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

A Fantastic Woman & Call Me By Your Name Pick Up Oscars

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Although there wasn’t quite as much LGBT success at the Oscars as some may have hoped, there were two awards that went our way. Out filmmaker James Ivory won Best Adapted Screenplay for the gay-themed Call Me By Your Name. It’s the first Oscar for the man who’s directed everything from Maurice and A Room With A View to Remains Of The Day and Howard’s End.

And while those hoping Timothee Chalamet would win Best Actor for CMBYM ended up being disappointed (it went to the hot favourite, Gary Oldman for Darkest Hour), Chalamet did get to go up on stage vicariously, as Ivory had a drawing of the young actor painted on his tuxedo shirt.

The other major LGBT winner was the Chilean trans-themed movie, A Fantastic Woman, which picked up Best Film Not In The English language. The film follows a trans mourning the death of her boyfriend, but who is confronted by anger and prejudice from his previous family. The movie’s star, Daniela Vega, also made history as the first trans Oscar presenter when she stepped on stage to introduced Sufjan Stevens’ performance of his Best Original Song nominee, Mystery of Love, from Call Me By Your Name.

Its also been revealed that after last year’s Best Picture mix-up, the Academy offered the cast and crew of Moonlight another chance to pick up their award, without the confusion of La La Land thinking they’d won first. However, they turned the opportunity down.

The big winner of the night was The Shape Of Water, which picked up four awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Guillermo Del Toro. Frances McDormand won Best Actress for Three Billboards and gave a barnstorming speech about inclusion, while the Best Supporting Actress and Actor awards went to Alison Janney for I, Tonya and the hotly tipped Sam Rockwell for Three Billboards.

Another standout moment was British cinematographer Roger Deakins finally winning for Blade Runner 2049. Long considered one of the best in the business, this was his 14th nomination but the first time he’s won. His first nomination was for The Shawshank Redemption back in 1995, so it’s long overdue.

Take a look at the full list of winners below. [Read more…]

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The Gay-Themed BPM Wins Big At France’s Cesar Film Awards

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The Cesar Awards are France’s version of the Oscars, honouring the very best in Gallic cinema. This year the big winner was BPM (aka 120 battements par minute/120 Beats Per Minute), which picked up the Best Film Award, long with five other gongs. That included Best Original Screenplay for the movie’s writer/director, Robin Campillo, and Best New Actor for Nahuel Perez Biscayart.

BPM had tied with Albert Dupontel’s See You Up There in terms of the number of nominations, with 13 apiece. However, it was BPM that ended up the biggest winner with six awards to See You Up There’s five.

It will be some consolation to the film as, after being chosen as France’s entry for the Best Film Not In The English Lanuguage Oscar, it failed to score a nomination. The movie is set in Paris in the early 1990s, following a group of activists going in to battle for those stricken with HIV/AIDS, taking on sluggish government agencies and major pharmaceutical companies in bold, invasive actions. Amid rallies, protests, fierce debates and ecstatic dance parties, newcomer Nathan falls in love with Sean, the group’s radical firebrand, and their passion sparks against the shadow of mortality as the activists fight for a breakthrough.

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Timothée Chalamet Wins Independent Spirit Award For Call Me By Your Name

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Gay hit Call Me By Your Name had reason to celebrate yesterday at the Independent Spirit Awards, as the movie’s star, Timothée Chalamet, won Best Male Lead. The film also picked up Best Cinematography for Sayombhu Mukdeeprom.

The Independent Spirit Awards are given out the day before the Oscars by Film Independent (which also runs the LA Film Festival), acnowledging and celebrating those films made by and released outside the Hollywood studio system.

Call Me By Your Name’s sucess that did mean the fellow gay-themed movie, Beach Rats, lost out, as it was nominated in the same categories. However, Call Me By Your Name wasn’t the only LGBT success at the awards, as the excellent trans-themed drama, A Fantastic Woman, picked up Best International Film, beating the gay French movie, BPM.

Queer filmmaker Dee Rees’ Mudbound was honoured with the Robert Altman Award, given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast.

