By Richard Knight Jr.
With the release of the indie romantic drama Love is Strange, the dog days of summer have given us one of the year's best gay-themed movies—and with The Skeleton Twins opening this week ( see my review in this issue ) the fall season is off to a promising start. A random sampling of what lies ahead cinematically in the coming months, movies overtly queer or just plainly anticipated by yours truly. Unless otherwise noted, the opening date listed refers to at least a one-week theatrical run or VOD.
September
Reeling—The Chicago LGBT International Film Festival returns for its 32nd year with a great line-up of queer-themed features and shorts—the majority of which are Chicago premieres. The fest is also back at the Landmark Century as the primary screening location. Festival highlights will be profiled in next week's WCT ( and see this week's story on Reeling's many trans*-themed films ). Sept. 18-25
This Is Where I Leave You—Shawn Levy directs what looks to be a comedic variation of August: Osage County in which four grown-up siblings ( Tina Fey, Jason Batemen, Adam Driver, Corey Stoll ) are forced by their hypersexed mother ( Jane Fonda ) to spend a week living together following the death of their father—and, yes, there is a gay twist. Sept. 19
The Boomer List—PBS screens this entry in it popular American Masters series, a documentary focusing on high-profile baby boomers ( born between the years 1946 and 1964 ) and their groundbreaking accomplishments. Rosie O'Donnell, Eve Ensler, Tommy Hilfiger, Samuel L. Jackson, Dave LaChapelle and AIDS activist Peter Staley are among those included. Premieres Sept. 23
White Bird in a Blizzard—Queer film auteur Gregg Araki adapts ( from the best-selling novel ) and directs this tale of a college girl who goes into emotional freefall after the disappearance of her mother. Red-hot Shailene Woodley ( Divergent; The Fault in Our Stars ) headlines a cast that includes Shiloh Fernandez, Eva Green, Chris Meloni, Thomas Jane and Gabourey Sidibe. Sept. 24
October
Chicago International Film Festival ( CIFF )—Chicago's most prominent film festival celebrates 50 years with a line-up and attendant special events that will certainly offer plenty for LGBT audiences. The fest is often the place for Chicago premieres of prominent queer-themed films ( last year, festivalgoers were the first to see Blue Is the Warmest Color and Kill Your Darlings ). The festival has already announced the critically lauded Brazilian film The Way He Looks as part of its line-up. Oct. 9-23
Hunted: The War Against Gays in Russia—This HBO documentary examines the fallout after the introduction of Russian government's virulent anti-gay propaganda law. Narrated by out actor Matt Bomer. Oct. 10
Pride—Imelda Staunton stars in this true story of a UK contingent of gays and lesbians who came to the aid of conservative, striking miners at the height of the Thatcher regime during the 1980s. It looks like a gay twist of The Full Monty, Calendar Girls, etc. Oct. 10
Dracula Untold—The once openly gay Luke Evans ( according to an interview with the Advocate in 2002 )—who has had supporting parts in a slew of big-budget franchise flicks ( The Hobbit, Fast & Furious, etc. )—stars in this bloody actioneer about the origins of the Prince of Darkness. Oct. 10
To Russia with Love—Johnny Weir, the irrepressible champion skater who is renowned for his outrageous behavior and unapologetic openness about his gay sexuality, is the focus for this documentary that profiles Weir's experience as a commentator at the winter Olympics held in anti-gay Russia. Screening on the EPIX channel. Oct. 22
Advanced Style—The Gene Siskel Film Center presents the Chicago premiere of Lina Plioplyte's documentary about seven Manhattanite fashionistas ( ages 60 to 90 ) whose dedication to their outrageous, uber-stylish wardrobes has brought them plenty of notoriety. Oct. 24
November-December
Foxcatcher—Director Bennett Miller and screenwriter/actor Dan Futterman—the duo behind 2005's Capote, have won raves ( and Miller the best directing prize at Cannes ) for this true-life crime saga about Olympic wrestling champs Mark and Dave Schultz and how their lives were tragically impacted by their involvement with John du Pont, their wealthy but mentally disturbed sponsor. Steve Carell, Channing Tatum ( Magic Mike ) and Mark Ruffalo ( The Normal Heart ) co-star. Nov. 14
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I—It's the beginning of the revolution in this third and penultimate installment of the mega-popular film franchise. Jennifer Lawrence returns as the kickass heroine and face of the revolution Katniss Everdeen, along with Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, et al. Julianne Moore is new to the cast as the president of the evil Capitol. Nov. 21
The Imitation Game—Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the math genius Alan Turing, whose cracking of the Nazi's Enigma Code turned the tide for the Allied Forces in WWII. Turing, who is often referred to as the father of modern computers, was forced out of government service when he admitted being gay, eventually killing himself. Mark Strong, Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode co-star. Nov. 2
Sing-A-Long-Sound of Music—For close to a decade, Thanksgiving weekend has meant a trip to the Music Box Theatre for its annual sing-a-long presentation of the 1965 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical classic starring Julie Andrews as the chirpy Maria, Christopher Plummer as the riding crop-wielding Captain Von Trapp, all those Von Trapp kiddies and a bevy of nuns. Get out your wimples, girls! Nov. 28
Exodus: Gods and Kings—Ridley Scott moves into Cecil B. DeMille territory a la The Ten Commandments with an epic retelling of the epic Biblical story of Moses leading the Hebrews out of Egypt. Hunky Christian Bale steps in for hunky Charleton Heston, hunky Joel Edgerton is in for hunky Yul Brynner, hunky Aaron Paul is in for hunky John Derek, and Iranian-born actress Golshifteh Farahani slithers in for Anne Baxter. Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley also star. Dec. 12
