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

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (Blu-ray Review)

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Jane Austen gets an undead mash-up in the film version of Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel, which took the original text of Pride & Prejudice and added in a whole lot of zombies. The movie has had a somewhat troubled history, with various directors and actors coming and going, and with the whole thing looking like they’d given up on it several times. However, finally Lionsgate got it in the can with Burr Steers (Charlie St. Cloud) directing and Lily James and Sam Riley starring.

As you would expect, the Bennet sisters are living in Hertfordshire, with their mother keen to marry them off to eligible men. While Lydia, Mary and Kitty seem keen to take any suitable gent, Elizabeth (James) is more headstrong and independent. While fending off the advances of Parson Collins (Matt Smith), she meets the exceedingly rich Darcy (Riley), who she takes an immediate dislike to, seeing him as rude, judgemental and unpleasant. [Read more…]

Trumbo (Blu-ray Review)

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Ever since it happened, Hollywood has had a rather tortured relationship with the Communist Witch Hunts of the 1950s. At the time the Studios largely lined up with the government and co-operated with something which most felt was wrong, but they were too afraid of what would happen to business if they didn’t. They didn’t think they could risk being seen to be defending possible communists, even if the battle against them seemed to go against American values.

As a result, stars and directors gave names to Congress, and Hollywood drew up a list of names who were blacklisted out of the industry due to their possible communist sympathies. Ever since the tide later turned against those who’d co-operated and especially those who agreed to testify in front of The House Un-American Activities Committee, Tinsel Town has never seemed certain what to do about one of its darker chapters, and has generally given it a wide berth. [Read more…]

Outings (DVD Review)

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Outings is a slightly unusual release in that it’s essentially a straight-to-DVD TV show, offering three thirty minute episodes of a new gay-themed series. It comes from Rob Ward (co-writer of the play Away from Home) and Lloyd Eyre-Morgan (director of Dream On, Celluloid, Three In A Bed and the Iris Prize winning Closets), who wrote, direct and star in the show.

The series follows a group of friends, with each episode continuing the story but focusing slightly more on a different person in each. In Episode 1, Kane is dumped by Tom, not least because despite being together for a year, they still haven’t had anal sex. Kane starts to wonder if he’ll ever get his life together, and whether the fact he can’t bottom like a porn star is going to affect the rest of his life. The second episode concentrates more on Kane’s friend Keigan, who has been asked to be his brother’s best man. However, he doesn’t really want the job as he doesn’t think much of his future sister-in-law. His tendency towards trying to escape reality also reveals a few self-destructive tendencies. [Read more…]

Holding The Man (Cinema Review)

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Holding The Man is evidence, if it were needed, of how difficult it is for gay-themed movies to crossover into the mainstream. Despite glowing reviews and a cast including Aussie luminaries such as Guy Pearce, Anthony LaPaglia and (briefly) Geoffrey Rush, as well as Kerry Fox (who’s actually a New Zealander), the movie has largely managed to fly under the radar, and a year on from its Australian debut it’s still waiting for a US release date.

However, it’s now arrived in the UK thanks to Peccadillo Pictures. Based on Tim Conigrave’s bestselling memoir, the film covers a roughly 15-year period, starting in the mid-70s when Tim (Ryan Corr) is in a Catholic high school and first begins hanging out with his crush, John (Craig Scott). It doesn’t take them long before they admit that they like each more than just friends. Inevitably their teenage love faces obstacles when the school and then their parents discover what is going on. [Read more…]

Steel (DVD Review)

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Daniel (Chad Connell) is a successful man – he has a popular TV talk show and his growing ratings have ensured that his star is on the rise. However, he’s also plagued with anxiety and panic attacks, which causes him to have an on-air meltdown and afterwards to hide himself away from the world, not talking to his producer or anyone else.