However, the big winner was Get Out, which won both Best Feature and Best Director for Jordan Peele. Oscar favourite Frances McDormand picked up Best Female Lead for Three Billboards, while the Supporting Male and Female went to Sam Rockwell, also for Three Billboards, and Alison Janney for I, Tonya.

You can find a full list of the winners and nominees over at the Film Independent website. [Read more…]

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Lee Pace Says He’s Dated Both Men & Women, But Finds The Question ‘Intrusive’

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The idea of a ‘glass closet’, where it’s known someone is LGBT but the person never talks about it has been around since long before Liberace. While more and more actors have come out in recent years, the glass closet is still around (until recently, Kevin Spacey was one of its main inhabitants). Many would say it’s a description that would fit Pushing Daisies star Lee Pace, to the point where a couple of years ago his Hobbit co-star Ian McKellen assumed Pace was openly gay.

However, Lee has never publicly addressed his sexuality, until now, although it sounds like he wishes he didn’t have to. It’s not too surprising the question came up though while Pace was promoting his role as the closeted Mormon Joe Pitt in the upcoming Broadway revival of Tony Kushner’s Angels In America. In an interview with W Magazine he says:

“Our understanding of what it means to be gay is just so different,” Pace said of the climate in 2018. “It’s culturally different. It’s just so much further down the road. It’s an interesting thing for me to think about in this moment while working on this play.”

Pace added that he feels it’s important for gay actors to play the gay roles in both plays, but stopped short of labeling himself. He seemed a bit flustered and surprised by the question. “I’ve dated men. I’ve dated women,” he explained. “I don’t know why anyone would care. I’m an actor and I play roles. To be honest, I don’t know what to say—I find your question intrusive.”

Although that’s a common glass closet response, finding such questions ‘intrusive’ is becomingly increasingly untenable in a world where the likes of Neil Patrick Harris can talk about his husband in the same way a straight actress could mention theirs. It’s also true that in the interview Pace doesn’t have problems talking about other aspects of his personal life, but gets flustered when it’s his sexuality – and that’s despite the fact in the last few years he’s played a bisexual character in TV’s Halt And Catch Fire, and a gay character in a stage revival of Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart. It’s also odd to expound the importance of having gay actors playing the major roles in Angels In America, but then be surprised when asked if that includes him.

However, to his credit, while he may not like the question he didn’t just avoid it, and nor has he avoided roles that explore sexuality elsewhere. Angels In America is currently playing at Broadway’s Neil Simon Theater for a limited run, with Pace starring alongside Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane.

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The Happy Prince Film Clip – Take a look at Rupert Everett’s film about the final years of Oscar Wilde

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As its writer, director and star, The Happy Prince is undoubtedly a labour of love for Rupert Everett. The look at what happened to Oscar Wilde after his release from jail premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and it also screened at the Berlin Film Festival a couple of weeks ago. Sony Pictures Classics recently picked up distribution rights for North America and Latin America, and it will screen at the upcoming BFI: Flare London LGBT Film Festival.

We can now take our first look at the movie with a clip from the film, showing Everett as a broken Wilde, trying to escape his notoriety as perhaps the most famous ‘homosexual’ in the world. As the actor/director recently said, “I was always much more drawn to the fall of Oscar Wilde. I always found it a very romantic and tragic story. It’s one of the great stories of the end of the 19th century.”

Here’s its synopsis from the Sundance FIlm Festival: ‘Rupert Everett writes, directs, and stars in his moving debut feature, detailing the final three years (1897–1900) in the life of Oscar Wilde. Rich in period detail and eschewing the familiar narrative of the writer’s notorious trial and imprisonment on charges of indecency, this seldom-told story recounts Wilde’s life following his release from incarceration—a period encompassing some of his most profound writing and most intimate experiences.

