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

Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics’ Dorian Awards Go To Transparent, Pride & More

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dorian2015-nomineesIf most awards are a bit too straight for you, then GALECA – the Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association – and their Dorian Awards are for you. They had out gongs for both mainstream and gay-themed films, as well as in more unusual categories such as Campy Film Of The Year, and Wilde Wit Of The Year.

Now this year’s winner’s have been announced, with Boyhood getting Best Film Of The Year. It’s a good omen as for the past two years GALECA has chosen the movie in that category that went on to win the Best Picture Oscar. Eddie Redmayne and Julianne Moore took the film Film Performance gongs, while Ava DuVernay got Best Director Selma.

On the gay front, there was an extremely strong field of contenders for LGBTQ Film Of The Year, including Stranger By The Lake, Love Is Strange and the multi-Oscar nominated The Imitation Game, but in the end it went to the excellent Pride, which also picked up Unsung Film Of The Year.

In the TV categories, Transparent was by far the biggest winner, scoring TV Comedy of the Year, TV Director of the Year for Jill Soloway, TV Performance of the Year – Actor for Jeffrey Tambor and LGBTQ TV Show of the Year. The Normal Heart also stood out, taking TV Drama Of The Year.

Take a look below for the full list of this year’s Dorian Award winners.

Film of the Year
Boyhood – Sundance Selects/IFC

Birdman – Fox Searchlight
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Fox Searchlight
The Imitation Game – The Weinstein Company
Pride – CBS Films

Film Performance of the Year – Actor
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything – Universal

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher – Sony Pictures Classics
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game – The Weinstein Company
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler – Open Road
Michael Keaton, Birdman – Fox Searchlight

Film Performance of the Year – Actress
Julianne Moore, Still Alice – Sony Pictures Classics

Essie Davis, The Babadook – Sundance Selects/IFC
Anne Dorval, Mommy – Lionsgate
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl – 20th Century Fox
Reese Witherspoon, Wild – Fox Searchlight

Film Director of the Year
Ava DuVernay, Selma – Paramount

Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel – Fox Searchlight
David Fincher, Gone Girl – 20th Century Fox
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman – Fox Searchight
Richard Linklater, Boyhood – Sundance Selects/IFC

LGBTQ Film of the Year
Pride – CBS Films

The Imitation Game – The Weinstein Company
Love is Strange – Sony Pictures Classics
Stranger by the Lake – Strand Releasing
The Way He Looks – Strand Releasing

Foreign Language Film of the Year
Mommy – Lionsgate

Force Majeure – Magnolia Pictures
Ida – Music Box Films
Stranger by the Lake – Strand Releasing
Two Days, One Night – Sundance Selects/IFC

Unsung Film of the Year
Pride – CBS Films

Obvious Child – A24
Love is Strange – Sony Pictures Classics
The Skeleton Twins – Roadside Attractions
Snowpiercer – Radius/TWC

Documentary of the Year
(theatrical release, TV airing or DVD release)
The Case Against 8 – HBO

CitizenFour – Radius/TWC
Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me – Sundance Selects
Life Itself – Magnolia Pictures
Regarding Susan Sontag – HBO

Visually Striking Film of the Year
(honoring a production of stunning beauty, from art direction to cinematography)
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Fox Searchlight

Birdman – Fox Searchlight
Interstellar – Paramount
Snowpiercer – Radius/TWC
Under the Skin – A24

Campy Flick of the Year
Into the Woods

Annie
Gone Girl
Maleficent
Tammy

TV Drama of the Year
The Normal Heart – HBO

Fargo – FX
The Good Wife – CBS
How To Get Away with Murder – ABC
Mad Men – AMC

TV Comedy of the Year
Transparent – Amazon

The Comeback – HBO
Modern Family – ABC
Orange is the New Black – Netflix
Veep – HBO

TV Director of the Year
Jill Soloway, Transparent – Amazon

Lisa Cholodenko, Olive Kitteridge – HBO
Jodie Foster, Orange is the New Black -Netflix
Andrew Haigh, Looking – HBO
Ryan Murphy, The Normal Heart – HBO

TV Performance of the Year – Actor
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent – Amazon

Matthew Bomer, The Normal Heart – HBO
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective – HBO
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart – HBO
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards – Netflix

TV Performance of the Year – Actress
Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback – HBO

Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder – ABC
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife – CBS
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black – BBC America
Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge – HBO

TV Musical Performance of the Year
Neil Patrick Harris, “Sugar Daddy,” The Tony Awards – CBS

Beyonce, MTV Video Music Awards – MTV
Jessica Lange, “Life on Mars,” American Horror Story: Freak Show – FX
Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Madonna, et al., “Same Love,” The Grammys – CBS
Prince, Saturday Night Live – NBC

LGBTQ TV Show of the Year
Transparent – Amazon

Looking – HBO
Modern Family – ABC
Orange is the New Black – Netflix
Please Like Me – Pivot

Unsung TV Show of the Year
Getting On – HBO

Looking – HBO
Orphan Black – BBC America
Please Like Me – Pivot
Transparent – Amazon

TV Current Affairs Show of the Year
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – Comedy Central

Anderson Cooper 360 – CNN
The Colbert Report – Comedy Central
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – HBO
The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC

Campy TV Show of the Year
Jane the Virgin

American Horror Story: Freak Show
How to Get Away with Murder
Peter Pan Live!
Penny Dreadful

Music Video of the Year
Sia, “Chandelier”

Nicki Minaj, “Anaconda”
Perfume Genius, “Queen”
Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”
Meghan Trainor, “All About That Bass”

The “We’re Wilde About You!” Rising Star Award
Gina Rodriguez

Ansel Elgort
Jack Falahee
Ellar Coltrane
Jack O’Connell
Finn Wittrock

Wilde Wit of the Year
(honoring a performer, writer or commentator whose observations both challenge and amuse)
John Oliver

Stephen Colbert
Rachel Maddow
Bill Maher
Jon Stewart

Wilde Artist of the Year
(honoring a truly groundbreaking force in the fields of film, theater and/or television)
Jill Solloway

Xavier Dolan
Neil Patrick Harris
Richard Linklater
Tilda Swinton

Timeless Award
(to an actor or performer whose exemplary career is marked by character, wisdom and wit)
George Takei

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The Oscar Nominations Are Here, With Imitation Game Leading The LGBT Charge!

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oscars-neil-patrick-harrisThe race is on! The Oscar nominations have been announced, so we now know the people and movies that will be vying for a win when the gongs are handed out February 22nd at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

As expected it’s a relatively open field, with no films looking like it’s going to sweep the board, but quite a few now teed up to go for Oscar glory. As expected there was a good showing for both Birdman and Boyhood. However there are others who’ve done well too, including The Imitation Game, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Theory Of Everything and American Sniper.

All of those movie showed up in the Best Picture race, which also includes Selma and Whiplash. Likewise they dominated the Best Director race, with only Theory Of Everything’s James Marsh and Oscar fave Clint Eastwood (American Sniper) missing out on nominations.

In the Best Actor race there were no surprises – indeed it was exactly as most predicted – with Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Michael Keaton (Birdman) and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything). It’s a slightly more unpredictable race in the Best Actress race, with Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night), Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), and Reese Witherspoon (Wild).

It’s a rather mixed picture for LGBT movies, as while The Imitation Game’s eight nominations is undoubtedly good, that’s pretty much it, especially amongst the major categories. There had previously been high hopes for some gay-themed movies in both the Best Documentary and Best Foreign Language Film categories, but in the end none of them made the cut. And with Imitation Game not expected to win any major awards, it could be a bit of a gay drought. Well, sort of, as with Neil Patrick Harris presenting, we won’t be completely forgotten.

It’s a particular shame that Pride got nothing, as with the right marketing the movie should have had a good showing amongst the nominations, as it’s undoubtedly one of the best movies released in the past 12 months. Unfortunately it got absolutely nothing.

But then, it wasn’t the only way the Academy showed they were morons this morning, as they missed the awesome Lego Movie off the Best Animated Movie list, while including the far inferior (but still decent) Big Hero Six. If that wasn’t evidence they’re not very good at this nominating business, I don’t know what is.

You can take a look at the full list of nominees below: [Read more…]

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Nominees Announced For Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics’ Dorian Awards

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dorian2015-nomineesThe Golden Globes may be over and the Oscars may be a month away, but what is undoubtedly the most important gongs of the year have just announced their nominees – the Dorian Awards, as handed out by GALECA (Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association). And yes, part of the reason it’s the most important is that I’m a member, but of course that doesn’t sway my opinion of it at all.

