15 LGBT Movies You Should Be Watching
Thankfully we now live in a universe that has steadily become more and more accepting of those that are considered to be different from 'the norm'. However, with still a long way to go, proven with the rampant homophobia that is so often seen not only throughout the world but in our own back yard, we can only hope for a better and brighter future. With the gay community often misrepresented, even by their own peers, its history has not been kind to a number of LGBT characters on the silver screen. Yes, they have always been a part of the film world in some form or another, yet it is often stuffed inside a closet and released when it's time for that all important comic relief. And, if you aren't funny enough? Then termination is a likely option, making it clear to audiences all over the world that there is no place for LGBT characters in cinema. With old age stereotypes and unfaithful representations constantly doing the rounds, in can be difficult to find those movies and story lines that actually do portray those who feel they are not represented on screen. So, to celebrate those select few that did do it correctly, here are 15 actually decent LGBT movies.
15 D.E.B.S
With the majority of LGBT movies being that of a 'depressing nature', it can be nice to sometimes shy away from the dark stuff and enjoy the tantalizing love stories that happen in everyday life. Dubbed as the 'same gender female relationship Charlie's Angels', D.E.B.S, tells the story of four secret agents hell-bent on catching the number one most dangerous criminal. However, not quite going to plan, with one of the agents falling in love with the world's most wanted, things begin to spiral out of control for the star-crossed lovers. Fun, flamboyant and extremely camp, not only is D.E.B.S a great form of escapism from the usual doom and gloom that these films usually explores, but the movie also has some pretty big names for a such a low-budget crime caper. With Holland Taylor and the late Michael Clarke Duncan to name a few, you won't be disappointed. Oh, and did we mentioned the soundtrack?
14 Pride
Set in both London and Wales during the mid-eighties, Pride deals with the effects of Thatcherism, with regards to two very different communities. Exploring a number of important themes, Pride touches upon the rampant homophobia that was coming from the countries own government, plus the extraordinary ill treatment of the working class, with the miners strike one of the most historical and courageous moments in British history. Inviting us to watch only a small part of what went on during those bleak Thatcher years, it is important to see the experience firsthand, with a number of writers from the era itself. Extremely poignant with a slice of humor along the way, the movie is a great example of two opposing communities joining forces to fight the power that so often suppressed them, with Margaret Thatcher acting as their mutual enemy. Inspiring to the say the least, Pride not only informs you but somehow gives you the tools to fight right there with them, leading even the most neutral reaching for that banner.
13 But I'm A Cheerleader
Much like D.E.B.S, But I'm a Cheerleader is a refreshing change from the usual dark and depressing plot lines of the LGBT movie canon. However, make no mistake, with an important message hidden beneath a cleverly written script, the movie shrewdly turns satire into something so much more. After her friends stage an intervention with the accusations that she might be gay, Megan, played by the superbly amazing Natasha Lyonne, is sent to a suspicious summer camp to 'pray away the gay'. Based on the real life camps that do indeed claim to wash away your sins, the movie not only makes fun of such a ridiculous process but also informs you of the dangers that these things actually exist. Camped up and most definitely enjoying itself, But I'm a Cheerleader includes every single stereotype you could possibly think of, with a butch RuPaul a definite highlight. Tongue and cheek to the very extreme, this hilarious parody is not only a great way to highlight an important issue, but also to mock it to the point of self-destruction.
12 Beautiful Thing
Sold as the ultimate 'urban fairy-tale', Beautiful Thing was groundbreaking upon the time of its release. Telling the story of two teenage boys who fall in love during a long hot summer on a South London council estate, Beautiful Thing is not only exceptionally moving but also really funny. With it extremely rare to see truthful depictions of same gender young love on screen, especially that of teenage gay men, Beautiful Thing not only captures it perfectly but delivers every scene in such a positive and encouraging manner. Producing some standout moments from the two main characters, the cast in itself is a reason to watch, with the supporting characters often stealing a number of scenes from the two leading men. Colorful, genuine and extremely relatable, Beautiful Thing not only appeals to those who have gone through something similar but also to those who just want to watch an uplifting and romantic movie, no matter who's involved.