‘Sequestered at a remote seaside hotel in France by faithful friends (played by Edwin Thomas and Colin Firth), a buoyant Wilde is soon restlessly traversing Europe under assumed names, beset by familiar, warring impulses: to reunite with his estranged wife (a radiant Emily Watson) or his former lover Sir Alfred “Bosie” Douglas (Colin Morgan), whose former provocations brought Wilde to ruin. Fading health, dwindling funds, and still more betrayals await Wilde, who relentlessly seeks love and creative outlets in whatever taverns and alleyways still welcome him. It’s here that Everett particularly shines, evoking the spirit of the once-celebrated fallen genius who finds divine light even in the darkest corners of life.’

Take a look at the clip below. [Read more…]

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A Documentary About The Very First Winner Of RuPaul’s Drag Race Needs Your Help

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Back in 2009 BeBe Zahara Benet was crowned the very first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and has just returned to the arena for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3 – the first winner ever to be invited back for All Stars. There are also plans in the works for a documentary about the drag star and his male alter-ego, Nea Marshall Kudi Ngwa.

A Kickstarter has been launched in the hope of raising $33,000 to help complete director/producer Emily Branham’s documentary about the model and drag performer, Being Bebe.

The film follows Marshall, originally from Cameroon in West Africa, from his early days as a promising amateur drag performer in Minneapolis, to becoming the very First Winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, to returning to real life after reality television – always on a relentless pursuit to become the artist he knows he was born to be.

Branham comments, “It’s a really exciting moment as a whole new generation of Drag Race fans is getting to know and love BeBe through All Stars 3. And with the 10th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race launching in just a few weeks – a story about the rise and struggles of the very first winner feels even more relevant. We’re in a great position to finish our film once we raise the completion funds for post-production. This has been an labor of love for me for a long time, and I can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to and invite BeBe’s supporters to get involved in the project through Kickstarter.”

Take a look at the crowdfunding trailer below, and if you like what you see, head over to Kickstarter to help out.
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1:54 Trailer – Bullying takes things to a dark place for a gay teen in the Canadian thriller

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We were a little ambivalent about 1:54 when we caught it at BFI: Flare London LGBT Film festival last year, but for some it was the stand-out movie of the fest. It’s bold take on the effects of homophobia and bullying certainly had an impact on many audience members. The film will arrive in cinemas and on DVD in the US soon, so it’s a good opportunity to take a look at the new trailer.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Tim, a shy sixteen-year-old athlete, is gifted with a natural athletic ability for running. However, the last four years of high school have been tough on him because of Jeff and his crew. In his last year of high school, Tim is sick and tired of feeling like a loser, and wants to shine for once. He decides to stand up to Jeff by dethroning him in the 800m championship, the event Jeff is known for in school. But behind the competition and rivalry, a secret is wreaking havoc. To Pierre, his father, who is trying to understand what’s going on, and to Mr. Sullivan, his running coach, who tries to help him, Soon, Tim finds himself pushed to the edge because of the pressure he endures where human limits reach the point of no return.’

The film from Oscar-nominated writer/director Yan England, begins a limited theatrical run in the US on March 9th, before coming to DVD/VOD from March 13th. Take a look at the trailer below. [Read more…]

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Brazil’s Hard Paint (Tinta Bruna) Wins Prestigious LGBT Film Teddy Award At Berlin Film Festival

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The Teddy Award is one of the most prestigious gongs in the LGBT film calendar. An official part of the Berlin Film Festival, the prize has been given to plenty of great movies, including Ira Sachs’ Keep The Lights On, Marco Berger’s Absent, Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are All Right, John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig And The Angry Inch, the wonderful The Way He Looks, and Sebastian Silva’s Nasty Baby, starring Kristen Wiig.

As proof of what a good springboard it can be, last year it was won by A Fantastic Woman, which had its world premiere at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival. It is currently competing for Best Film Not In The English Language at the Oscars.

This year’s award has now been handed out and has gone to the Brazilian movie, Hard Paint (Tinta Bruna). The film comes from directors Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon, who have previously worked together on LGBT projects such as the movie Seashore, and the provocative short film, The Last Days Of Zanzibar.

