The British certainly do love their movies focused on the naughty bits and now after The Full Monty, Calendar Girls and Mrs. Henderson Presents comes Kinky Boots. Though it doesn't feature the essential take-it-off scene, the sexually alluring footwear of the title certainly suggests illicit sex. However, the naughty factor begins and ends there and, like its comedic forebears, Kinky Boots is less about titillation ( they're all as 'daring' as a 1950s copy of Playboy ) and more about second chances in life. In some ways this likeable little film is my favorite of that bunch because the life lessons come courtesy of a drag queen—and what a drag queen!
Lola ( portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor in a head-turning performance ) is first glimpsed at the outset of the film dancing with abandon on a dock near the sea in a pair of illicit red shoes. We're not sure if we're watching a boy or a girl dance with such glee until a man says, with obvious disdain, 'Come boy.' From there we jump forward to the story of Charlie Price ( Joel Edgerton—a dead ringer for the young Albert Finney ) , who is the last in line of the Price & Sons shoemaking concern in conservative Northampton. When Charlie's father dies he quickly discovers that the factory is close to bankruptcy.
Through a myriad of plot complications Charlie ends up in the dressing room of the drag queen bar in London where the now-grown Lola is the headliner. Suddenly inspiration strikes—Charlie's factory will make spiked heel boots for drag queens! The skeptical Lola shoos him away but nevertheless struts into the factory one afternoon at the appointed time ( nothing like a pair of free shoes … ) , but upon seeing the prototype which are burgundy colored screams, 'Burgundy!!!! They must be red! They need to be 2-1/2 feet of sex! The sex is in the heel!' Before you can say 'RuPaul,' the job of designing the proper footwear is taken over by Lola.
Then it's either sell the factory or sell stiletto boots. Once that's decided, will the big show in Milan turn the tide for the tiny factory? Along the way, naturally, there will be subplots: Will Charlie's fiancée stick it out? Will Lola be insulted and have to prove that underneath the glittery frocks, drag queens are real men and have feelings, too? Naturally, an 11th-hour crisis will have to be averted before triumph can be assured.
Everything in Kinky Boots seems to arrive right on schedule, but I found the movie's predictability a comfort, loved the performances ( especially Ejiofor's as Lola; he gives the character equal parts bravado and insecurity ) , and, in a contest between America's gross-out comedies and these British naughty-bit jollies, well, for me, there's just no contest. I'll take the kink every time.
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Your excuse for not having seen the plethora of GLBT Oscar-nominated films from last year is nearing its expiration date. Nearly all of them ( and those that didn't get nominated but should have ) have found their way to DVDs while the rest arrive within the next few months. Three must-haves for now:
Brokeback Mountain—Even though I'm not angry the film didn't win the Best Picture Oscar ( Capote deserved the illustrious honor ) , Brokeback is still a not-to-be missed instant classic. It just happened to have been released in a year of particularly strong films. Those who haven't had the chance to see it will hopefully recognize that, indeed, all that much ado has been about something. The disc includes several featurettes, including a 'Making Of' featurette and a close-up of director Ang Lee. There are no deleted scenes, however, which will disappoint fans who were hoping for more of the physical romance between Jake and Ennis—me included.
Capote—All hail this masterful feature debut from director Bennett Miller with its top-drawer, Oscar-winning performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman. The director and actor commentaries are augmented by a short, telling documentary on Truman Capote and two really precise 'Making Of' featurettes. This was a film made on a budget by a group of really creative people who rose to the challenge—and it shows. From Sony Home Video.
The Dying Gaul—Gay writer-director Craig Lucas created one of 2005's most interesting films with a story centered on a gay triangle and complicated by a thriller component. The uncomfortable, icy resulting work, unfortunately, was hardly a crowd pleaser and Lucas's interesting but complex script and the amazing performances of its three leads—Peter Sarsgaard, Campbell Scott and Patricia Clarkson—were overlooked at awards time. This is a fictional account of a REALLY tortured artist—the gay Sarsgaard who is trying to recover from the death of his lover while allowing himself to be seduced by the bisexual movie executive who wants to buy his screenplay—if he'll turn the gay leading couple into a heterosexual one. Clarkson, as Campbell's wife, has the trickiest role as the wife who suspects nothing of the clandestine affair but is intrigued by the writer and especially his habit of visiting chat rooms. The disc, out from Sony Pictures, doesn't have any extras, but is worth picking up or adding to your Netflix queue nevertheless.
Naturally, these three make a great triple feature for artistic types who FEEL INTENSELY or those looking for more than the usual dunderheaded exploding movie-car chase stuff.
Some must-have GLBT DVDs on the horizon:
April 18—Breakfast on Pluto and a special edition of Moonstruck with gay icon Cher hit the stores yesterday. Snap out of it! Go get 'em!
April 26—The Robert Altman Collection includes the first-ever home release of his 1979 film A Perfect Couple, his little-seen offbeat romantic comedy between a lonely middle-aged mortician and a young singer for a rock band that includes both gay and lesbian lead singers ( lovingly portrayed ) .
May 2—There's The Family Stone, gay writer-director Thomas Bezucha's family comedy with Sarah Jessica Parker.
May 16—Make it gay with The Producers.
May 25—Take in Felicity Huffman's transcendent performance as a transsexual in Transamerica.
June 6—Talk about lesbian subtext! Fried Green Tomatoes ( 15th anniversary edition ) has new special features and there is the Robert Downey, Jr.-Val Kilmer ( playing gay ) oddball modern detective noir Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
June 13—Clutch those pearls, girls. Two-disc special editions of Valley of the Dolls and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls finally arrive with tons of extras—just in time for Gay Pride!
Check out my archived reviews at www.windycitytimes.com or www.knightatthemovies.com Feedback can be left at the latter Web site.