Then he meets Alexander (David Cameron – who you won’t be surprised to hear is an actor, not the British Prime Minister), a young fan who very quickly declares his love for the TV personality. Despite Daniel barely functioning, Alexander is persistent and the two soon become lovers. As their relationship develops, Daniel begins to open up, revealing some of the past trauma that has led him to the depression and anxiety he now feels. [Read more…]

The Big Short (Blu-ray Review)

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There’s an odd contradiction at the heart of The Big Short, as it’s a movie where the ‘heroes’ are people who managed to make out like bandits due to the world economy collapsing. Thankfully though the film knows that and is at pain to point out that while the main characters may have realised what was going on before anyone else, they’re also aware that while what they’re doing may be good for their investors, it’s also built on the back of the misery of a lot of normal people.

Based on real events, the ensemble film tells a trio of interwoven tales set during the run up to the economic meltdown of 2008. Christian Bale is Michael Burry, an eccentric hedge fund manager who realises that there’s something strange going on in the housing market, and that the financial instruments that it is now based on are a house of cards that have become increasingly corrupt and that it’s only a matter of time until the whole thing collapses. While these instruments are rising in value and billions are being made from them, Burry knows that many of the underlying loans they are based on are worthless. [Read more…]

Dirty Grandpa (Blu-ray Review)

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I suppose it’s a bit much to expect a film called Dirty Grandpa to be anything except dirty and about a grandpa. However, despite the fact he’s spent most of the past 20 years phoning it in, it’s difficult not to hold out hope that with Robert De Niro onboard it’s going to be more than just a series of slightly random gross-out jokes and comedy that’s more annoying than funny. Unfortunately, it isn’t.

Jason (Zac Efron) is an uptight lawyer, a week away from marrying an equally uptight woman. It’s also his grandmother’s funeral. He gets roped in to driving his grandfather, Dick (De Niro), to Florida for his annual vacation. However, once on the road, it becomes clear the 72-year-old isn’t intending for a couple of weeks of sun and shuffleboard while reminiscing about his late wife – he wants to get laid and party. [Read more…]

Room (DVD Review)

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The Best Actress category in this year’s Oscars was very strong. Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlotte Rampling and Saoirse Ronan all gave powerful, committed performances that were finely-tuned, expressive and thoughtful. All of them however were overshadowed by one towering performance, from Brie Larson in Room. She was the favourite, and probably won it by a country mile. Put simply it’s a performance that you won’t see the like of in a very, very long time.

The room in question is the tiny space where Larson’s Ma is being held captive and raped nightly by Old Nick (a 17th century term for the Devil). The only light is from a skylight, the room itself is a squalid collection of cheap furniture and utilities, just enough to keep her alive – a sink, a bed. Her only companion is her young son Jack (Tremblay), who it transpires was born in this space, and therefore knows nothing else. The only thing that keeps Ma going is her young boy, but obviously their relationship is strained and difficult. [Read more…]

Daddy (DVD Review)

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Gerald McCullouch is best known to many as Roger in the BearCity movies (although some will remember him as lab tech Bobby in CSI, or in various appearances in other popular TV shows), but here he turns director, as well as taking the lead role. Initially you might think his Colin in Daddy isn’t too far from Roger, as he’s a gay man in a relationship with a much younger guy, but it’s there that the comparisons end.

Colin is a good-looking middle-aged man who has little difficulty picking up younger guys. He’s also got a great job in TV and a devoted best friend, Stew (Dan Via), although he’s starting to think perhaps he’s missing out due to his lack of a long-term relationship. Then into his life comes young intern Tee (Jaime Cepero), who seems incredibly excited to be working alongside Colin. [Read more…]

You and I (DVD Review)

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Berlin-based Photographer Jonas is planning a trip into rural Germany as part of an art project, and so invites his British friend Philip to go along with him. They got to know each other in London, but haven’t seen each other for a while. However, they soon fall back into an easy, almost childlike friendship after they meet up.

Philip is gay, something Jonas has never had an issue with, but things get a little more complicated when they pick up Polish hitchhiker Boris. A tension between Philip and Boris begins to turn sexual, and as the two men get closer, Jonas begins to re-evaluate what he wants from his friendship with Philip. Ultimately it becomes a make or break moment for their friendship. [Read more…]