GALECA is comprised of over 100 critics and entertainment journalists, who’ve picked their nominations across 25 categories, from mainstream to LGBTQ-centric, including four newly-added runs, such as Film Director of the Year, TV Director of the Year and Music Video of the Year. GALECA’s mission to honor content ‘from mainstream to gaystream’ has led to an unusually wide variety of nominations and winners since its inception in 2009. For example the organisation’s previous choices for Film of the Year include those that have gone on to Oscar success, such as 12 Years a Slave and Argo, along with less lauded (but equally worthy) fare like Weekend, I Am Love and A Single Man.

Amongst this year’s nominations, Birdman has the edge with four noms in the movie categories, including Film of the Year, while Michael Keaton is up for for Film Performance of the Year – Actor. Just behind are The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game and the crowd-pleaser Pride, about blue-collar miners and LGBTQs standing united for a cause.

In the TV categories, the transgender-comes-out-to-their-family dramedy, Transparent, leads with five nominations, including nods for star Jeffrey Tambor and creator Jill Soloway (for TV Director of the Year). The Normal Heart, Orange is the New Black and the new drama How to Get Away with Murder (for TV Drama of the Year, star Viola Davis and Campy TV Show) are also well-represented.

LGBTQ-specific categories for TV and film have their own surprises. For example in the LGBTQ Film Of The Year category, the mainstream success The Imitation Game is nominated alongside the likes of The Way He Looks – a movie that grossed less than $100,000 on its US release.

One winner is known already, as Star Trek icon and LGBTQ-rights activist, George Takei, has been named Timeless Star. GALECA has previously awarded such luminaries as Lily Tomlin and Sir Ian McKellen with this career achievement honor.

This winners will be announced on Tuesday, January 20th, with the group’s annual, free-wheeling Winners Toast set for Sunday, March 1, in Los Angeles.

Check out the full list of nominees below. [Read more…]

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Ant-Man Trailer – Plus the first poster for Paul Rudd in Marvel’s movie

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ant-man-paul-rudd-shirtlessWhile Marvel’s cinematic universe has been wildly successful, it’s not resting on its laurels and is now in expansion mode, with films about various new characters in the works. The first of those to arrive will be Ant-Man, which is due to arrive in UK cinemas July 17th, 2015.

Now to get us excited, the first trailer and ‘ant-sized’ poster for the movie have arrived, which you can see below, along with a bit of a close-up on Paul Rudd in the poster from the latest cover of EW (click on the pics for larger versions).

Here’s the synopsis: ‘The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings a founding member of The Avengers to the big screen for the first time with Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man.” Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

Marvel’s “Ant-Man” stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne, Corey Stoll as Darren Cross aka Yellowjacket, Bobby Cannavale as Paxton, Michael Peña as Luis, Judy Greer as Maggie, Tip “Ti” Harris as Dave, David Dastmalchian as Kurt, Wood Harris as Gale, Jordi Mollà as Castillo and Michael Douglas as Hank Pym. Directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Kevin Feige, Marvel’s “Ant-Man” delivers a high-stakes, tension-filled adventure on July 17, 2015.’ [Read more…]

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Big Gay Picture Show’s Top 10 LGBT- Themed Films Of 2014

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top-10-lgbt-films-2014There is a lot of good work going on in the world of LGBT film (and to be honest, a lot of rubbish too), but due to the fact it’s a bit of a niche area, far fewer people are aware of it than there ought to be. So in an effort to help shine a light of those movies that anyone interested in queer cinema really ought to check out, we’ve put together this Top 10 of 2014’s LGBT-themed movies.

To be in for consideration, BGPS  needed to have reviewed the movie over the last 12 months. It should also be noted it’s not based purely on the score out of 10 we gave the movie at the time of the review, but also how we view it in hindsight and whether it’s stuck with us over the months. So take a look below to see what we think is the best of 2014. [Read more…]

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Merry Christmas From Big Gay Picture Show!

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its-a-wonderful-life-slideWe just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who’s supported the site in the last 12 months. Everyone involved with BGPS appreciates you reading the site and we’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We’ll still be updating the site over the festive period, although there may not be quite as many posts as usual. We’re also working hard on all sorts of exciting new things for 2015 that will build on the success we’ve had so far, and we’ll let you know more about that soon.

