Reviews (30)

Great Film, Even in Repeat Servings!!
I watched this film the other day for the first time in about 10 years and it still touched my heart. As a Chinese growing up in the U.S, I can understand how cross-cultural differences can really take a toll on one's life. Ang Lee did a great job because he is truly one of the few directors out there who I feel puts a lot of real emphasis on character development. The film did a great job of focusing on people's individual expectations, and the means by which people would go in order to live up to those of their parents'.

I was lucky enough to talk to Ang Lee at a film discussion last year. I told him that the Wedding Banquet was one of my favorite films of all time, and he seemed appreciative of that, because he felt he took a lot of care in developing the essence of character conflict and tension. This is definitely a movie worth adding to one's collection.

Worthwhile comedy/drama
This is certainly an intriguing comedy which redeems itself by turning into a drama that poignantly explores the costs of lying about one's personal life towards the end of its nearly two-hour length. The extraordinarily beautiful Mitchell Lichtenstein plays an adorable and almost disturbingly convincing role as the homosexual lover of the main character, Winston Chao's Wai-tung Gao, who creates a tempest of emotions by suggesting that Wai-tung's parents' desire to see their son married can be quenched by arranging a "wedding" with a Chinese artist. May Chin, in her lead role as Wei-wei, the woman who Wai-tung is to be "married" to, and Ah Lei Gua, in her supporting role as Mrs. Gao (Wai-tung's mother), both give wonderful and emotional performances, the two best in the film itself. Although the ending is perhaps too optimistic and unrealistic, this film's theme is very important because I think that many homosexuals, including myself, can see themselves in the position of Wai-tung, especially the struggle for societal acceptance and the difficulty in being honest about one's sexuality with relatives, friends and family. 8/10. B.

A Fantastic Film About Family
This film proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that a family can take many forms. The cast is brilliant, the storyline is phenomenal. You'll laugh and you'll cry, and it will stick with you for a long time.

Outstanding
The first Ang Lee film that I saw was "Crouching Tiger". I didn't realize that he had directed films as varied in theme as "Sense and Sensibility" and "The Ice Storm", both of which are excellent films. In some respects, I found "The Wedding Banquet" to be the most accessible and intimate of his films that I have seen. It's certainly the most humorous.

The plot has been summarized by other reviewers, and in lesser hands it could easily have turned the film into a cliche. Given that the film appeared in the early 1990's, it could also have look dated to viewers in 2004. However, this film is not dated and it's not a cliche. Instead, it's a warm-hearted (but never maudlin) look at the importance of family, cultural heritage, and the difficulty of leading a hidden life, even when your relatives live on the other side of the world.

Much of the dialogue is Chinese (with English subtitles), but this is one of those rare films where I quickly became accustomed to the subtitles and they did not interfere at all with my enjoyment of the movie. The fact that the Chinese characters actually spoke Chinese made the film more believable.

Ang Lee's talent for visual composition is apparent throughout the movie. It's filled with scenes of real beauty, which is not always the case with comedies. Too often, movie comedies are shot as if they were widescreen TV sitcoms. That's not the case here. The production values are consistently high, so much so that I was surprised to discover during the DVD featurette that it was a low-budget film.

This film is fun to watch, with excellent acting and outstanding direction.

Finally!
I am so glad that they made the DVD format for this film. It is a great film, it is one of the first gay films that I saw and it still the best gay film that I have ever seen. It is must have if you collect films ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Wow! (That's all I can say)
This film impressed me from begining to end. It is one of those few films about two women in love that doesn't drag in all the extra baggage that one usually sees (besides the unavoidable things caused by the time setting) It's simply about two women finding each other in a desperate and unsettling time. Jaguar is such a strong character and is portrayed beautifully by Maria Schrader who's performance was flawless. I think the film does a good job of building and conveying the strength of the relationship in the short time it has. The passion and intimacy of the love scenes is brilliant! What works beautifully is the concentration on their story but with an integration of several other issues brought on by World War II. It provides a much different perspective on the war than most people are used to. I recommend getting the DVD so you can see all the extras about the real Aimee and Jaguar. I fell in love with this film right away and have watched it many, many times now. It is one of my favorite movies ever and I can't emphasize enough how much I recommend it to everyone!

Maria Schrader nearly saves this movie
There is a remarkable performance contained within this unremarkable movie. It is given by Maria Schrader whose brilliant portrayal of the revolutionary Felice Schragenheim represents everything this movie lacks: nuance, depth, and earned emotional response. Her outstanding presence leaves one inspired at the capabilities of the human spirit and equally chilled at the human ability to crush it. The film on its own failed to convey what Schrader so effortlessly could. And sadly, Aimee and Jaguar falls into the category of yet another movie with homosexual themes that seems a little too enthralled by its subject matter, and, in turn, neglects to properly develop its movie into exciting cinema.

