Big Gay Picture Show

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

Gypsy: The Musical (DVD Review)

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The late 1950s was one hell of a time for American musicals, with the likes of West Side Story, My Fair Lady, The Sound Of Music and Gypsy all debuting on Broadway. While all of them have been held up by different people as the greatest musical ever, most agree that the best female mainstream musical role ever written is Rose in Gypsy – indeed, it’s sometimes referred to as the King Lear of musical theatre. Over the years Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters, and Patti LuPone have all played the role on Broadway, while Rosalind Russell appeared in the 1962 film version, and Bette Midler took the part in a 1993 TV movie.

In 2015 it was the turn of Imelda Staunton, fresh from her fabulous, Olivier Award-winning turn in a West End version of Sweeney Todd (before that, few people thought of her as a musical actress, but she’s actually got a long history in the genre, from Into The Woods (for which she won another Olivier back in 1991) to Guys & Dolls. Staunton got rave reviews and another Olivier Award for Gypsy’s limited run at London’s Savoy Theatre, and as this recording of the production proves, it’s easy to see why. [Read more…]

Pride (Blu-ray Review)

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For many people Pride was one of the best films of 2014, if not the best. It’s well made, genuinely funny, angry, smart and heartfelt; and while tinged with tragedy, overall it’s astonishingly uplifting.

It’s the early 1980s and the National Union Of Miners is on strike due to theThatcher government’s decision to close a number of coal pits. The strike is dragging on and the nation is divided, including in London where a group of gays and lesbians decide to come together to raise cash for the miners. There’s a problem though, as when they try to donate the cash they find out that the Union and various other groups don’t want to take the money as they’d preferred not to be associated with a bunch of ‘poofs’. Although LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) could donate anonymously, de facto group leader Mark (Ben Schnetzer) is determined that gay people raised the cash and they should be able to donate without hiding their sexuality. [Read more…]

Gay-Themed Pride Wins Big At The British Independent Film Awards

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andrew-scott-bifa-prideBrit flick Pride certainly had a good night at the British Independent Film Awards, where it picked up Best British Independent Film, while Andrew Scott and Imelda Staunton won Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively.

Pride follows the true story of a group of gay men and lesbians who comes together during the 1980s miners’ strike to raise funds to support those who Margaret Thatcher’s government is trying to put out of work. However they discover that most miners don’t want to be associated with lesbians and gays, until they contact a small Welsh village who agree to take their money. While the villagers are unsure about this new association, an unexpected bond begins to grow between the small-town miners and the big city gays.

The Imitation Game, about gay mathematician and computing pioneer Alan Turing, was up for four awards, but despite some saying it’s likely to score Oscar noms, it walked away with nothing at the BIFAs. However Benedict Cumberbatch did pick up the Variety Award, which recognises an actor, director, writer or producer who has helped to shine the international spotlight on the UK.

Also missing out was Hong Khaou’s Lilting, which stars Ben Whishaw as a man trying to looking after his dead boyfriend’s Chinese mother, despite the fact she doesn’t speak English, dislikes him and didn’t know her son was gay. It was up for Best Debut Director, Best Actress for Cheng Pei Pei, and Best Achievement In Production, but sadly lost out.

Other major winners include Yann  Demange,  who picked up  Best Director for ’71, while Gugu Mbatha-Raw  won Best  Actress for Belle and Brendan Gleeson got Best Actor for Calvary. You can find more about the BIFA winners and nominees of the award’s website.

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Pride (2014) (Cinema Review)

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Pride opens at the London Gay Rights March in 1984, with openly gay men and women walking down the street with banners protesting their rights to love who they want. They’re suddenly joined by a young, fresh faced Joe (George MacKay), who’s quickly nicknamed Bromley, who nervously joins them in their crusade for equal rights.

There he meets Mark (Ben Schnetzer), a man who’s always keen to support a cause. Mark has the brainwave that the miners, who are striking and facing massive oppression from the government, have many goals that mirror those of LGBT. He decides that they should start fundraising for the miners, and to do it out and proud as the newly formed group, LGSM (Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners). [Read more…]

New Pride Trailer – Fresh look at the acclaimed British, gay-themed miners’ strike film

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pride-better-slideAfter winning the Queer Palm at Cannes earlier this year, Pride is due to hit cinemas on both sides of the Atlantic in September (on the 12th in the UK and the 19th in North America). We’ll have a review of the movie for you before then, but you can get a fresh taste with the new US trailer below.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Pride is inspired by an extraordinary true story.  It’s the summer of 1984, Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers is on strike, prompting a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers’ families. Initially rebuffed by the Union, the group identifies a tiny mining village in Wales and sets off to make their donation in person.  As the strike drags on, the two groups discover that standing together makes for the strongest union of all.‘

