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

The David Dance (US Cinema Review)

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David (Don Scime) is a gay man who’s spent much of his life shying away from confronting his own issues and who rarely dates. However, as the host of the radio show, Gay Talk, he’s almost a different man – confident, unashamed and ready to tackle big issues.

His sister, Kate, meanwhile, has made a major decision – she’s going to adopt a child from Brazil and wants David to help her. David agrees, even if he isn’t actually sure what to do, or if the child should know he’s gay. [Read more…]

Rami Malek Signs Up For Freddie Mercury Biopic, With Bryan Singer Directing

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rami-malek-mr-robotMaking a movie about Queen frontman Freddie Mercury has proven pretty difficult, with various people, such as Sacha Baron Cohen and Ben Whishaw, attached to the central role, while directors such as Tom Hooper and Dexter Fletcher have come and gone. However, despite several years having passed, the project is still alive and kicking, with the news that Mr. Robot star Rami Malek is now set to play Mercury, while Bryan Singer is slated to direct.

The previous incarnation of the movie was described as a coming-of-age tale, leading up to Queen’s iconic Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium in 1985, which is considered one of the great rock performances of all time. It’s not known if that’s still the central spine of the movie, as new writers have been brought in since then and Singer may have his own ideas.

There have also been previous rumours that the surviving members of Queen, who are helping produce the film, wanted to minimise Mercury’s sexuality in the movie, and that this is why the version for Baron Cohen didn’t work out, but hopefully having Singer involved will ensure the fact Mercury was gay isn’t completely shoved to one side. Malek would also seem a great choice, with his ability to jump from seeming extremely introverted to extroverted matching Freddie’s personality.

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Amy Poehler & Difficult People’s Scott King Team For Gay Odd Couple Style Comedy Series

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amy-poehlerFor the last few years US network TV has been trying to find a gay-themed breakout hit, with mixed success. However they’re not giving up, with ABC keeping The Real O’Neals on the air despite not great ratings, a revival of Will & Grace being mooted by NBC, and Kit Williamson writing a show centring on a gay character for CBS.

Now we’ve got another to add to the list, as ABC has made a script commitment to Family Style, which THR describes as a ‘Gay Odd Couple Comedy’. Amy Poehler and her Paper Kite production company are behind the show, which is inspired by the life of Difficult People showrunner Scott King, who will co-write the script for the pilot alongside Claudia Lonow.

There’s now too much info on the series itself, other than that it will be, #a single-camera comedy described as a multi-generational half-hour about two mismatched men from different cultures who find love in a family-run restaurant in Miami.’ At least one of those men will be gay.

At the moment, ABC has only committed to a script, but they must think there’s a good chance it will work, as there’s a financial penalty in the contract if they don’t move forward with the show (presumably at least with a pilot).

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Win Now You See Me 2 On DVD!

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now-you-see-me-2-dvd-coverEntertainment One (eOne) is pleased to announce that our four favourite magicians – The Four Horseman – are back, inviting us to a visually spectacular blend of astonishing illusions and bold heists like we’ve never seen before!

To celebrate its release, we have 2 x DVD to give away!

NOW YOU SEE ME 2 is an action-packed thrill-ride with a fantastic ensemble cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. Directed by Jon M. Chu and co-produced by legendary magician David Copperfield, NOW YOU SEE ME 2 is available to download from 28 October 2016 and releases on Blu-ray, DVD and Double Pack DVD from 7 November 2016; pre-order now from Amazon. A DVD Bonus Disc Edition will also be available exclusively at ASDA.

In this second mind-bending adventure, The Four Horseman elevate the limits of stage illusion to new heights in an adventure that takes them around the globe.

One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their Robin Hood-style magic, the illusionists resurface for a comeback performance in the hope of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate. The man behind their vanishing act is none other than Walter Mabry, a tech prodigy who threatens the Horsemen into pulling off their most impossible heist yet. Their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.

To be in with a chance of winning Now You See Me 2, just answer the question below and fill in your details, then press submit! The competition closes on November 19th, 2016, so get answering and good luck.

NOW YOU SEE ME 2 will be available to download from 28 October  2016 and on Blu-ray, DVD, Double Pack DVD and DVD Bonus Disc Edition from 7 November 2016.

