Tag Archives: lesbian film

Music/Film

Super Gay Movie Review of the Week: Pariah @pariahthemovie

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pariah-movie-poster-01Pariah by Dee Rees is a universal coming of age story…with a twist.

We all remember growing up gay. For some of us, we were just so WEIRD that being gay was the least of our problems. But for others…being gay and coming to terms with it was THE problem. This movie hit the scene hard! I waited over a year just to see it because it never opened at any local theaters in Fort Lauderdale. My friends in Atlanta, L.A. and NYC were all a ga-ga over it. Some loved it. Some hated it. Regardless, I still had to see the little movie that started the big hulabaloo.

FINALLY Pariah made it to Redbox. I rushed down to the grocers with my hot little credit card in hand. YES. YES. YES. It was time to watch THE movie.

I was not disappointed.

Adepero Oduye is perfect as Alike (Ah-Lee-Kay). Her teenage angst, confusion, disappointment and fear REES_Dee_2011_Pariah_04_Laurawere palpable and brought tears to my eyes. Kim Wayans is the mom from hell who wants the Hallmark card family but ends up with a painfully imperfect one. The relationship between Alike and her mother forms the foundation of the film. Tired of her mother’s machinations and bullying, Alike comes out to her parents in the worst possible way, incurring her mother’s wrath and eventually leaving home. Sound familiar

A stand out for me was Pernell Walker who played Laura, Alike’s best friend. Laura is a typical homeboi. She is Alike’s protector and their friendship is her tenuous tie to the legitimate world. Laura is a good friend and provides the support Alike so desperately needs in her life. Pernell’s stellar performance did not go unnoticed as she was tapped to appear in the upcoming Lee Daniels movie, The Butler, featuring Oprah Winfrey. Daniels is one of the most influential directors of our time…and he’s ‘family’. (Two Snaps!)

Dee Rees is a masterful storyteller. Her empathy for even the most heartless of her characters is apparent. Will every gay person identify with this movie? Probably not…but every gay person has at least one friend whimages3o’s had a similar experience. WARNING: This is NOT a date night movie. My girlfriend and I watched it and, let’s just say, it was not a “happy ending” evening… But it is a classic and definitely lives up to the hype. Rent this film! Even if it doesn’t directly apply to you, at least you’ll be able to join the conversation.

Next week, an homage to the boys, “Finding Me” by Roger S. Omeus Jr. The movie that spawned the popular series of the same name.

Music/Film

Super Gay Movie Review of the Week: D.E.B.S.

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debs1Angela Robinson’s first feature film, D.E.B.S. , is FUN. It has hot chicks, explosions and girl on girl romance…all of the things I like to see in movies. Meagan Good, Sara Foster, Devon Aoki and Jill Ritchie play the most adorable little spies on Earth! They run around in short, plaid skirts and carry big scary guns. The D.E.B.S. are an elite crime fighting unit who always get their man…or woman. In fact, the only thing standing in their way is Lucy Diamond, their arch nemesis and a really hot soft butch. The action happens once Amy Bradshaw, played by Foster, falls in love with the enemy and the sugar hits the fan! Just imagine Charlie’s Angels meets The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love. Fun, right?

The star crossed lovers buck against the system (and each other…lol) to embrace their irrepressible feelings. Amy plays hooky from the D.E.B.S. to be with Lucy and all debs3hell breaks loose! Will they be pulled apart by their separate worlds or will they choose to love freely and openly, out of the closet? I’m not telling, you just have to see it for yourself. It’s worth a rental from Netflix or Hulu and has a PG-13 rating so if you have a weak stomach, hurray!

This movie is so sweet, it’ll give you a toothache making it was a nice, lighthearted way to start my super gay reviews. So many lesbian movies, particularly ones featuring women of color, are heavy and tackle some really difficult issues. In fact, I was all set to review Pariah (which is an amazing movie) but I wanted to enjoy a little light fun before delving into the serious stuff.

debs2I expect a certain amount of criticism for choosing this movie…from people with no sense of humor. But think about it, isn’t this a perfect movie for date night with your boo? It’s fun, frisky and packs a punch! So, if you’re in the mood for love and you don’t want to ruin it with a lot of political correctness (smile), watch this movie.

Have Fun!

Next week, Pariah…because it’s a good movie and I love Kim Wayans.

Music/Film

Introducing…Crystal’s Guide to Super Gay Movies!

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38574_1559417426616_7136249_nHi! I’m Crystal Jaudon, your new ultra gay movie reviewer. I LOVE Gay Movies! Join me on this adventure in playland and you will definitely enjoy the trip. We will talk about all manner of super gay film: documentaries, romance, urban drama and even some indie underground random web gayness when we’re feeling gritty (not porn… unless it’s tasteful!). But, before we get to the fun, I guess I should explain what qualifies me to be an ultra gay… movie reviewer?

Girl, what is the T?!

Well, I’m a little ol’ country gal, born right smack dab in the middle of the forest hills of Atlanta, Georgia. I grew up when rappers wore make up (openly ^-^) and pink leather suits. When men, even the straight ones, were comfortable in skirts and women in suits and ties didn’t raise eyebrows.

My first ultra gay movie was a musical as musicals were acceptable Victor_Victoria_posterat Casa de Jaudon. I think it was Victor Victoria, a classic style musical with one hell of a twist! I felt some affinity for Julie Andrews, the woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman. The first musical I’d ever seen that truly summed up my life! Finally, someone I could identify with. My Mormon father and Pentacostal mother couldn’t have been more delighted…that I agreed to keep my new obsession relatively quiet and not mention this fact to the neighbors.

I attended Georgia State University where I officially graduated with a Bachelors in History. Unofficially, I focused these formative years on earning my “masters” in queer studies and politics. I began my prerequisites in my major of choice at Cinefest, formerly known as The Lyceum, our campus theatre. Cinefest always went all out for the underground. It was the venue of my awakening to gay cinema. It was where I learned about Stonewall, Maude’s and all forms of iconic gayness. I also saw my first official lesbian movie, Go Fish, on the big screen there. And it served as the spot where I anxiously watched the progress of Rose Troche and the L Word crew as they used that movie to springboard their careers.

go_fish_ver2Gay movies have played a pivotal role in my development throughout the course of my life. Now that I am a mom, movies about same sex parenting get much play on my small screen. Most notably, Rosie O’Donnell’s really powerful film on her experiences on a gay family cruise through the Caribbean. Good Stuff.

Gay movies have helped to anchor my identity, boost my self-esteem, prepare me for the world inside and outside of my family, and make me laugh, cry, long and love. They are a part of my journey. I am hoping that this column will make them a more fulfilling part of yours.

Editorials

Why I USED TO Support ALL Black LGBT films…

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secondary title: “Why I am afraid to see Pariah”

Ok I have been trying to think about how to say this delicately for a while… but it looks like that isn’t going to happen.

Now I have always been a FUBU lesbian, (no not this FUBU) by which I mean I have always tried to support LGBT endeavors when it came to the arts/film. I was always championing “our voice” and applauding “our choices of expression”… but umm er uh I might have to let that thought process go.
It really only hit me this weekend when I watched a highly anticipated movie by one of my favorite creative black directors and found myself feeling some kind of way. This director in particular has helped create some of my favorite recent LGBT (and non-LGBT) cinematic experiences. Let’s just say I was pumped to see it… and then I saw it.