Last week’s post got me thinking about movies that I really admire and have influenced my writing. After this week, I think I’ll broaden my picks beyond gaydom, but there are a lot of great gay-themed films that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve due to the industry’s market dynamics.
The gay media site After Elton does its own poll of the 50 best gay movies. Here’s my top 14.
Maurice
Yes, I’m a total Merchant and Ivory Queen, and their adaptation of E.M. Forester’s novel kicks “Four Weddings and A Funeral”‘s butt! (why does the funeral have to be the story’s only gay couple?) I cry every time I watch the second to last scene: “Now we shan’t ever be parted.”
C.R.A.Z.Y.
This film hits all the right buttons for me: French Canadian, set in the 80’s, and the main character is a lost gay boy in a dysfunctional family.
Milk
Harvey Milk is a personal hero, and Sean Penn does him justice.
Another Gay Movie
So it’s low budget, inane and largely pointless. But for subverting both the American Pie and the Wayans Brothers’ franchises and ending up laugh-out-loud funnier than both, I stand by giving this film a place in my illustrious list.
Angels in America
Tony Kushner’s political epic about gay men and AIDS has all the tearjerking moments, untold history, surrealism and Patrick Wilson that I love.
Running with Scissors
I know I’m in the minority, but I loved this film. Yes, Augusten Burrough’s book is better and Gwyneth Paltrow is totally miscast, but everything about this story got to me.
My Own Private Idaho
My fave Gus Van Sant film.
The Wedding Banquet
An early Ang Lee film and much better than the movie that shall not be named. It’s a great family drama centered around a farcical wedding to hide a Chinese-American’s Caucasian boyfriend from his parents.
My Beautiful Laundrette
This adaptation of Hanif Kureishi’s novel is a sort of gay Romeo and Juliet set against race and class conflict in 1980’s London.
The Crying Game
Still my favorite Neal Jordan film.
Myra Breckinridge
Blissful absurdity based on Gore Vidal’s novel.
Quinceanera
Mexican American teens deal with racism, homophobia, and gentrification in Los Angeles.
Beautiful Thing
This British film is still the best portrayal of mixed-up, angsty gay teens that I’ve seen.