[Read more…]

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Want To See A New Season Of Supernatural Gay Soap Dante’s Cove? Now May Be Your Chance!

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dantes-cove-s4-slideRemember Dante’s Cove? The show, which aired three season between 2004 and 2007, followed the supernatural shenanigans going on in the titular coastal town, which involved vampires, sorcerers, ghost children, oh, and a fair amount of male nudity and gay sex. Now though it’s looking to return with a new cast and a new season, but to do so it needs to raise some cash, and so it’s launched a Kickstarter hoping to raise $50,000.

The original show had as many fans as detractors, as it often looked a little cheap, the acting could be ropey (although it did features gay film stalwart Charlie David, Babylon 5 and The Colby’s Tracy Scoggins and in its early episodes a pre-Arrow Stephen Amell), and the plots were sometimes so odd they verged towards being incomprehensible. However the supernatural gay soap was also oddly mesmeric, difficult to stop watching and often a lot of fun – and it was also pretty damn sexy. As a result it has quite a cult following.

The planned new season, ‘Is set several years after the conclusion of Season 3. Still reeling from the dark apocalypse that nearly destroyed the island, hidden secrets and new rivalries linger and loom for the island’s sexy new residents. Fans of previous Dante’s Cove seasons will be delighted by the return of director Sam Irvin, who is poised to deliver the type of sexy supernatural drama you’ve come to expect from Dante’s Cove. Key characters will return and new characters will light up the Cove with fire and passion.

‘The young hero of Season 4 discovers emerging desires and powers that lead toward danger; powers the likes of which haven’t been seen in generations. Meanwhile, a global conspiracy awakens and casts new dramatic light on disturbances in Dante’s Cove. Unknown alliances will be revealed. New powers will manifest. Murder, betrayal, adventure, and unrelenting passion will seduce you like an ex lover you can’t resist.’

That doesn’t tell us too many specifics, but does suggest Dante’s Cove will be as crazy as ever, with plenty more supernatural nuttiness and men who find it difficult to keep their clothes on.

If you want to help out, watch the fundraising video below and then head over to Kickstarter. And to give you a little more impetus, The Advocate is streaming the entire first season for a limited time. [Read more…]

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Morning After Teaser – A coming of age drama about the fluidity of sexuality

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morning-afterThe idea of being sexually fluid is relatively new to most people’s vernacular, and as a result it hasn’t been explored to much in cinema. However, Morning After, which has just finished shooting, is hoping to help change that. The short is described as a ‘proof of concept’ for a future feature film.

Morning After tells the story of a young man called Michael, who comes back to Montreal after spending two years abroad. He finds himself at his friend Edward’s flat with his roommate Dana, her best friend Teegan, and Edward’s “soulmate” Alex. While only knowing Edward, Michael quickly becomes friendly with the rest of the gang as they get involved in a provocative game of chocolate tasting and French-kissing.

Michael finds himself confronted by the openness of the group, who seem to comfortably blur the lines of sexual identity, something Michael has a hard time understanding. Michael comes face to face with a dilemma he’s had for quite some time; of not only questioning his own sexuality, but the notion of sexual identity as a whole, and are labels really necessary? The answer to all his questions lie in, the Morning After.

“Morning After is perfectly timed to speak to the Millennial generation and sexual fluidity in our culture. It presents an incredible opportunity to bring understanding to and raise awareness around sexual identity issues in society,” says filmmaker Patricia Chica.

Outstanding Canadian actors Joey Scarpellino (Les Parents) and Jordana Lajoie (Patrice Lemieux 24-7) both join the team play emancipated Alex and the provocative Dana respectively. The other talented actors are LAMDA-trained Thomas Vallières (the sexually conflicted Michael), Orphan Black regular Zoé de Grand Maison (the vivacious Teegan), and Kristian Hodko (Edward, the catalyst).

Take a look at the teaser below. The first screenings should take place next Spring. [Read more…]

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Johnny Depp Joins Fantastic Beasts, But Will He Be Dumbledore’s Gay Love Interest?

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johnny-deppWarner Bros. has revealed that Johnny Depp has signed up to appear in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. It appears they were hoping to keep the news a secret, but following the first press screenings of Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them, word slipped out that Depp has a small cameo. That caused Warner to confirm the news and let the world know he’d be getting a much largee role in the sequel.