Aimee and Jaguar tells a lesbian love story between a Jewish resistance fighter and a Nazi housefrau during the Holocaust. This combination of ethnic, sexual, and historical intrigue compelled me to see it. I am not sorry I did. A better example of the artistry of filmic acting is seldom found. Really. I can think of only a handful of modern performances that have touched me as much: Dr. Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields and Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas being two. We can add Maria Schrader to this list of performers who not only tap into the brain but also the heart and soul of their characters, in turn, giving the audience a memorable, rewarding experience. Schrader captures the shrewd survivalism of Schragenheim's identity as a closeted Jew and lesbian, and also her vulnerability as a regular person caught in horrific circumstances. Schrader, neither Jewish nor a lesbian, handles the character with an empathy unparalleled.

The impact of her performance is nearly suffocated by the abundance of irritating supporting characters, tv-melodrama directing, and flash-forward sequences of the characters as senior citizens that are, to put it bluntly, cheesy. Schragenheim's lover, Lily Wust is irritatingly underdeveloped. Certainly the dynamic Felice Schragenheim would have chosen a partner who reflected her strong values and personality. Alas, this portrayal of Lily Wust (both erroneous in writing and performance) fails to convey any traits worthy of desire. Other than the obvious physical attraction and risk-taking inherent in the relationship, Schragenheim's attraction to Lily makes little sense, though Schrader does a remarkable job of compensating for this lapse in situational development by enacting her character's passion and love for Wust with true understanding. Due to the poor filmmaking, we are never truly exposed as to how this character wound up in the state of passion. It is a great tribute to Schrader that we don't wind up caring because her performance is that compelling.

I recommend Aimee and Jaguar on the basis that it features a wonderful performance, and does a beautiful tribute to a real woman who clearly had desirous qualities. Too bad then that it is trapped within a movie far beneath its level of brilliance.

Gorgeously Emotional!!!!
A story of forbidden love in WWII Nazi Germany, "Aimee & Jaguar" follows the lives of two very different women: Felice Schragenheim, a Jewish revolutionary sneaking through Germany under a false German name. Then there is Lilly Wust (pronounced 'Voost', in German) whose husband is a Nazi soldier fighting on the Eastern front, leaving her at home with four boys. Frau Wust's babysitter, Ilse, is one of Felice's many girlfriends and when Felice is introduced to Lilly, she falls madly in love. She writes Lilly love poems and signs them as Jaguar and soon, the two are forced to accept their feelings for one another amidst the hatred and odium.

A movie of raw power, "Aimee & Jaguar" is not a story just about love but also accepting it in times of need and fear. You may find yourself crying and i admit, i cried myself (i cry endlessly when seeing Felice's and Lilly's "mistake" when coming home from the picnic, i cry every time i see that part). The love scenes here are done tastefully (and quite romantically, may i add) and the words of wisdom are...amzing. especially when Felice is talking about "Now's" and Lilly talking about "50 years of one person"...Powerful!!

One Great Love
Felice (aka Jaguar) is a Jewish woman living in Berlin during WWII. In her underground life she is the dynamic center of a group of avant-garde lesbian women artists and eccentrics and a sinful seductress of fair-haired women. She is avant-garde in her tastes and in her always stylish appearance; with her dark eyes and perfect form she looks like she has walked out of a painting by Klimt or Schiele. She uses her charms on her female conquests and to assist the resistance in any way she can. As a secretary for a prominent Nazi newspaperman she has access to valuable information which she covertly passes on. Felice presents a convincing facade but beneath the elegant profile and pretty lipstick and dark eye-shadow is a woman who lives in fear . So it is shocking at first that Felice should be drawn to the very blonde and very Aryan and very bourgeoisie Lily Wust. And yet it makes perfect sense too. Because Lily is the perfect German Felice feels safe in her home and in her bed. These two are instantly drawn together from the first time they lay eyes on one another. Felice immediately goes about seducing Lily even though Lily is married and has four children and has never had a lesbian relationship. Reluctantly at first but then wholeheartedly Lily succumbs to Felice's advances. And once they take that first trembling step they both realize they are made for each other. Soon they are living as a couple in Lily's large apartment while her husband is away at the front. The bliss these two find together is something to behold; for the first time in their lives they feel a content they've never felt before. Felice's friends at first can't believe the avant-garde Felice has fallen for the bourgeoisie Lily but soon they all can see its the real thing and they all accept her. Eventually, however, the husband stumbles onto what is going on when he arrives unexpectedly one night and finds the women in bed together. Lily is utterly devoted to Felice and decides to leave her husband and for awhile things are perfect for Lily and Felice (Aimee and Jaguar are their pet names for each other)but one night when they come home from a perfect day of swimming in the country and tumble on the floor kissing each other in the dark of the apartment they hear a voice -- a Gestapo agent and his men -- tell them to enjoy that kiss for it will be their last. This is not a perfect film but it does a few things so well that you are willing to forgive it for its few minor faults. The most important thing in a film like this is the chemistry between the two leads and that we believe it when they say that they are in love and we do.