The likes of Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Andrew Scott and Paddy Considine star, with Tony Award-winning theatre director Matthew Warchus making his feature helming debut with the movie. [Read more…]

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Pride Trailer – It’s Gay-Straight culture clash for Imelda Staunton, Andrew Scott, Paddy Considine and Dominic West

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pride-new-slideAfter a great response at Cannes – where it won the Queer Palm – the Brit flick Pride is heading for a September 12th UK release. We had a clip a few weeks ago, but now the full trailer has arrived (watch it below), showcasing this film about two very different groups of people wanting to support the same cause.

Based on a true story, Pride is set during the summer of 1984, with Margaret Thatcher in power and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on strike. At the Gay Pride March in London, a group of gay and lesbian activists decides to raise money to support the families of the striking miners. But there is a problem. The Union seems embarrassed to receive their support.

But the activists are not deterred. They decide to ignore the Union and go direct to the miners. They identify a mining village in deepest Wales and set off in a mini bus to make their donation in person. This brings together two seemingly alien communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership. But as you can see in the trailer, it’s not initially an easy alliance.

The likes of Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Andrew Scott and Paddy Considine star, with Tony Award-winning theatre director Matthew Warchus making his feature helming debut with the movie. [Read more…]

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Maleficent (Cinema Review)

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At long last one of the most eagerly anticipated films of 2014 has arrived. However it’s one of those films that could either have been excellent or a total mess. Thankfully Maleficent is in fact magnificent!

Disney has released a few very expensive live-action movie in the Spring and Summer in the last few years – Alice In Wonderland, John Carter, Lone Ranger etc – some more successful than others. However this time they will have the jackpot, despite a budget of an estimated $200M. If there’s any justice Maleficent will make that back in spades. [Read more…]

First Pic From The Gay-Themed Brit Flick Pride, Which Is Set To Close The Directors’ Fortnight At Cannes

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pride-2014-pic1Last autumn the gay-themed Pride went into production with a cast full of great British actors including Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Andrew Scott and Paddy Considine.

Now the first image from the movie has been released to tie in with the announcement that the movie will close the Directors’ Fortnight at the 2014 International Cannes Film Festival on 23rd May.

The movie is set during the summer of 1984, when Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is on strike.  At the Gay Pride March in London, a group of gay and lesbian activists decides to raise money to support the families of the striking miners. But there is a problem. The Union seems embarrassed to receive their support.

But the activists are not deterred. They decide to ignore the Union and go direct to the miners.  They identify a mining village in deepest Wales and set off in a mini bus to make their donation in person. And so begins the extraordinary story of two seemingly alien communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership.

Pride is directed by the Tony Award winning theatre director Matthew Warchus (Matilda: The Musical, God of Carnage), with a screenplay by Stephen Beresford whose debut stage play, The Last of the Haussmans (starring Julie Walters), was a critical and commercial hit at the National Theatre in 2012.

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Bill Nighy, Paddy Considine & Dominic West Take On Gay Miners’ Strike Film, Pride

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Paddy-ConsidineIn the past, it was quite common for groups of people protesting about different things to come to the aid of each other. Now Matthew Warchus, who’s best known as a theatre director, is planning a movie called Pride about a group of gay activists called ‘Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners’, who decide to raise money to help the families of British miners who were striking in the summer of 1984.

The cast is fast coming together, with Bill Nighy, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton, Paddy Considine & Andrew Scott (Sherlock’s Moriarty), set to star.

The film follows the activists, who after raising the cash, discovers the National Union Of Miners is rather embarrased to accept money from a bunch of queer. Not put off, they decide to travel to a Welsh mining community to hand out the cash personally.

Gay Star News quotes Warchus as saying, “This was a script I just couldn’t say no to. It made me laugh out loud, it surprised and delighted me at every turn, and it ultimately moved me to tears. It’s a truly affirming and inspiring story, funny, honest and moving, and by the end of it you want to punch the air and cheer.”

Stephen Beresford wrote the script, with the current plan being to start shooting next month in London and Wales. There’s no news on exactly who the actors will play.

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Arthur Christmas (Blu-ray)

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How does Santa deliver presents to all the children of the world in one night? It’s a conundrum we’ve all pondered and while spoilsport scientists have tried to say it’s impossible as he’d have to go faster than the speed of light, the fact is he can do because he’s magic. However he might also have a lot of technology on his side, which is what Arthur Christmas suggests. [Read more…]