Although there’s been no confirmation of what role Depp will be playing, hints and rumours suggest it’s Gellert Grindelwald, who Albus Dumbledore developed a close attachment to as a teen – with the future Hogwarts headmaster having a perhaps reciprocated crush on his friend – but then the latter went off and became an incredibly powerful dark wizard. It’s believed Grindelwald’s rise and eventual fall will be intrinsic to the currently planned five Fantastic Beasts movies.

Whether any sort of romantic attachment between Dumbledore and Grindelwald will be shown isn’t known, as in the Harry Potter books Albus doesn’t confirm they were anything more than friends, and says that as an adult he avoided Gellert until their final confrontation. However, we may discover there’s more to it than that.

The first Fantastic Beasts film is set in New York in 1926, which is around the time we know Grindelwald was starting his secretive rise to power in Europe. Director David Yates has confirmed the second movie will transfer the main action to Paris in the 1930s, which suggests it will be increasingly Grindelwald focused. We also know a young Dumbledore himself will show up in the sequels.

The first film in the franchise hits cinemas in mid-November.

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First Official Pics From Live-Action Beauty & The Beast Arrive

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beauty-and-the-beast-ew-coverWhile a few images from Disney’s upcoming Beauty & The Beast have been floating around, it’s only now that the House Of Mouse has officially released some, with the EW cover above, and some stills from the movie below. It gives us our first proper look at a CGI-assisted Dan Stevens as the Beast, with Emma Watson wearing the iconic yellow dress as Belle.

Alongside that, below you can see Luke Evans as Gaston, Josh Gad as Lefou, Kevin Kline as Maurice (Belle’s dad), as well as Cogsworth, Lumiere and some of the Beast’s other enchanted servants, who will be voiced by Ian McKellan, Emma Thompson, Ewan McGregor, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs. “Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within. The film stars: Emma Watson as Belle; Dan Stevens as the Beast; Luke Evans as Gaston, the handsome, but shallow villager who woos Belle; Oscar® winner Kevin Kline as Maurice, Belle’s eccentric, but lovable father; Josh Gad as Lefou, Gaston’s long-suffering aide-de-camp; Golden Globe® nominee Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, the candelabra; Oscar nominee Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, the harpsichord; Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, the feather duster; six-time Tony Award® winner Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe, the wardrobe; Oscar nominee Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, the mantel clock; and two-time Academy Award® winner Emma Thompson as the teapot, Mrs. Potts.

‘Directed by Oscar® winner Bill Condon from a screenplay by TBD based on the 1991 animated film, the film is produced by Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman with eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards® (Best Original Score and Best Song) for the 1991 animated film, providing the score, which will include new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as several new songs written by Menken and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice.’

The film will in in cinemas next March. [Read more…]

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Who’s Gonna Love Me Now? (UK Jewish Film Festival Review)

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This documentary is about Saar, who was born in Israel but has spent the last 17 years living in London. He’s gay, HIV+ and a member of the London Gay Men’s Chorus. He also has a rather complicated relationship with his family, who didn’t react well to finding out he was gay, or that he was HIV+. While they have been improved over the years, there are still lots of issues to deal with.

The film follows him as he deals with some of those issues, including when first his mother and then his father come to visit, and he returns to see them and his six siblings in Israel. It reveals a complex portrait and a rather sad one, of a man who seems to feel rather dislocated from everything he grew up and has created his own family in London, but still feels like something is missing in his life. [Read more…]

A Queer Country (UK Jewish Film Festival Review)

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Israel is a complicated country – and that’s a bit of an understatement. Looking at it from the outside, it’s difficult not to see the divisions and intractable conflicts, the secular butting up against very conservative religion, and also that against that backdrop, Tel Aviv holds one of the biggest gay pride parades on the planet.

British filmmaker Lisa Morgenthau’s documentary, A Queer Country, looks at Israel from an LGBT perspective. Initially it feels like it’s going to be an advert for the Tel Aviv Tourist Board, much like Michael Lucas’ Undressing Israel a couple of years ago. However, thankfully it then starts engaging with some of the more interesting and thought-provoking issues queer people in Israel face. For example, the film contrasts the largely secular and open Tel Aviv with the more buttoned down Jerusalem, where gay issues are far more political and difference less tolerated. [Read more…]