Lesbian splendor
Two aspects of Aimee and Jaguar can be seen in a negative light. The first is that it's subtitled, so it takes a bit of work. The other is that it's sad, so it's not meant for a giddy date.

That said, this portrayal of two women falling in love in Nazi Germany is gorgeous. The acting is spectacular, the costumes are exquisite, and the script is flawless. It's best suited to a somber or appreciative mood, but every lesbian (and arguably every person) should see Aimee and Jaguar.

The special features alone make this DVD worth buying. Extensive photo galleries and a mini-documentary provide more insight into the lives of the real Aimee and Jaguar. The quality of these extras is truly fitting for a movie of this calibre.

Bottom Line
Cuddles: ****
Tissues: *****
Hotness: ***
Laughes: *
Quality: ****
If you buy it, you'll get your money's worth the moment the menu comes on and you hear the music. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Charming and frequently hilarious, IFC Films' Camp is like Fame for the musical-theater set.It's set at Camp Ovation, a summer retreat for budding actors and singers who chant Stephen Sondheim's "Losing My Mind" on their bus rather than "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall."Into this environment comes a--gasp!--straight male, Vlad (Daniel Letterle), who turns upside down the lives of wallflower Ellen (Joanna Chilcoat), cross-dressing Michael (Robin DeJesus), and instructor Bert Hanley (Don Dixon), a frustrated one-hit-wonder composer.Camp was written and directed by Todd Graff, himself a Broadway veteran, based on his experiences at New York's musical camp Stagedoor Manor (which was attended by Natalie Portman and Robert Downey Jr., among others).The characters are a bit thin and the plot somewhat predictable, but the musical numbers are a lot of fun--older tunes are mixed with originals by Stephen Trask (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Michael Gore (Fame), and Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Seussical the Musical)--and fans of musicals will love the many inside jokes, especially those relating to Sondheim.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (59)

The fabulous feel-great film of the year!!!!
It's movies like 'Camp' that remind me what I love most about movies. It doesn't preach an agenda and doesn't make me feel like a fool for feeling sentimental. It has a little bit of cynicism but a lot of great music. There are no drugs, no guns, no car chases and no fake breasts. What 'Camp' does, and does very well, is tell a story. Simply and completely. 'Camp' took me into a world I was both familiar and stranger to, and made me feel better for taking the journey. While there will be little chance the film will find the same kind of mainstream hit 'Chicago' or 'Moulin Rouge' became, 'Camp' should become a favorite with discerning movie musical fans and help re-usher in this dormant too long genre.

While summer camp often means nature trips, cookouts and wacky hijinks to most young people, Camp Ovation in upstate New York caters to those who are more artistically inclined. Over the two months campers attend, they will put on a new show every other week, be it drama, musical or something more avant-garde, going through the process of auditioning, creating their own sets and costumes, rehearsing and presenting a new show for an audience, then beginning anew the next day. Many of the kids at Camp Ovation are outsiders within their own worlds. Ellen (Joanna Chilcoat) is reduced to begging her older brother in order to have a date to her junior prom, while Michael (Robin DeJesus) gets beaten up at his prom for daring to arrive in drag. Fritzi (Anna Kendrick) is so starved for any attention, she spends her entire year waiting for camp so she can be the 'assistant' to Ovation's number one drama diva, Jill (Alana Allen). Our first clue things will be different this summer arrives in the form of Vlad (Daniel Letterle). He's cute, talented and seemingly the only straight male in the entire teenage camp populace. Ellen, Michael and Jill will all fall for Vlad, even if he has no idea who Stephen Sondheim is. Each year, Camp Ovation has one artist in residence to help run the shows and inspire the nascent talent. This year's guest director is Bert Hanley (Don Dixon), a once promising writer who had been the toast of Broadway with his first musical, but never delivered a follow-up show. The story follows these kids as they deal with each other over the course of the summer. Hearts are broken, lifelong friendships are created, and there's that one ambitious actress who makes Eve Harrington look undemonstrative.

