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

Into The Woods (Cinema Review)

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Ah, Stephen Sondheim, writer of amazing tongue-twisting lyrics, flat tunes and dark themes. That’s been his formula for many a year – the flat tunes aren’t deliberate presumably – and they are all present and correct in this film version of his adult take on fairy tales. Adult is certainly the word here, the underlying theme being human beings’ reluctance to grow up and face the real world, and the terrifying prospect of sex, while superficially there are blindings, stabbings, a prince whose eye wanders, an absent father, and plenty of death.

Throw in a top-notch cast – and James Corden – and you get a polished, great-looking and sounding, entertaining fable. The story itself peaks a little early and there are longeurs in the story of the giant, but overall it’s a successful adaptation of Sondheim’s stage musical. [Read more…]

HBO Comes Onboard For Matt Bomer’s Biopic Of Gay Star Montgomery Clift

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montgomery-clift-matt-bomerFor quite a long time now Matt Bomer has been involved in developing a biopic of gay/bisexual actor Montgomery Clift (we first reported on it back in September 2013), however it’s always been clear that while there many thought it was a good idea – not least because of the resemblance between Bomer & Clift – getting the funding has been tough.

However now HBO, which has had huge success with gay-themed original movies such as Behind The Candelabra and The Normal Heart, has stepped in to help develop the project, according to THR.

Christopher Lovick wrote the initial script, but Love is Strange scribes Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias have recently been asked to come in and work on the screenplay. It’s currently going by the simple title, Monty Clift.

In the late 40s and early 50s, Clift was on the path to becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. After The Heiress, Red River, A Place In The Sun, I Confess and From Here To Eternity, he was a true heart-throb with three Oscar nominations to his name. In many people’s opinion he was a talent on a par with James Dean and Marlon Brando – and all that by the age of 24.

However, Clift was also gay (or at least bisexual) at a time when homosexuality was illegal. He never really came to terms with his sexuality. He suffered from severe self-loathing throughout his adult life (as did many gay people back them) and became a severe alcoholic. In 1956, during the filming of Raintree County, he crashed his car while drunk which caused various injuries, including facial lacerations that meant he was never quite as good looking again. While he continued to work, with a prominent facial scar and alcohol quickly ageing him, his roles were limited and his days as a heart-throb were essentially over.

It’s believed the movie will look at much of his complicated life, but will concentrate on his relationship with Elizabeth Taylor, who became one of his closest friends after they starred in A Place In The Sun (it was while driving back from her house that he had his car crash). She was aware of his sexuality but later suggested it was difficult to truly help him, as he was so internally tormented.

The cable network’s involvement in the biopic is good news for Bomer, as back in July – around the time he was getting huge acclaim for his turn in The Normal Heart – he suggested that he thought the perfect home for the biopic would be HBO..

There isn’t a director currently attached, although as Ira Sachs is now co-writing, it wouldn’t be surprising if he ended up helming, even if it is a bit of a departure from the likes of Love Is Strange and Keep The Lights On.

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Everything You Need To Know About Russell T. Davies’ Gay-Themed Cucumber, Banana and Tofu

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Cucumber-Banana-TofuChannel 4 has announced that it’s gay-themed TV triptych from Queer As Folk creator Russell T. Davies will debut starting January 22nd at 9pm (and should hit Logo TV in the US shortly afterwards). They’ve now released their info pack, filled with all sorts of info about the shows, ensuring we’ve got everything we need to know.

So let’s start off with the overview: Sixteen years after Queer As Folk exploded on to the screen, award-winning writer Russell T Davies is back with Cucumber, Banana and Tofu: three new interlinked shows for Channel 4, E4 and online. Cucumber and Banana are two original drama series exploring the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life, while Tofu is an online documentary series that explores all facets of contemporary sex culture.

Channel 4’s Cucumber follows 46 year old Henry, played by Vincent Franklin (The Thick of It, Twenty Twelve) and his long-suffering boyfriend Lance, played by Cyril Nri (The Bill). Life for Henry and Lance is comfortable and settled. But after the most disastrous date night in history – involving a death, a threesome, two police cars and Boney M – Henry’s old life shatters, and his new life begins.

While Lance gets to know the mysterious Daniel (James Murray), Henry soon finds himself house-sharing with unexpected companions. The beautiful Freddie (Freddie Fox) and 19 year old Dean (Fisayo Akinade) have only been passing strangers, until now. But when they find themselves under the same roof they need to work out; are they friends or enemies?

