There are no end of ways to celebrate Pride month leading up to the 46th edition of Chicago's Pride parade. One of my favorites—no surprise—is by once again watching some of my favorite queer-themed movies.
Many of these will be familiar; some, less so. It makes perfect sense that a lot of LGBT-themed movies don't have happy endings—or beginnings—so I'm focusing on titles that do. You won't find A Single Man here or Brokeback Mountain or Blue Is the Warmest Color. These are movies that not only inspire, but are also moving, often funny ( uproariously so in a few cases ) and always entertaining. For my fellow film fanatics, try these out to celebrate Our People. Happy Pride from Knight at the Movies!
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert ( 1994 )—Stephen Elliott's exuberant road trip movie about three drag queens crossing the Australian desert is a delightful way to put one in the mood for Pride. All those catchy tunes! The hilarious ( and droll ) Terence Stamp, the rueful, endearing Hugo Weaving, the uber-sexy Guy Pearce, those eye-popping Oscar-winning costumes, and that iconic pink bus! What's not to love?
Big Eden ( 2000 )—All the residents in tiny Big Eden, Montana, are trying to help Henry ( Arye Gross )—the big-time artist from New York who has returned home to take care of his ailing grandfather—find romance with the right guy ( the shy Native American ) rather than the hunky straight best friend from his boyhood. This delightful romantic comedy ( my fave gay-romance movie of all time ) was the debut feature from out writer-director Thomas Bezucha.
D.E.B.S. ( 2003 )—Lesbian African-American writer-director Angela Robinson ( that's a lot of labels for one little ol' filmmaker ) broke through 27,000 barriers with this cute spy spoof. The film's multiple sight gags serve as a backdrop for the budding romance between super-villain Lucy Diamond ( Jordana Brewster ) and super spy/schoolgirl Amy ( Sara Foster ) that is sweet and silly.
Go Fish ( 1994 )—Max is a trendy, pretty, young lesbian in Chicago who is having trouble finding love. A friend sets her up with Ely, whom Max likes, but Ely is frumpy, homely and older; and they don't have much in common. Can Max learn to look past the packaging? A rite of passage for fans of lesbian cinema, Rose Troche's film crackles with energy and remains a classic of new queer cinema.
Imagine Me & You ( 2006 )—Just as Piper Perabo ( Looper; Coyote Ugly ) and Matthew Goode ( The Imitation Game; A Single Man ) are preparing to walk down the aisle, Piper inexplicably finds herself falling—big time—for her lovely florist ( Games of Thrones' Lena Headey ). True love—lesbian style—is the order of the day in this delightful dramedy.
In & Out ( 1997 )—Matt Dillon plays an egomaniacal actor who inadvertently outs his high school drama teacher ( Kevin Kline ) during his Oscar speech and then travels to his small town in Ohio to help quell the ensuing brouhaha because Kline hasn't quite realized that he is gay. Joan Cusack won a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her hilarious performance as Kline's fiancée in this beloved comedy.
Milk ( 2008 )—Sean Penn's acting acrobatics in the title role are a wonder in Gus Van Sant's unadorned masterpiece, which also features rich supporting performances by James Franco, Emile Hirsch and Diego Luna. The movie also has a great first-time feature script by gay writer ( and Oscar winner ) Dustin Lance Black.
Pariah ( 2011 )—Out writer-director Dee Rees' semi-autobiographical feature debut follows the coming-out of a young African-American teenager and is like the entrance into a secret society. Sultry, powerful and beautifully shot, the film breaks free from the conventional coming-out story with its confident, gutsy approach.
Paris Is Burning ( 1990 )—As good the 15th time as the first, this joyous documentary portrait of Brooklyn's drag ball scene from filmmaker Jennie Livingston was and remains a cultural groundbreaker infused with tremendous insight and biting wit from its wised up subjects. This one truly earns its "fabulous" moniker.
Parting Glances ( 1986 )—I saw this not long before Bill Sherwood, its writer/director, died from AIDS. Talk about another tragic waste of talent! This was the first gay movie where I recognized characters from my own life. It takes place in New York, as a gay couple ( the sweet Richard Ganoung and the hunky John Bolger ) are about to part for an extended period while one of them is working on a job in Africa. Funny, sad and offbeat, it features a terrific, multi-ethnic and multi-sexual cast ( including Steve Buscemi and Kathy Kinney ), and remains fresh today.
Transamerica ( 2005 )—Felicity Huffman's transcendent performance in this likeable road movie as the pre-op transsexual Bree is what got writer-director Duncan Tucker's debut feature a spot on my year end Best of list for 2005.
Trick ( 1999 )—Sometimes you just want to get laid, and that's the basis for this very sexy comedy starring cutie-pie Christian Campbell as a budding Broadway composer and hunky Jason Paul Pitoc as a gay bar stripper who desperately want to hook up but can't find a place to do it. Tori Spelling has her best role as Campbell's well-meaning but ditzy best friend.
Weekend ( 2011 )—Out writer-director Andrew Haigh's relationship drama is a stunningly simple, nearly perfect example of a romance movie whose burgeoning couple just happens to be gay. It was tagged "a gay Before Sunrise," but Russell ( Tom Cullen ) and hookup Glen ( Chris New ) are anything but tragic beauties in a world that certainly isn't filled with dappled sunsets and rosy dawns. They're just two regular Joes whose lives unexpectedly intersect and who find themselves hopelessly in love.
Were the World Mine ( 2008 )—Queer writer-director Tom Gustafson collaborated with off-screen partner Cory James Krueckeberg on this delightful gay fantasia, a teen musical reimagining of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, set at an elite male boarding school.
Local screenings of note
Dyke Delicious—Midsommarfest Mash-Up Madness ( June 17 )—Sharon Zureck's long running series returns with two fun-filled mash-up movies ( Gia, Gia, Gia! and Bad Girls Behind Bars ). Gia is at 6:30 p.m., followed by a social hour and Bad Girls screening. Chicago Filmmakers, Reeling: The Chicago LGBT International Film Festival and Black Cat Productions are presenting the event, at Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark St. chicagofilmmakers.org/cf/content/midsommarfest-mash-madness-0 .
Wilde ( June 22 )—A superbly acted recounting of the complicated life of the legendary English writer, renowned wit, and gay icon Oscar Wilde, his headline making exploits and his infamous affair with Lord Alfred Douglas and the ensuing scandal that erupted because of it. Stephen Fry is mesmerizing as Wilde, Jude Law is his young, petulant lover, and Vanessa Redgrave, Jennifer Ehle, and Tom Wilkinson round out the cast. A free screening presented by the Queer Film Society and the Bezazian branch ( 1226 W. Ainslie ) of the Chicago Public Library on Monday, June 8 at 6pm. queerfilmsociety.org/pages/events.html .
A Self-Made Man ( June 23 )—Lori Petchers's 2013 documentary profiles the transition of trans youth advocate Tony Ferraiolo from female to male. It premieres on the America ReFramed program on World Channel, which airs locally on PBS. ( Check local listings via website link. )
worldchannel.org/programs/episode/arf-s3-e324-self-made-man/ .