From the opening credits, in which the company performs the rousing, gospel-esque 'How Shall I See You Through My Tears' to the end, when they dance through their own rendition of 'The Want of a Nail,' it is this group of talented youngsters who make the movie come alive. For while most of the cast are cinema neophytes, they have a warmth and energy which make them feel familiar and comfortable. The film feels almost like a documentary, for what little over-acting does appear is saved for the sequences of the stage performances. And it is these stage performances that are the best part of "Camp." These kids are simply amazing, their voices powerful and seductive!

Residing somewhere between 'Meatballs' and 'Fame,' 'Camp' is the brainchild of actor turned writer Todd Graff, who based the story on his own experiences at the Stagedoor Manor camp (where the film was shot) as a youngster in the 1970s, where he was a camper and later a counselor during his teen years.

Making his directorial debut here, Graff has assembled a first rate team around him, ensuring the film's success as a work of art. Oscar winning composer Michael Gore, Tony winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell, 'Rent' musical director Tim Weil and 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' composer and lyricist Stephen Trask have all infused their individual talents together to create an extraordinary cinematic experience. I cannot stress how incredible I think this film is. It's everything "Fame" SHOULD HAVE been. 'Camp' gets an A+ for effort and an A+ for execution. Bravo!

Hackneyed but charming
This movie is such an anomaly in today's world. Almost every frame of this movie is cliched and predictable. And yet, it has an undeniable charm that makes it absolutely irresistible, even as it is very clumsy in execution.

I was very excited about this film because I am a huge fan of musical theater, particularly Sondheim (who makes a cameo in the film!). In terms of the musical performances, I was extremely impressed--all of them are good and some of them are truly stunning. My major disappointment is that nothing was included from Follies, which would have been absolutely fabulous.

It is the energy of the performers that makes this movie. The acting, particularly by Letterle, is pretty commonplace. The script is OK, but predictable. There are some touching scenes though, particularly those involving the perpetually hung-over composer. The other character that steals the show is that short blond boy with the spiked hair who has this infectious smile (and, of course, the line "We have a SPORTS COUNSELOR?!?") But, basically, there's very little outside the musical numbers to rave about.

But what spectacular musical numbers they are! Watching "The Ladies Who Lunch" (particularly Kendrick) is spectacularly entertaining. And at its sentimental best, the movie cranks out "Here's Where I Stand", boasting yet another great performance by a young performer. This emotion is almost achieved during "Century Plant," but Letterle's bland acting half-ruins the emotion of the song.

Clearly, the director/writer has true empathy for these misfit characters at Camp Ovation. By the end of this film, I'm not sure what the director was trying to say, or if there was any particular message. But I do know that, having viewed this movie, I, just like the director, love these misfit kids, who will leave Camp Ovation to return to "normal" society where it is Eminem, not Stephen Sondheim, who reigns over the music world. It is this infectious love for these unusual teens, not the abundant cliches, that we are conscious of by the end of the movie.

mMm... sucky
Great singing... Horrible acting... Weak story... I expected alot more because of all the reviews on the cover... Horribly disappointed... But hey... they can sing...

Camp
I loved it. I thought it was funny and it made me want to jump up and sing and dance along with them. I wish i had a camp experience just like that. I was great.

The film every teen stage actor wanted to make
Everyone else has spelled out the plot, so I'll stick with my review. You can find these characters in any theater- community or otherwise. Being a teen actor myself, I connected with the story and the characters. So, why only 4 stars? Uhh..well, it's not a perfect movie. While the leads are excellent- Fritzi's surprise solo is amazing= some of the secondary characters are weak and it plays more as a documentary than a serious musical like Moulin Rouge or Chicago. Still, every theater has a Michael or even a Vlad. A must for all musical theater fans. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Book of Love takes what could be a trashy premise and turns it into a strikingly honest examination of human messiness. Elaine (Frances O'Connor, Mansfield Park) and David (Simon Baker, The Ring Two) are a happy, successful couple who befriend a clever, athletic, but lonely 16 year-old boy named Chet (Gregory Smith, Everwood).But when Chet falls in love with Elaine, she responds and sleeps with him out of a mix of sympathy and desire. From here the story could have become overwrought melodrama, but the subtle script, perfectly-pitched performances, and lucid direction make Book of Love a portrait of smart, articulate people at the mercy of their least articulate emotions:lust, jealousy, anger, fear. Writer/director Alan Brown, making his debut feature film, even manages to weave in issues of goodness and the history of Cambodia without the movie ever feeling academic or didactic--on the contrary, the movie feels intimate and physical throughout, as concerned with the character's animal responses as with their struggle to remain rational. Also featuring Bryce Dallas Howard (The Village) and music from indie bands The Magnetic Fields and Clem Snide. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (5)

More a teaser than a pleaser
Man and wife meet lad; wife seduces lad; husband gets jealous; ugly scene; the end. Not much nudity, if any. If you have a particular attraction to one of the cast, it might be worth a viewing. Predictable. No surprises.

