lead actor and also the director of this show. This is what the official synopsis of the show says: A look into the contemporary gay dating world particular to San Francisco, through the eyes of a man lost inside the hookup culture, while on a relentless pursuit for a way out. He asks all the questions, he tries all the things, he falls in love in all the wrong places. Playing both the victim and the culprit, follow him traverse a world full of contradictions, over-the-top self expression, casual drug use, and the age old idea of ‘free love' with all the consequences that follow. In a place, seemingly without any ...

The first season and the subsequent film version of this popular show "What Did You Eat Yesterday" has been one of my personal favorites. The focus on a different mouth watering recipe every single episode, while focusing on the continued growing relationship between a middle aged gay couple was something I totally enjoyed. So, naturally I was super excited when the episodes started coming out for Season 2. The show has 12 episodes each of 30 minutes duration. Kenji and Shiro are still a very happy loving couple living together going through the grind of everyday struggles. Thee include financial management, growing age, health issue, healthy eating, their closest friend, a minor tussle and introduction to their respective families etc. But as they turn 50, they begin to experience different changes, but Shiro and Kenji are still gentle with each other as they move on to a new stage in their lives. Kenji is made the manager of the saloon while Shiro is asked to take over the ...

Why.. Why!! Film makers try and just stretch a simple story behind what's needed and test the patience of the audience. This is a story we have seen many many times, albeit in different settings. In this specific case, this could easily have been a 20 min short film, with just proper editing. Instead, it is stretched to almost n hour long film, which really adds nothing at all. 2024 is not starting on a good note for me. Hector is a happily married man with a wife and a daughter living in s ams all town in Mexico. At work, his partner is leaving the company and a new guy Andre joins instead whom hector has to train. It is public knowledge that Andre is gay. Soon you see Andre starts to making moves on Hector, who mistaken by surprise and lets his displeasure known to Andre. But one day after work, Andre just kisses hector (Hell0! worktime sexual harassment anyone?).  Now, Hector can't get the kiss out of his mind and lies to his wife that he needs to go to a business trip for t...

When I'm Her (USA) (Documentary) Michael was a ballet prodigy with his career ahead of him, but when life doesn’t go as planned, he finds refuge from trauma and liberation as his alter ego, Russian ballet instructor, Madame Olga. By slipping into this mysterious character, Michael discovers a way to both embrace himself as an artist and reconcile with the pain from his past. Through Olga, Michael is able to give aspiring dancers a place to flourish and can be the kind of mentor he never had for himself.  Picture This (Canada) (Documentary) This short doc follows the story of Andrew Gurza, a self- described "queer cripple," as he plans the second edition of Justify My Love-a sex-positive play party for disabled people. At the heart of the film is the uneasy dichotomy that disabled people face, of feeling either invisible or like a freak show, especially with regards to their sexuality. Becoming Male in the Middle Ages (Portugal) Mirene and André are a straight couple strug...

This was really a simple easy breezy show without too much of drama forced in for no reason. But having said that maybe it was just too simple. It briefly reminded me of 'Color Rush' for its basic plot. Nonetheless, since this was recommended to m, I watched and I should say that even though this may not be the greatest Korean BL show, it was an easy simple watch. A show that slightly warms your heart. At 8 episodes of about 17 minutes each, it's a quick watch too. Dong Wook has returned to school after a year of absence but anyone who invites him to hangout is rejected very rudely. Lee Do Hyun, is the basketball team captain who is looking for a new team member to win the upcoming tournament. At insistence of the only friend that Dong Wook knows, he decides to join the team but Lee Do Hyun dismisses him completely. It seems they have s history. In many bits and pieces, we are told that Dong Wook has insomnia issues and Do Hyun is the only person in whose presence, he can f...

Released back in 2001, this documentary follows the life of Robert Eads, a fifty years old trans-man living in Toccoa, a small rural community in Northern Georgia. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1996 he seeks help from dozens of doctors, but each one of them refuses to operate on a transgender person as they are afraid it would negatively impact the reputation of their clinic, thus condemning him. The film recounts the last months of Robert’s life and shows the sometimes harsh reality of transgender people living in the rural world, and how they are fighting discrimination. It also deals with the intricacies of the social community that the main character, Robert Eads, has surrounded himself with since transitioning from female to male, details the romantic attachment that Robert has formed with his girlfriend Lola Cola near the end of his life, and examines the dynamics between Robert and his genetic family. The film takes its name from the “Southern Comfort Conference” held every y...

This 2014 film, even though made probably on a low budget like many other indie films around that time, possesses heart, humor, and a down home spirit that feels honest and well-earned. I am actually surprised that the film somehow was missed by me and it's only now I am getting to see it. It is also a reminder that all films age differently. Even though the content may not be as relevant (or maybe it is, I dont know), but the heart of the film still is very much visible here. Originally from a small town in Tennessee, Jason Potts is now out and proud and lives with his boyfriend in New York. When Jason returns to his hometown due to a family emergency, he quickly learns that not much has changed for the area's LGBT youth. His family insists on him moving back but he tells them since he doesn't think LGBT situation has improved much, he would like to see of the city would allow him to do a gay pride parade in the Main Street. His nemesis from school days is not prominent me...

Brazil is trying top get into the BL zone but so far the couple of shows that I have been there have paper thin plots, shoddy direction and a long long way to do anything polished. Add to that list this show, which, admiringly is slightly better than the previous ones that I saw, but still it has a very very basic storyline. The show is done over 6 episodes with each being 24-30 minutes of duration. Davi is a young man who has been raised in Sao Paolo with his mother. This year for holidays he is visiting his father whom he hasn't seen in a long time in a small town. Davi soon meets young Theo, a boy who was raised like a son by his father after his parents passed away. Despite initially appearing to be different, the two end up getting closer, leading Theo to question his feelings. During the time they live together, the two discover themselves in love, at the same time that they need to deal with the differences between young people from the countryside and those from a big city....