Thank you all again, and we hope you continue to enjoy BGPS in 2015 and beyond.

And if you fancy a bit more festive cheer, check out our look at celebs looking Christmassy.

Ryan Phillippe

Ryan Phillippe

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Exodus: God & Kings (Cinema Review)

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Ridley Scott is one of the most revered directors of our time. While he’s worked in all sorts of genres, he’s had particular success with ground-breaking classic sci-fi such as Alien, as well historical biographies or fiction, which often turn out to be masterpieces such as the multi award winning Gladiator. There is no doubt that Scott is one of cinema’s greatest storytellers.

This time Ridley Scott brings to our screen possibly the third greatest story ever told (after the birth of Jesus and Noah) – the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. This Old Testament tale of Moses was immortalised by Charlton Heston in 1956’s The Ten Commandments, but who could possibly fill this famous pair of sandals this time? Well, none other than Batman himself – Christian Bale. [Read more…]

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Cinema Review)

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So here we are at the end of Bilbo’s quest, and a journey that Peter Jackson and co started on many years ago to bring Middle Earth to the big screen. I am a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2004) and they are some of my all-time favourite films.

It’s been more than a decade since I went to the cinema to see The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), and at the time I went in with little expectation, just knowing that it was a fantasy film based on a beloved book that had gained legions of fans worldwide. I was captivated by a fully realised world and became attached to the characters and their quest. And then suddenly it ended and I couldn’t believe I had to wait a year for more! [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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Bond 24 Is Spectre & It’s Even Got A Poster (As Well As Andrew Scott & Ben Whishaw Starring)

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spectre-posterIt’s official, Bond 24 has been announced with a major event in London and it will be called Spectre. Of course that’s the name of the evil organisation headed by Blofeld in early Bond movies (It stands for (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion), and the name of the film signals its return.

Both Blofeld and SPECTRE disappeared from Bond after a protracted legal battle decided Thunderball screenplay co-creator Kevin McClory owned them. However a few years ago Eon Productions purchased the rights and brought them back into the official Bond fold. Every film since Casino Royale has had rumours of a SPECTRE appearance, but it’s only now it will actually happen.

The announcement also confirms that alongside returnees Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Rory Kinnear, newbies Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci and Andrew Scott will star. Although there’s no confirmation, the presumption is that Waltz will be Blofeld.

Here’s the official press release (and take a look at some pics from the launch event below): ‘007 Soundstage, Pinewood Studios, London. James Bond Producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli today released the title of the 24th James Bond adventure, SPECTRE. The film, from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, is directed by Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his fourth film as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007. SPECTRE begins principal photography on Monday, December 8, and is set for global release on November 6, 2015.

‘Along with Daniel Craig, Mendes presented the returning cast, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Rory Kinnear as well as introducing Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci and Andrew Scott. Mendes also revealed Bond’s sleek new Aston Martin, the DB10, created exclusively for SPECTRE.

‘A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

‘The 007 production will be based at Pinewood Studios, and on location in London, Mexico City, Rome and Tangier and Erfoud, in Morocco. Bond will return to the snow once again, this time in Sölden, along with other Austrian locations, Obertilliach, and Lake Altaussee.

‘Commenting on the announcement, Wilson and Broccoli said, “We’re excited to announce Daniel’s fourth installment in the series and thrilled that Sam has taken on the challenge of following on the success of SKYFALL with SPECTRE.”.

‘Written by John Logan and Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, Director of Photography is Hoyte van Hoytema and Editor is Lee Smith. Production Designer, Dennis Gassner returns along with Costume Designer, Jany Temime and Composer, Thomas Newman. Action Specialist, Alexander Witt is the 2nd Unit Director. Stunt Coordinator is Gary Powell, SFX Supervisor is Chris Corbould, and Visual Effects Supervisor is Steve Begg.

‘Skyfall, the 23rd James Bond film, was a worldwide box office phenomenon, opening #1 in 70 territories around the world, taking over $1.1 billion worldwide and setting a new all-time box office record in the UK by becoming the first film to take over £100 million.

‘The launch of SPECTRE was streamed live on 007.com and Facebook.com/JamesBond007, and the video is now available on demand at both sites.’

Take a look at some pics from the launch below. [Read more…]

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