And then there’s Henry’s sister, Cleo (Julie Hesmondhalgh) – busy, professional, and a little chaotic. But coping with her three kids is easy compared to helping her brother…

The cast for the eight-part series also includes Con O’Neill, Rufus Hound, Ardal O’Hanlon, Adjoa Andoh, Anjli Mohindra, Ceallach Spellman and Phaldut Sharma.

On E4, Banana is a series of eight witty, heartfelt and unique stand-alone stories covering different aspects of LGBT life. This series, which features exciting and emerging talent from the fields of acting, writing and directing, offers an intriguing and often unexpected peek into the individual lives, loves and losses of a range of diverse characters.

Young lesbian, Scotty (Letitia Wright) pursues an unrequited love; Dean (Fisayo Akinade) has mysterious family secrets and a sexually charged liaison with an enigmatic Geordie Man (Andrew Hayden-Smith; Sian (Georgia Henshaw) struggles to choose between lover Violet (Hannah John-Kamen) and her over-protective mum Vanessa (Lynn Hunter); and Helen (Bethany Black) is besieged by unwanted attention from an ex.

Tofu, meanwhile, extends the experience online. Made by prolific YouTuber, Benjamin Cook, this light-hearted documentary series explores modern sex in all its varied manifestations. Featuring a diverse range of candid chats with members of the public as well the stars of Cucumber and Banana, Tofu highlights the very real issues that are referenced in the fictional shows.

With the same ferocious wit, startling honesty and heartfelt warmth that made Queer As Folk a landmark series, Cucumber, Banana and Tofu will explore the heartbreak and joy of modern sex lives in all their many guises.

Find out more about Banana Cucumber & Tofu:
Click here for more info on the first episodes of Cucumber
Click here for more info on the first episodes of Banana
Click here for more info on Tofu
Introducing the characters of Cucumber and Banana
Cucumber & Banana Image Galleries

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The Lazarus Effect Trailer – Olivia Wilde is back from the dead alongside Evans Peters & Mark Duplass

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lazarus-effect-olivia-wildeThe plot for The Lazarus Effect sounds a bit like a rehash of Flatliners, but the first trailer thankfully shows that while there are echoes of Joel Schumacher’s 1990 movie, it does want to be something in its own right too.

The very short synopsis simply says ‘The film follows a group of medical students who discover a way to bring dead patients back to life.’

The movie centres around Mark Duplass and Olivia Wilde, who discover how to resurrect people. After she dies, he decides to use the technique on her, but as you’d expect in a horror movie what returns isn’t quite the same as what left.

Evan Peters and Donald Glover also star in the movie, which is out in the US at the end of February, although it’s not clear when it’ll arrive in the UK. [Read more…]

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Win Looking – Season 1 On DVD!

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looking-s1-dvd-coverLOOKING: SEASON ONE comes to Blu-ray and DVD on 12th January, 2015, in the UK, courtesy of HBO Home Entertainment. Starring Jonathan Groff (The Normal Heart, TV’s Glee), Frankie J Alvarez  (TV’s Smash), Murray Bartlett (TV’s White Collar), and the UK’s own Russell Tovey (TV’s Being Human, The History Boys), the whole season and individual episodes are also available to own and watch instantly on Amazon Instant Video, blinkbox, Google Play and iTunes.

And we’ve got three copies of LOOKING: SEASON ONE on DVD to give away in this comp!

Offering an unfiltered look at three friendships in one of America’s most iconic cities, LOOKING: SEASON ONE introduces us to Patrick (Jonathan Groff – The Normal Heart, Glee), a 29-year old video game designer getting back into the dating world in the wake of his ex’s engagement; aspiring artist Agustín (Frankie J Alvarez  – Smash), who is questioning the idea of monogamy as he transitions into domesticity with his boyfriend; and career waiter Dom (Murray Bartlett – White Collar), the oldest member of the group who, at 39, is facing middle age with his romantic and professional dreams still unfulfilled… The trio’s stories intertwine and unspool dramatically as they search for happiness and intimacy in an age of unparalleled choices – and rights – for gay men.

Rounding out the world of LOOKING: SEASON ONE are the UK’s own Russell Tovey (Being Human, The History Boys), starring as Kevin, Patrick’s boss and love interest; Dom’s roommate Doris (Lauren Weedman); Agustín’s boyfriend Frank (O.T. Fagbenle); and Patrick’s co-worker Owen (Andrew Law), as well as the legendary Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise) who stars as Lynn. The final character is San Francisco itself, with its progressive, unpredictable and sexually open culture serving as a backdrop for the group’s lives.