Desires beneath the Surface
"Book of Love" is a moderately engaging tale of the effects of adultery on the three principal characters.

Elaine Walker (played by Frances O'Connor) is a 27-year old event planner who likes her yoga and wants to be child-free for another ten years.Her husband, David (played by Simon Baker), a history teacher at a girls' school, has slowly been gaining weight and wants a family.Getting ice cream cones, they are served by Chet, an almost-16-year old high school swimmer working part-time (played by Gregory Smith).Incidentally Elaine gets a look at Chet's tight abs and is impressed.Another visit for ice cream leads to a dinner invitation. Chet hasn't traveled much; so the couple takes him to New York City and promise to take him to Disneyworld.Elaine shortly gives into Chet's desire, after which Elaine tells her husband.

David, though visibly upset, tries to rise above the situation and says he wants to fulfill his promise for the couple to take Chet to Disneyworld.Although both Elaine and Chet have deep misgivings, the three fly down to Orlando and check into a motel with pool.There the anger of David and the wishful thinking of Chet make an appearance, with maybe some other undercurrents. Seeing this, Elaine freezes up.The film heads toward its conclusions.

There are two useful subplots, one involving a student with a crush on David and the other with a lesbian couple wanting David to be a sperm donor.Both subplots give insight on David's character.

None of the three principal characters is forthright in expressing feelings or wants to discuss issues.The dialogue is directed at surface events and is meant to convey an acceptable social exterior.This means the viewer has to watch the body language carefully and has to create theories for the motivations of the characters.There is room for interpretation and for feeling some answers are missing.

All three main actors do a fine job.Chet and David provide frequent skin scenes.The story makes sense on an emotional level.

The main annoyance is ongoing conversation and short scenes on Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge.This does not propel the story.Also, Chet's resolution feels too arty and forced.

Other than the trailer, the DVD extras are especially poor. Director Alan Brown gives two mini-interviews in which the take-home content is that stuff happens to people beyond their control and that actor Baker gained weight for the role of David and would be taking it off.

A pretty good film, high 3 or low 4.I gave the 4 because I liked Gregory Smith as Chet.

"She doesn't want you anymore!"
When does one know when a marriage is over? Can a relationship survive the murky waters of infidelity? When do two people release that they're no longer in love? These are questions posed in Book of Love, a smart, perceptive, and engrossing domestic drama that features three of the most astonishingly naturalistic and nuanced performances in recent years.

Book of Love focuses on the tiny stories, the little moments in life where an expression or an action can have enormous and profound significance, whether it's a sight of a fifteen-year-old's swim-toned abs as he pulls of a sweatshirt, a young, impressionable student staring wide-eyed at her teacher, or the look of longing on a woman's face as ponders committing adultery while her husband sleeps in a hammock in the back yard.

High-school history teacher David Walker (Simon Baker) and his events-planner wife Elaine (Frances O'Connor) appear to have the perfect life - a lovely house, good jobs, and a close marriage. We first meet them when they are participating in the intimate routines of every day life - he is going to the toilet, and she is checking out her figure in the mirror. They're an attractive couple, but while she's kept a hard body through yoga, he's gone a little soft around the middle-too little exercise and too much ice cream. Their lives have reached that point where passion is slowly being replaced by contentment; they're still in love but their marriage has shifted and they now know each other so well that a slight touch or look will suffice.

One hot summer day they decide to drop into the local ice cream shop where they meet the 15-year-old Chet (Gregory Smith). Chet, a champion swimmer, possesses a hormone driven sexually aggressive worldliness that seems to capture them both. It doesn't take long for the couple to take an instant liking to him. Elaine initially feels sorry for the boy, his mother is dead, his father works all the time and he is somewhat isolated at school. But Elaine is also subliminally attracted to him, and she underhandedly decides to take him under her wing.

Discovering that he's never been out of New Jersey - he's never even been on a plane - the couple asks him to a Manhattan nightclub to watch a friend sing, and then invite him to dinner at their home. After making some tentative plans to take him to Disney world, the three settle down to a candle lit dinner. Despite his age, Elaine serves the boy several glasses of wine. While David is in a drunken asleep, Chet tries to kiss Elaine.

At first she rebuffs him but he comes by the next day and she immediately gives into the passions that have so sadly begun to dwindle in her marriage. David is shattered when he finds about the indiscretion, his reaction a strange mixture of part titillation and part anger. However, he manages to pull it all together and decides to keep his promise to Chet by paying for them all to go to Disney World.