11 Saving Face
Here's something you don't see everyday. Set in modern-day New York, the film centers on the story of two Chinese-American female lovers, one who is extremely comfortable with who she is, and the other not so much. As well as touching upon suppressed female feeling, the film also deals with pregnancy outside of marriage, with a middle-aged mother surprised to find she's pregnant with a man half her age. Celebrating female empowerment, it is a refreshing change to see a community deal with such issues, rather than pretending it just doesn't happen, something usually found within the constraints of Chinese cinema. Extremely well written, the script is as funny as it is moving, with a number of great performances, especially that of Joan Chen, who plays the shunned pregnant Mother. Exploring a number of traditional values among themes of same gender relationship and unwanted pregnancies, Saving Face is a refreshing change for a genre that is so often gloom-ridden.
10 Boys Don't Cry
Not for the fainthearted, Boys Don't Cry is not only incredibly moving, but also extremely heartbreaking. Based on a true story, the movie portrays the life of trans male Brandon Teena, a young man who identifies as male, wears male clothing and presents himself as a man to everybody around him. Extremely loyal to the actual events that took place, the movie in no way shy's away from the complex and sometimes difficult scenes to watch. Dubbed 'the Romeo and Juliet of a trailer park', Boys Don't Cry offers the audience a touching yet disturbing tribute to the man who inspired it. Showcasing remarkable performances from both Chloë Sevigny and Hilary Swank, the movie won a number of awards, with Swank even picking up the Oscar for best actress. With such a personal and raw subject matter, the movie could have easily been a disaster, however, thankfully due to all those who were involved, Boys Don't Cry turned out to be one of the most tragic yet inspiring movies of all time.
9 Carol
Based on the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, Carol not only gives a sympathetic and inoffensive representation of a female and female romance but makes the aspect of love the focal point of the story rather than the gender preference of the two leading ladies. Not just your average 'same gender movie', Carol is so much more than that, offering its viewers a taste of the world that has rarely been explored on the silver screen. Unlike most movies that share such a common theme, no one dies, no one commits suicide and no ones goes back to their brooding husband or boyfriend, with the two actually ending up together, crazy right? Making no apologies, Carol celebrates the idea of forbidden love, rather than condemn it, giving those who are so often censored a refreshing change. With exceptional performances from both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, the movie also offers a beautifully written soundtrack to accompany such a visual homage to classical Hollywood.
8 Brokeback Mountain
Based on now famed 'best short story every written' by E. Anne Proulx, Brokeback Mountain is so much more than just the 'gay cowboy movie' that so many try and force it to be. Set in the midst of the Wyoming desert, the backdrop almost acts as a character itself, displaying a lost sense of where one belongs. Much like Carol, the movie never once apologizes for the lust of forbidden fruit, yet celebrates such a masculine sense of desire. Wonderfully portrayed by both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, the chemistry displayed between the two lead characters is both intense yet incredibly tender. However, unlike Carol, the idea of acceptance is much more far away, with both characters never once giving into what they truly feel. Extremely sad, Brokeback Mountain can both fill you with joy yet cruelly snatch it away within seconds. Praised worldwide for being the first of its kind, we can only hope that others will ensue, following in the footsteps of homosexuality in the mainstream. Don't forget your tissues.
7 Shortbus
Famed for its explicit scenes and material, John Cameron Mitchell certainly pushes the boat out when it comes to supply and demand. Centered around an intimacy therapist who is unable to get herself to finish, Shortbus explores a number of themes based on such a topic. Set in New York, the story itself was loosely based on the number of underground parties that Mitchell used to attend, with everybody seemingly doing the nasty at some point or another during the movie. Often accused of being adult entertainment in sheep's clothing, Mitchell responded by claiming he wanted to 'employ getting physical in new cinematic ways because it was too interesting to leave it to home film'. A far cry from just a more rated movie, Shortbus instead paints a beautiful picture of female sexuality, along with celebrating it rather than hiding it away. With extremely graphic intimate scenes and a number of group activity, Shortbus is so far beyond its time, that it still shocks people today. Voyeurism at its very best indeed, this erotic romp will have you glued to the screen from the get go.
6 Bound
Quick someone put the fire out. Searing, scorching and fiery, this sizzling neo-noir thriller will leave you captivated from the get-go, with an interesting twist on a very standard classic. Coming from the minds of those who brought us The Matrix, Bound shows no boundaries when it comes to love and intimacy, especially the latter. Telling the story of two women who devise a plan to kill a group of gangsters and steal their money, the movie also allows the two women to fall in love at the same time. With a memorable bedroom scene that sizzles mainly due to the chemistry of the two leads, Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly were apparently under the supervision of same gender expert Susie Bright, who made sure the pair looked like they knew what they doing. Obviously succeeding, the scene has gone down in history as a realistic portrayal of lovemaking between women, a far cry from the usual 'made for men' shots that are so often seen in cinema. Interestingly the script was rejected by a number of producers insisting that they change the main characters to that of a man and woman, persisting in the idea that it should be two women, the filmmakers replied 'that movie's been made a million times', you're not wrong there.
