Mothers and their gay sons
Two well-received queer-themed movies, Akron and Other People, open this weekend—which, in itself, is a miracle and a reason to head to the Siskel and Facets—offer great proof that the stereotype of the close bond between gay sons and their mothers is still more than a little valid.
Adorable twinks Benny ( Matthew Frias ) and Christopher ( Edmund Donovan ) meet cute on the football field their freshman year at the University of Akron and fall hard for each other. That's where Akron gets its awkward title; however, unlike the usual gay-themed romantic drama that ensues, both guys are not only comfortable with their sexuality, but so are their friends and families. So all is good as Benny and Christopher find themselves moving from lust ( there's a very sexy lovemaking bout in a tent when they go camping ) to love.
Then, just as the cutesome twosome are heading to Florida for spring break to meet Christopher's doting mother, Benny and his family stumble upon the most improbable of coincidences. A tragedy early in the lives of both guys connects them in ways they'd never imagined and now Benny—as well as his family, especially his even-more-doting mother—have some hard choices to make. Both mothers, having played a large role in shaping the mindsets of their sons, have a none-too-subtle influence on the future of the relationship as well. To the credit of Brian O'Donnell ( who scripted, co-directed along with Sasha King, and co-produced ), this doesn't seem cloying or smothering.
Although the emotional crisis that precipitates all this is a bit contrived ( okay, VERY contrived ), Akron is helped by the earnest performances of its two appealing, easy-on-the-eye leads and an adept, convincing supporting cast. It plays exclusively at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., beginning this Friday, Sept. 9. O'Donnell ( who also co-produced ) and executive producers Ellen and Tim Kollar will be present for audience discussion at the Sept. 9-10 screenings. http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/akron
The relationship between David ( Jesse Plemons, of Fargo and Breaking Bad ) and his mother, Joanne ( Molly Shannon, of SNL and Year of the Dog ), is also central to Other People, the touching feature screenwriting-directing debut from SNL writer Chris Kelly. David is a comedy writer struggling in New York who's just broken up with his boyfriend when he returns home to Sacramento for the first time in 10 years to deal with his mother's cancer diagnosis. A lot has happened in the preceding decade as his younger sisters have been growing up, but the conservative attitude of his homophobic father ( Bradley Whitford ) is still horribly rigid, even as Joanne's health continues to decline.
As David struggles to reconnect within his family and old friends he runs into around town, he decides to pretend that his relationship is still thriving and that his career is flourishing. His desperation increases as Joanne's health moves into its final stages. It is here that the film becomes movingly bittersweet, almost painfully so, and the scenes between Joanna and David, mother and gay son, have an intimacy that are deeply affecting. Naturally, there are plenty of laughs, too—this being an SNL writer at the helm. Other People is a lovely and emotionally satisfying addition to the queer movie canon. The film opens this Friday and plays exclusively at Facets Cinematheque, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. www.facets.org/cinematheque/films/sept2016/other-people.php .
Gay classic Hollywood<. B>
Three films about a trio of gay men important to the history of Hollywood—for different reasons—have recently been released on Blu-ray/DVD and are definitely worth adding to the collection.
Women He's Undressed, from award-winning Australian director Gillian Armstrong, is a glitzy portrait of the celebrated costume designer Orry-Kelly, who hailed from tiny Kiama, Australia, and rose to the top of his profession, dressing generations of film icons from Ingrid Bergman to Marilyn Monroe to Shirley MacLaine and winning three Oscars in the process. This exuberant, gossipy portrait of the gay Kelly and Hollywood fashions through the decades also lifts back the curtain on the unspoken sexual politics of show biz, from Marlene Dietrich to Cary Grant, who ( according to Kelly's own unreleased memoirs ) was his one-time lover. This is a colorful and delightfully entertaining exception to the usual talking-head documentary.
Tab Hunter was the epitome of American hunkitude at the movies circa 1950s—blonde, blue-eyed, square-jawed and ripped in an era when that was the exception rather than the rule. The statuesque Hunter was the polite, sweet-natured boy next door who made all the girls swoon—and ( secretly, in the dark ) a lot of the boys, too. Hunter shared that secret for he, too, was gay and in out director Jeffrey Schwarz's entertaining and mostly hagiographic documentary portrait, Tab Hunter Confidential, the onetime heartthrob, now 84, reflects on his decades-long closeted public life with a mixture of understated self-deprecation, glib humor and brief glimpses into the emotional toll being quiet about his sexuality had on his psyche. Those with an interest in both Hollywood and queer history will find much to like here.
Shelagh Delaney's A Taste of Honey, the supreme example of British kitchen-sink drama, was groundbreaking when it debuted on the stage and again in gay director Tony Richardson's sensitive and non-judgmental 1961 film adaptation. The story focuses on Jo, a working-class teenage girl who has a brief affair with a Black sailor and whose gay best friend becomes her roommate and offers to marry her—until the girl's loutish, overbearing mother returns on the scene.
Rita Tushingham became an instant star as the disaffected Jo and is ably supported by Murray Melvin as the gay best friend. Richardson's film version was released in Britain the same year as the gay-themed Victim, both films paving the way for a new openness in the movies and eventually, a more honest inclusion of queer people. The Criterion Collection has just released a brand-new restoration of the film and packed it with the usual goodies that we film fanatics appreciate.
Upcoming movie calendar
Highlights from films ( alphabetized by date ) opening in Chicago, Sept. 9 and 16 ( some descriptions come from studio press materials ).
Akron ( 9/7 )—See details above.
Other People ( 9/9 )—See details above.
Sully ( 9/9 )—After landing a plane in New York's Hudson River, Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger ( Tom Hanks ) faces an investigation that threatens to destroy his career and reputation. Clint Eastwood directs this movie that's based on a true story.
When the Bough Breaks ( 9/9 )—When a professional couple ( Regina Hall and Morris Chestnut ) who are unable to conceive hire a young woman ( Theo Rossi ) as a surrogate, she develops a psychotic fixation on the husband that turns violent.
Pure Imagination: A Gene Wilder Tribute ( 9/13 ONLY )—Two of the most beloved films of Gene Wilder, the late, lamented comic actor, will be screened as a double feature at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., one night only, Sept. 13. The films are 1971's children fantasy musical Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and 1974's Blazing Saddles. This is a rare chance to see Wilder at his manic best on the big screen. http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/collections/pure-imagination-a-gene-wilder-double-feature
Bridget Jones's Baby ( 9/16 )—Breaking up with Mark Darcy ( Colin Firth ) leaves Bridget Jones ( Renée Zellweger ) older than 40 and single again. Feeling that she has everything under control, Jones decides to focus on her career as a top news producer. Suddenly, her love life comes back from the dead when she meets a dashing and handsome American named Jack ( Patrick Dempsey ). Things couldn't be better, until Bridget discovers that she is pregnant. Now, the befuddled mom-to-be must figure out if the proud papa is Mark or Jack.
Snowden ( 9/16 )—Former CIA employee Edward Snowden ( Joseph Gordon-Levitt ) leaks classified information to the media. Shailene Woodley, out actor Zachary Quinto, Nicholas Cage and Scott Eastwood co-star in Oliver Stone's adaptation of this story ripped from the headlines.
Save the Dates: Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival ( 9/922—9/28 )—The 34th edition of Reeling ( of which I'm the co-program director ), the second oldest queer film festival in the world returns with a slate of more than 40 feature films and shorts. Everything from RuPaul Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio in her film debut Hurricane Bianca to James Franco, Christian Slater and Disney Channel twink Garrett Clayton in the truth life gay-porn murder-thriller King Cobra. reelingfilmfestival.org/2016/ .