The pleasure of this film is watching the subtle changes that take place between Elaine and David. The affair precipitates many hidden agendas and ultimately rocks the already deceptively fragile marriage: David wants to start a family with Elaine, but Elaine is far more concerned with maintaining her girlish, trim figure; one night she even tells David "lets have children in about ten years time." But David's paternal instincts are unleashed when he is asked by a lesbian friend to become her sperm donor. He's initially hesitant, but later on in the movie, he seems to warm to the idea.

The problem is that Elaine views Chet, as some kind of equal when in actuality he's not. He may be rapaciously horny, but he has no real life experience behind him. He's eager to be initiated into the world of adults, but Elaine makes a grave miscalculation when she decides to sleep with him. Not only is she in danger of being arrested, but also she's remarkably naïve to think that the dalliance won't have devastating emotional consequences for her marriage.

Writer director Alan Brown makes some sharp observations about married life, human relationships, and how seemingly well-ordered lives can quietly implode almost over night. The three central performances are terrific, and it's interesting to see Australians Simon Baker and Francis O'Connor taking on such emotionally complex roles in the USA. The attractive Baker is terrific as Dave, an affable, likeable and perceptive man who tries drastically to repress the hurt, bitterness, and ugly emotions that lurk beneath his placid exterior.

Dave is worried about his entry into middle age, constantly checking his love handles out in the mirror and trying to control his surroundings with little habits like correcting the grammar of those around him. O'Connor realistically portrays a woman who is 28 and is in no hurry to give up her youth; she's remarkably honest about her desires, and has the courage to actually "own" her indiscretions. And Gregory Smith as Chet does a great job of showing how far a hormonally driven teenager will go to satisfy his desires.

The film opens and closes with a Cambodian girl working on a loom. Perhaps this symbolizes how our lives are intertwined and entangled, and although it's a nice touch it comes across as a bit too conceptual and self-consciously arty. However, Book of Love has a subtle emotional impact that gradually creeps up on you, and stays long after the movie has finished. Viewers, will for sometime, probably find themselves questioning the motivations of the various characters and pondering the unhappy and rather bittersweet resolution to the story. Mike Leonard April 05.

Ménage a Trois, but on whose terms?
If three can play at love, and if that love is an equilateral triangle, then each of the three is equally responsible for the ramifications.Were that the case in this little low budget Indie film BOOK OF LOVE the story would have more resonance. But art imitates life and life is full of contradictions and double standards and that is what seems to writer/director Alan Brown seems out to show us.

David (Simon Baker) is a popular history teacher in a private girl's school in New Jersey and is blissfully married to Elaine (Frances O'Connor) who is an Events Planner and thrives on her time with her husband, wanting to delay having children for 'at least ten years' in lieu of an exciting marital sex life.Into this radiantly alive couple's life enters a young fifteen-year-old highschool student and swimmer Chet (Gregory Smith) who happens to meet them in an ice cream parlour and immediately feels a warmth for the two of them.The feeling is mutual, especially and David and Elaine learn that Chet has no strong family ties, has never even been into Manhattan much less to Disney World, a place Chet covets.

David and Elaine invite Chet into their home and lives, dining with him, taking him to a club in Manhattan (a place where Elaine takes the stage to sing with her lesbian friend entertainer), involving him in talks about Cambodian history and philosophy, etc.As an aside, their lesbian couple friends approach David to be the sperm donor for a child and Elaine and David agree to their request.David, Elaine and Chet appear to be a most happy trio until Chet makes physical advancesto Elaine, advances which Elaine initially gently rebuffs but simultaneously feels awakened sensual responses to this young virginal lad.Chet finds it difficult to separate his love for the couple and his corporeal desires and ultimately Chet and Elaine have a sexual encounter.

Elaine confesses her indiscretion to David, allows him his initial pain, and then is surprised at David's forgiveness and immediate physical response to her.Chet comes to David's office, apologizes for the event, and David again surprises Chet with his forgiveness and his suggestion that the trio continue with David's promised trip for the three of them to Disney World.

While on the outing to Disney World David invites Chet into the hotel room for a drink and a demonstration of Chet's diving skills, a set up for a physical encounter on the floor.Elaine enters the room, sees the encounter as a sexual one, frightens Chet who stabs David in a scuffle, and the Disney World trip ends in disaster.It is the working out of the new twist on the triangle that furnishes the rest of the film and the final results of the trio's relationship is surprising and stretches the limits of credibility.

The problem member of this ménage a trois is Elaine, a woman who allows herself to become sexually involved with Chet, but when she believes David is likewise sexually involved with the lad she is unable to cope.It seems like the woman of the triangle determines the rules and that is where many will feel this story is more tragic.