For your chance to win of the three copies of LOOKING: SEASON ONE on DVD that we’ve got to give away, answer the question below and fill in your details, then press submit! The competition closes on January 20th 2015, so get answering and good luck! [Read more…]

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Gay Short Film Showcase: Think Of England – A young hustler looks for his place in the world

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think-of-englandI didn’t initially realise, but the director of Think Of England, Chris Young, was also the cinematographer on our first Showcase movie, The Morning After. Think Of England has a rather more melancholic tone, looking at a young man whose life has gone to places he never expected or wanted.

It was Young’s graduation film from the University Of Hampshire, made as an homage to Warhol superstar Joe Dallesandro’s character from ‘Flesh’ (something those who know that movie won’t fail to notice when they watch the short).

Callum Turner plays a young hustler looking for himself amongst the detritus of a broken London in the mid 1980s. Take a look below.

If you know a short film we ought to be posting, tell us by getting in touch via our contact page. And check out more gay short films and web series here. [Read more…]

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Gay-Themed Short Film, We Are Okay Now, About A Teen In Love With His Straight Friend, Seeks Funding

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We-Are-Okay-NowSometimes with Kickstarter campaigns for gay-themed films, the funding targets are so huge it’s clear those behind it are being way too ambitious. It’s nice then to get one that’s almost the other way around, as a group of young Danish filmmakers are seeking just 6,000kr (about £630 or $960) to get their planned short film, We Are Okay Now, made.

It’s also good that once its made, they’re hoping to make it freely available for all to watch.

They say, ‘We are a small group of young film workers seeking to finance a Danish short film titled; “We Are Okay Now” (original title; “Vi er okay nu”). Your funding will primarily contribute to rental of fim equipment as the entire team is working without pay and all resources are focused around ensuring the best quality for the film.

‘The storyline is quite simplistic and involves themes of adolescence, homosexuality, sexual abuse,  friendship and guilt. It revolves around the two best friends Jonnah and Demitri and takes place in the course of a night and the following morning. Jonnah is shown to be in love with Demitri and although the latter is straight and has no romantic interest in his friend, their relationship is very physical and loving. A recent traumatic experience however looms over them and affects the way they behave towards each other.

‘The film is being produced to be publicly available to everyone on social sites such as Youtube and Vimeo as well as to be entered in various film festivals. As of now it is an independent production without a production company.’

If you want to help out and put in a little cash, head over the Kickstarter.

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Pride Director Matthew Warchus Says He ‘Understands’ Why All Gay References Were Removed From The US DVD Cover

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pride-better-slideIn the last few days there’s been a firestorm of protest about the fact that the DVD cover of the US version of the film Pride removed all reference to homosexuality, despite the fact gay visibility is one of the main themes of the movie. What made people most angry wasn’t just that the blurb of the back cover ‘straightwashed’ the plot, but that one of the images had been photoshopped to remove a banner referencing the main group in the movie, ‘Lesbians & Gay Support The Miners’.

Now the film’s director, Matthew Warchus, has stepped forward with his thoughts on the DVD cover. Talking to BBC Radio 5’s Phil Williams, he said that, “Changing the cover is kind of clumsy and a bit foolish, but this is a film that is loved by people of all political persuasions and sexual orientations. I’m just keen for as many people who have yet to see the film to see it.”

He added, “I think someone in the marketing department in the US used their marketing judgement to try to remove any barrier to the widest possible audience. It’s clumsily done but I understand it and it’s a valid instinct.”

He also talked about “the nature of marketing” being “over-simplification [and] reductive”, as well as that he “didn’t want to preach to the converted” and hoped the movie would “find a mainstream audience [and] broaden people’s minds”.

Although we can understand what Warchus is saying, there are ways of appealing to a broad audience without creating a cover that effectively feels like it’s lying (by omission) about the movie, as well as going against its spirit.

While CBS Films owns the distribution rights to the film in the US, it’s believed that when they handed the DVD release to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, they also took control of the DVD cover and that if was them who made the alterations.

Despite the controversy, Pride continued to be extremely well received, winning several awards at the British Independent Film Awards last month, and also scoring a Golden Globe Best Film nomination. (Quotes via PinkNews) [Read more…]

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Bryan Singer Becomes The Daddy Of A Baby Boy With Actress Michelle Clunie

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bryan-singer-michelle-clunie-babyBack in October it was revealed that X-Men director Bryan Singer was expecting a baby with Queer As Folk actress and friend, Michelle Clunie. Now the day has come and Clunie has given birth, with Singer Tweeting the news, saying ‘Michelle Clunie and I would like to welcome our beautiful son Dashiell Julius William Clunie~Singer into the world :)’

Although for most of his career Singer has been publicly thought of as being gay, last year in an interview he revealed that he was actually bisexual and that he’s allow the gay status to stand as news about his sexuality had initially come out by ‘osmosis’ and that it was an ‘easy answer… because sexuality is so complex’.