5 The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert
'I've said it before, and I'll say it again, 'No more f-ing ABBA!'. Probably one of the funniest movies on the list, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is as hilarious as it is incredibly touching. Portraying the story of two drag queens and a transgender female, the plot sees the three embark on a journey across the Australian outbreak in search of the show of a lifetime. With an amazing soundtrack, of which includes a number of ABBA classics, the movie drags you into a world of color, song and dance. Not only is it extremely well written, but also exceptionally well acted with Hugo Weaving, Terence Stamp, and Guy Pearce all putting in a stellar performance, with Pearce a definite highlight as the camp and over the top Felicia Jollygoodfellow. Sold as the ultimate queer road movie, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a must see for anyone, gay or straight.
4 Paris Is Burning
Lauded as a drag queen's right of passage, Paris is Burning is one of the most interesting/stylish documentaries to have ever been created. Focused primarily in New York, the documentary explores the cities drag scene, in which a number of the queens themselves provide a fascinating insight into the life of drag and their personal lives that go with it. Offering its audience a touching outlook on the LGBT community, it is the focus on the African-American and Latino LGBT community that is really intriguing, especially as it is something that has rarely been explored before. With drag finally now seen as an art form rather than a simple form of entertainment, thanks to the queen of drag herself RuPaul, it was a much darker time during the eighties, with a number of drag queens assaulted or attacked due to the way they looked. Serving some extreme realness and all round furious shade, Paris is Burning is firmly a classic in its own right.
3 Hedwig And The Angry Inch
Dubbed as a rock pop transgender opera musical, or something like that, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is one of the most individual, unique and inspiring movies out there. Quirky, queer and most definitely one of a kind, it makes it extremely difficult to try and compare it to anything else, although the amazingly brilliant Rocky Horror Picture Show comes to mind. But, with a much deeper message, Hedwig and the Angry Inch not only informs you, but it invites you along for the ride, entertaining you musically along the way. Written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell, of Shortbus fame, Mitchell himself plays the lead, depicting the journey of a transgender failed musician who underwent a botched gender change operation as a young boy, hence the 'angry inch'. Now baring all on Broadway, Hedwig and the Angry Inch continues to wow audiences with its strong subject content and dazzling soundtrack.
2 All About My Mother
A little gem hidden in the dark depths of the LGBT canon, All About My Mother tackles a sensitive subject and somehow makes it appropriate to laugh at. Written and directed by Pedro Almodovar, it is no surprise to see a number of gay themes that joyfully run through it, with a collection of transvestite night workers, pregnant nuns and a harem of same gender female relationships all as the main characters. Depicting the story of a young mother mourning the loss of her 17-year-old son, the movie also touches upon a variety of aspects of grief. In a kind of homage to the days of Tennessee Williams and the visual style of the 1950s, Almodovar delivers a moving and poignant display of female desires and movie heroines, with that of Bette Davis and Vivian Leigh for inspiration. However, unique in its own right, All About My Mother is just as depressing as it is absolutely hilarious, with black comedy at its most daring.
1 Orlando
Years before anybody cared let alone understood the aspects of one's feelings, Virginia Woolf released the groundbreaking classic Orlando, earning the nickname 'the longest and most charming love letter ever written'.Said to be a tribute to one-time lover Vita Sackville-West, the book depicts the story of Orlando, a gender-bending time traveler whose identity floats from one era to the next. Making the transition from paper to the silver screen in 1992, the movie did not disappoint, with the perfectly androgynous Tilda Swinton, playing the physically fluid Orlando to perfection. Renowned for breaking the constraints of what is perceived to be the 'norm', Orlando not only blurs the lines of gender and partner preference, yet encourages everyone else to get on board.Skipping from one century to the next, the movie never really explains why Orlando's gender does too, with the hopping of one's gender seemingly such a non-issue. And why should it be? An absolute classic, Orlando is a must for those interested in the limitations and explorations of intimacy and gender.