O'Connor is a fine English/Australian actress and gives a top-flight performance.Simon Baker is another Australian (Tasmanian) actor who has a great deal of depth and strong screen presence.Gregory Smith is a young Canadian actor who shows tremendous promise.Together the three give fine ensemble acting that makes this unlikely trio credibility and engages our empathy.There is a lot of talent in this little film and for a first movie writer/director Alan Brown gives notice of a talent to watch.In time some of the side indulgences included in this film will be less intrusive and more insightfully utilized.But on the whole this is a successful film worth watching.Grady Harp, April 05

Good Movie
Good movie at first then starts to get weird between a student and two teachers otherwise then that good movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A devastatingly skillful and emotionally compelling documentary, TheTimes of Harvey Milk charts the political rise and brutal slaying ofthe first openly gay city official in the United State, Harvey Milk.Ironically, the same election that brought Milk to the board of citysupervisors of San Francisco also elected the man who killed him, a formerpolice officer and fireman named Dan White. After White shot both MayorGeorge Moscone and Milk, his defense lawyers convinced the jury thatWhite's judgment was impaired by depression and junk food, resulting in aconviction for manslaughter instead of murder--a verdict that promptedriots. With care and conviction, The Times of Harvey Milk capturesnot only Milk himself, but also the political and social landscape inwhich these events took place. The interviews--with friends, politicians,and journalists--are articulate and heartfelt, expressing the impact thatMilk had upon this historical moment. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Times of Harvey Milk
While this documentary is pulls at the heart and makes this reviewer as a gay person,want to step back into time to experiences the feeling of that era.....of the emerging political movement What a time of total optimism!!! The Tragedy of Milk and Moscones' death was are downers in an otherwise positive time for gays and lesbians...in California. Little did they know that within 3 years the first of thousands upon thousands of Aids deaths would rock the Castro. (SEE THE CASTRO) a pbs film about the history of the Castro.
That said however , as a person inspired by this film in 1985 when I first saw it to find out all I could about Harvey Milk was somewhat disolusioned to learn that the Harvey portrayed in The Times of Harvey Milk, beared little resemblance in many ways to the Harvey Milk of Randy Shilts book, The Mayor of Castro Street. His life a personal mess one some levels, Unorganized, vindictive and petty.....on others. Still though Milks strength of persona and the era in which he lived transends all the faults.
The XTRAS are well worth the purchase of this disc for anyone who has seen this documentary before.
I have watched The Times of Harvey Milk MANY MANY times over the past 19 years when I feel down about the gay movement and the forces that wish to have us relegated to a sub existence in this country. It reminds me always that anything worth fighting for sometimes requires a sacrifice....Sadly Harvey was a sacrifice for the betterment of the Gay community... Sad yes but it gives me strength and resolve every time i watch it!!!

Powerful DVD for all!
Great DVD of what has become a classic of the queer community's most important hero! The extras are amazing, I was asking where can I get more on Moscone's son and Harvey's nephew, wow? How can they be contacted? The alternative ending was very insightful, very! Is there more to come? I will use this in every class I teach. Unforgetable!

A MUST SEE FILM
The Times of Harvey Milk never ever fails to touch you. I saw it in the 80's on PBS and it's just as relevant now as it was then. The DVD remaster looks and sounds terrific and is packed with lots of bonus materials, but the the real meat of the impact is still the actual film. If you've never seen it, you need to.

His life, his legacy; our hope
I was one of the millions who probably heard of Harvey Milk at some point in my life, but never connected any dots to his life. Then one summer day, while housesitting, I found an old VHS tape of this documentary called "The Times of Harvey Milk". Not having anything better to do, I popped it in the VCR and sat back to watch. Two hours later, my life, perspectives, and outlooks were dramatically transformed by meeting Supervisor Harvey Milk. So it is with great excitement that this monumental film which pays tribute to a monumental time finally comes to DVD, and warrants my attention for my 200th review.

"The Times of Harvey Milk" is a transformative documentary both in style and information, created by visionary filmmakers Rob Epstein and Richard Schmiechen. The film not only covers the life of Milk, but the times which surrounded him that allows for a broader, more in-depth story. From the opening moments of the film, we learn of Harvey's untimely death, so as not to aggrandize it. Through personal interviews, newsreel coverage, and personal film shot at certain events, everything is brought to a real, intense focus. You feel as if you are watching the events unfold as San Franscians must have done in the late 1970's.

The shining stars of the film are the personal interviews given by people who knew Harvey best. Tom Ammiano, friend of Harvey, gives the film a sense of outrage of the assassinations. Jim Elliot gives a heartwarming straight man, unionist perspective to show us Harvey's universality. Henry Der allows us to see Harvey's political side. Jannine Yeoman's covering of the Milk campaign and post -assassination trial gives a sense of immediacy and urgency to the story, and a more professional viewpoint. Bill Kraus, a gay activist, soon to die of AIDS, provided a sense of Milk's activism.

