VIP Fave Q Movie Pick
Where we ask today’s hottest queer and queer-friendly filmmakers, stars and community leaders to answer the question:
“One of my favorite LGBT movies is...”
Barbara Grier (founder, Naiad Press)
The QMovieBlog and Wolfe mourn the passing of Barbara Grier, founder of Naiad Press. She was a pioneer in lesbian publishing and a leading force in preserving lesbian literary history. Barbara shared her VIP Q Movie Pick with us in October 2009. We share it today and honor her memory:
“When the subject is so near and dear to the heart the answer or answers have to be suspect. My favorite is CLAIRE OF THE MOON. It will always be, but it is for lots of wrong reasons including, but not limited to, the wonderful music. Another I like immensely for better reasons is OUT OF SEASON. I like the sense that the people in the movie are real. I believe they exist. I would not be surprised to run into them on the street.
I cannot help but throw this in. There has never yet been a properly funded lesbian film. I hope there will be before my death. But I know because it is clear if you look at straight films, that women’s issues have no meaning in the world, they just don’t. Now it may/will change, but it is still a long uphill battle. Look at all the lesbian films, a very thin field indeed.”
Learn more about the life’s work and legacy of Barbara Grier at: http://www.glbtq.com/literature/grier_b.html
Rikki Beadle-Blair (director, KICKOFF)
“Like all of us, I have a ton of favourite gay films – but today my two favourites are: THE HOURS – in which all but 3 of the main characters are gay and it takes place in worlds so far removed from mine that I somehow recognised and related to… and O FANTASMA – a rare and extraordinary Portuguese film that explores our wildest animal instincts and desires, that had ‘em freaked out leaving in droves at the screening I attended, but stunned and inspired me beyond belief.”
Rikki wrote the screenplay for the 1995 drama, STONEWALL and directed the hit British series, Metrosexuality. His fabulous new gay soccer comedy, KICKOFF is fresh off the LGBT film festival circuit and coming to DVD and VOD on January 17, 2012. You can watch the trailer now at WolfeVideo.com!
Here’s a short description of KICKOFF to tempt you:
What happens when the hardest team in the Sunday Soccer league comes up against a gay team (pun intended) and finds they’ve finally met their match? Watch and wince as fledging referee Elton Glixton struggles to control this testosterone tsunami as rude-boy meets gay-boy in this outrageous new comedy set in the crazy gung-ho world of 5-a-side football. The latest and craziest from award-winning writer/director Rikki Beadle-Blair (Bashment, Stonewall, Metrosexuality). High-voltage entertainment from a vibrant and sexy 17-strong cast.
Daniel MacIvor (writer, TRIGGER)
“I would have to say that my favourite LGBT movie remains the first I ever saw, John Schlesinger‘s Sunday Bloody Sunday starring Murray Head as a bisexual artist involved with the straight Glenda Jackson and the gay Peter Finch. The film was made in 1971 and has the first male/male kiss in mainstream cinema. One of the great things about this film is that Finch’s character is a gay man for whom his gay-ness is not an issue but simply a part of who he is as a man. And the scene with Glenda Jackson crying and eating fudge has to be one of the best moments of acting in film.”
Watch the trailer (and reserve your DVD — coming November 22nd) for Daniel’s wonderful new women’s drama, TRIGGER — a powerful portrayal of the connection between two former rock and roll bandmates (Molly Parker and Tracy Wright) who reunite for a tribute show in hopes of recapturing their once magical connection.
Also from the pen of writer-actor Daniel MacIvor is the classic gay coming of age drama, WHOLE NEW THING (he stars in the film as well)!
Ashleigh Sumner (AND THEN CAME LOLA)
“My favorite queer movie of all time is HIGH ART. Great performances. Great script. Great film. Lisa Cholodenko can do no wrong.”
Speaking of great performances, script and film be sure to check out Ashleigh in the fabulous lesbian feature, AND THEN CAME LOLA and her newest screen appearance in the gay comedy, I WANT TO GET MARRIED (co-starring Matthew Montgomery and coming to DVD December 13th, 2011).
Paul Marcarelli (writer, THE GREEN and yes, he was also the Verizon Guy)
“I am a huge fan of all things Todd Haynes, and while his work is not exclusively LGBTQ focused, I would have to say his perspective and thematic drive have been immensely influential on my own work and creative sensibility. I love that in films like Poison, Safe and Superstar (which I was lucky enough to see on VHS back in the early 90′s), he exposes the darker corners of the human psyche, but at the same time, he finds a way to challenge us to respond with the broadest possible spectrum of emotion and thought. After watching the full eight hours of his Mildred Pierce (two times through) a few months back, I decided to watch Far From Heaven again. I love that movie. Every frame possesses its own energy, tension, beauty and purpose. In it he pays homage to the films of Douglas Sirk, specifically All That Heaven Allows, but also manages to comment on the culture and mores of America in the 1950s in a way that feels fresh and totally relevant to a contemporary audience. And it holds up. In fact I think this film and what it has to say about the potent toxicity of repression will remain important until someone figures out how to do away with homophobia in all its forms. Even then, the film would stand on its own as great story-telling.”
Click thru now to watch the trailer (or order your DVD) of Paul’s powerful new gay drama, THE GREEN (coming to DVD from Wolfe November 22nd) or look for it on VOD and digital nationwide starting October 18th.
Marie [Riese] Lyn Bernard (Autostraddle.com Editor in Chief and CEO)
“I’m gonna say that SAVING FACE, objectively, is the best lesbian movie I’ve ever seen. It’s so underrated, but impeccably orchestrated, funny, and compelling, like any good romantic comedy. The best foreign lesbian movie ever is FUCKING AMAL [SHOW ME LOVE]. So tender! But my heart of hearts of hearts, because it lives inside my body which has eyeballs, has seen BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER 56 times, and will see it 56 more times before I die, because it is a masterpiece, and one of a handful of lesbian movies I feel like straight people have also seen and/or heard of. Right? It’s so funny. And Clea Duvall! Mhm.”
Discover more of Riese’s fabulous writing and the joys of her wonderful lesbian website — Autostraddle.com!
Jane Lynch (L Word, GLEE, Bam Bam & Celeste)
“My favorite LGBT film is DESERT HEARTS. During one summer in the early 90′s I had occasion to watch this film via video over 50 times! It was a major transitional time for me and Donna Deitch’s beautiful desert landscape and passionate images set my imagination flying. A stranger in a strange land hoping to escape herself only to be faced with herself. It all starts with a train coming into town and ends with a train leaving town; classic. Never had I seen in celluloid such real passion and desire between two women. I also adore Audra Lindley’s performance; the scene with Helen Shaver in the lodge over brandy is genius. I could not get enough of this story. Nor would my romantic musings let it go as I created an entire scenario for Cate and Vivian after they got on that train to New York.”
We love her on GLEE, adore her on THE L WORD and are always thrilled to see in her dozens of amazing performances! Own one of Jane’s funniest roles (in BAM BAM & CELESTE) or check her out in FABULOUS!: THE STORY OF QUEER CINEMA.
Ash Christian (director, MANGUS!)
“My favorite LGBT film would have to be TORCH SONG TRILOGY. It really affected me when I saw it. I think it was the first queer film that I saw – and it’s always stuck with me and really made me want to get out of my small town and move to New York. It was a great story with inspired actors and direction. It made me want to make movies to tell our stories to the rest of the world.”
See the trailer for Ash’s wonderful new movie, MANGUS! (coming to DVD and digital on December 6th from Wolfe)!
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