Here’s the synopsis for Hard Paint from the Teddy website: ‘Pedro earns a living in chat rooms. The image resolution may not be perfect but when Pedro transforms himself into NeonBoy in front of the webcam he still manages to create the desired impression. Slowly, this young man dips his fingers into pots of coloured paint and glides them across his naked body. Glowing in the dark, NeonBoy follows his users’ commands until he agrees to meet one of them in a private chat room for money. But things change when Pedro’s sister Luzia moves out of their shared apartment and he notices that somebody is imitating his performances.

‘He agrees to go on a date with his mysterious rival. This rendezvous will have far-reaching consequences. As with all of the previous films by directing duo Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon, we find ourselves again in Porto Alegre in northern Brazil, where we encounter young queers in search of intimacy, community and security. The elegantly interwoven virtual images and protagonists’ stories may take us away from the real world, yet in actuality we remain in an increasingly homophobic Brazilian society to whose misfits this sensitive, affectionate portrait in three acts is dedicated.’

Take a look at the full list of Teddy Winners below. You can also head over to the awards’ website here. [Read more…]

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Michael And Michael Are Gay Web Series Needs Your Help To Look At The Messiness Of Open Relationships

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Michael Feldman and Michael Rachlis​ went slightly viral a few years ago with their marriage proposal, which took place during the curtain call of a play. Now they’re planning something a little different, with a six-part web series called Michael And Michael Are Gay, which will look at various things, most notably the issues that arise from open relationships.

In order to get the series completed, they’ve launched a Seed & Spark campaign in the hope of raising $40,000. As usual, there’s a range of perks on offer.

They write, They write: “In the current media landscape, we don’t see our story of marriage reflected. This is an opportunity for queer storytellers (and a straight female director) to be in the driver seat and unapologetically tell queer stories. It will also feature a racially & ethnically diverse cast of LGBTQ actors. Michael & Michael are Gay is a six-episode scripted web series inspired by the real lives of its creators – two neurotic Jews named Michael who fell in love and decided to make it official.  The series will explore the lives and unique challenges of two loveable, sex-positive misfits, trying to navigate what marriage looks like between two men in the 21st century.  It will also be an opportunity to tap into an impressive pool of LGBT talent to combine their powers (Captain Planet-style) to tell a story that is no holds-bar, unapologetically, and gratuitously GAY (Just like Captain Planet).”

As the clip from the pilot episode below shows, that LGBT talent includes EastSiders creator Kit Williamson and his real-life hubby John Halbach, and Youtuber Michael Henry. Take a look at that teaser below, and if you like what you see, head over to Seed & Spark to help out.

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Stephen Fry Reveals He’s Been Battling Prostate Cancer

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Since he quit hosting QI and moved with his husband to LA, we haven’t seen quite as much of British national treasure Stephen Fry as we have before. He also recently stepped down from hosting the BAFTA Film Awards for the first time in several years, being replaces by Joanna Lumley. It turns out one of the reasons he’s been quieter in the last couple of months is because he’s been dealing with protate cancer, which he has desribed as an “aggressive little bugger”.

In a video and on Twitter where he describes the “rather unwelcome and unexpected adventure” he’s been on, he’s keen to add that he has now had his prostate removed and it doesn’t seem to have spread. He also thankfully adds, “For the moment I’m fit and well and happy and I just wanted to let you know because rumours had started to swirl.”

Fry says that the cancer was discovered when he went for a routine flu jab before Christmas. It was indeed a particularly harsh form of the disease, given a score of 9 out of 10 on the Gleason Scale, which ranks the agressiveness of prostate cancers. He has since had his prostate and 11 lymph nodes removed, and “As far as we know it’s all been got.”

He adds, “Here’s hoping I’ve got another few years left on this planet because I enjoy life at the moment and that’s a marvellous thing to be able to say, and I’d rather it didn’t go away.”

Fry also pays tribute to his “darling, darling husband”, Elliott Spencer, who has been “just marvellous”. You can see Stephen’s video about his cancer below.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with over 40,000 new cases diagnosed every year. You can find out more about the disease and its symptoms on the NHS website. [Read more…]

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