He did also say though that eventually he expects he’ll end up in a relationship with a man.

Singer and Clunie were previously a couple, but for the past two decades they have mainly been best friends. Clunie has recently said of their relationship, ‘We dated. We broke up. He came out to me. We still loved each other and so made a pact we would start a family together some day.’

They plan to live extremely close together so that they can fully co-parent their child.

It’s certainly better news for Singer that he had to deal with last year, when he was accused of underage sexual abuse and forcible rape, by a main claiming the event took place in the late 1990s. However the case against him collapsed due to major issues with the credibility of his accuser, and Singer’s claims he could prove he wasn’t in Hawaii at the time the events there were supposed to have taken place. [Read more…]

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Buffy’s Amber Benson Proud The Show ‘Kicked The Door Open For Gays On TV’

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buffy-willow-tara1999 was a bit of a watermark year for gay representation on US television. Will & Grace was growing into a major hit (having premiered in late 1998), Jack came out on Dawson’s Creek, and in the world of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (Amber Benson) fell in love.

What was particularly unusual about Willow & Tara is not just that they were a same-sex couple – which was rare enough at the time – but that were shown as affectionate, sexual and affected by the same issues any couple faces, not just dealing with ‘gay issues’.

During a recent Reddit AMA, Benson talked about the pride she feels for having been part of the Buffy universe, saying “The most rewarding thing about playing Tara was that the relationship on Buffy between her and Willow helped kick open the door for more amazing LGBTQ characters on TV. We were so blessed to walk in their shoes and play those ladies. It’s one of the things I am most proud of in my life.”

Others online during the chat responded by talking about how important Tara & Willow were to them, such as one saying, “The only reason I knew it was okay to come out to my mother was because she told me how adorable she thought Willow and Tara were. She’d never said anything else for or against gay people so I had no idea before that.”

Benson added, “I feel very blessed to have played Tara on Buffy. It wasn’t about gratuitous making-out scenes. It was about two people who just happened to be of the same gender falling in love. [Joss Whedon] wrote real characters. He wasn’t trying to fill quotas. He was trying to create two people who just happened to be gay.”

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US Queer As Folk Cast & Crew Plan Texas Reunion Event This Summer

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queer-as-folk-us-castIt’s 15 years since the US version of Queer As Folk first appeared on TV and 10 years since it ended, so to mark that milestone Variety reports that the cast and crew are set to reunite this summer at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, Texas, for a panel event.

Those already planning to attend include exec producers Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, along with cast members Gale Harold, Peter Paige, Robert Gant, Scott Lowell, Michelle Clunie and Thea Gill. There’s no news on whether the likes of Randy Harrison and Hal Spark are also thinking about showing up.

Festival co-exec directors Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson comment, “We strive for diverse and revolutionary programming, and this groundbreaking series changed the game for cable television in 2000, marking a high point not only for the LGBT community, but for socially important storytelling.”

It’s the latest announcement for a big year for ATX looking back on TV hits of the recent past, as Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel are also due to show up for a Gilmore Girls reunion, while there’ll also be a panel featuring writers from Dawson’s Creek.

The festival runs June 4-7.

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Actor Chris Lowell Sounds Off On His Dislike Of Gay ‘Caricatures’ In Movies

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chris-lowell-bellomagThe moment Chris Lowell was introduced in the pilot for Private Practice – where he was shirtless and dripping wet – he gained an awful lot of gay fans, in addition to those he’d already gathered from his work in Veronica Marx. Since then he’s been seen in the likes of The Help and the short-lived TV series Enlisted, as well as gaining a bit of attention as a photographer (with some of the more prurient amongst us enjoying that doesn’t always wear a huge amount of clothes in his self portraits).

He’s also a big supporter of the LGBT community, and his recent directorial debut, Beside Still Waters, included a gay couple. The movie has been described as being a bit of a millennial Big Chill, featuring a group of old friends reuniting and sharing memories and secrets, shortly after the death of one of their fathers.

Now Lowell has been talking to Rage Monthly about his issues with how gay people are normally represented on screen, saying ‘I get very frustrated at how LGBTs are portrayed in movies and on television. Often times, they’re just broad, foppish, loud caricatures. I wanted to have a character in the film that went against those tropes. On top of that, I didn’t feel it necessary to explain why he “has to be gay,” which is something, for some stupid reason, that film and television seems to think they need an explanation for.’

You can take a look at the trailer for Beside Still Waters below. [Read more…]

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