A couple of interviewee struck me personally. First, lesbian activist Sally Gearheart's testimony of her work with Milk on the Proposition 6 campaign is very compelling, but her comments on the candlelight vigil and riots following the verdict are particularly poignant. Anne Kronenberg, who served as Milk's campaign manager, provides the zeal and optimism of the youth who surrounded and supported Milk in his efforts. Last comes Tory Hartmann, who's warmth on the screen is only seconded by her connection with Harvey. She provides an emotional recollection of the candlelight march that will leave you in tears.

Coming to DVD, this film looks rich and new, due to UCLA and its preservation processes. In addition to the film, the DVD brings you a second disk loaded with special features, from interviews with the film makers, to an 25th anniversary update of the Milk legacy by those who knew him best. I was particularly touched watching the "Alternate ending" section, in which Jim Elliot discloses, after describing his own journey as a straight man accepting homosexual Harvey Milk, learns his own daughter is also a lesbian, and that it was all okay, thereby completing validating Milk's thoughts on coming out.

Not enough words can be said about "The Times of Harvey Milk", a visionary, compelling documentary that should be shown, shared with everyone across this country. Milk's legacy is not only for his homosexual brothers and sisters; it is a legacy for all of us. His legacy is that of tolerance towards all, peaceful protest, fighting for what you believe in, and above all else, just having the best time of your life.

One of the great documentaries - one of the great movies
"The Times Of Harvey Milk" is such a great movie. It is easiliy as powerful as any scripted movie I've ever seen (and I can't say that about any other documentary). The 3-part structure works well: Harvey's rise, then his murder, then the aftermath.
The story is almost too crazy to believe. How could anyone buy Dan White's weak, whiny excuse for murdering 2 politicians in a major US city? And yet, he got off with a gentle slap on the wrist, and it's hard to dispute that the leniency of his sentence was because one of his victims was gay. We watch in disbelief as this unfolds. And then we watch the gay & lesbian community vent its fury in a chilling riot.
Fascinating from beginning to end, funny and heartbreaking, and important.
Kudos too for Mark Isham's gorgeous musical score. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even though The Laramie Project has been edited down from almost three hours (the original length of the play) to a lean 96 minutes, the harrowing nature of the subject matter--the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard--and the clarity of the voices of the inhabitants of Laramie, Wyoming, give this film a remarkable emotional power. The Laramie Project was created from over 200 interviews conducted with Laramie residents before, during, and after the trials of the two boys who killed Shepard; the interviews create an amazing cross-section of American views on homosexuality, religion, class, privacy, and so much more besides. Even though it features an all-star cast--Steve Buscemi, Janeane Garofalo, Christina Ricci, Peter Fonda, and Laura Linney are only a few of the recognizable faces--the material has not been glamorized and the performances are both honest and intimate. Even abbreviated, it's a remarkable piece of work. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (26)

astounding, both play and video
I am currently participating in a production of Laramie and watched the movie with my cast and director as a research tool. Despite trying to keep a distance from the emotions that I had already experienced through the wording in the play and trying to only analyze the characters, I still wound up sobbing, along with the rest of my cast.

This movie and play both tap into a part of the human spirit that I can't quite put my finger on. I feel that anyone who has had any kind of loss or sorrow in their life cannot help but be moved and affected by this movie. I myself have had very little, but the unbridled emotional power that arises from the words and dialogue gets me every time. "Go home and hug your kids, and don't let a day go by without telling them you love them." Just from tyipng that and having it running through my head, I almost have a tear running down my eye.

I felt that this movie was also well-casted. I've read that people thought that the character of Jedidiah or of a few others were not played well. I didn't feel that way. All the characters were well-portrayed and beautifully done.

Get this movie, or at the very least rent it and watch it. It is a powerful and possibly life-changing experience.

A powerful and uplifting movie
This is an excellent film! I really urge everyone to put this film at the top of their list of must-sees. I thought the acting and the direction were absolutely incredible and the movie has really stayed with me. It is a very unique kind of film because it uses actual interviews from real people as its script. I was skeptical when I first heard about it as I really didn't want to see a violent, graphic movie depicting or re-enacting a hate crime, but so many different people were telling me I HAD to see it that I decided to risk it. Whether you remember or don't remember the details of the killing of gay university student Matthew Shepard it doesn't matter. The movie is not really about the crime itself but with how the people of Laramie, WY dealt with it. In the end the movie is totally inspiring and uplifting, with humor and thought-provoking scenes throughout. It is really about where America is today. I put it in my all-time top ten!

Made me cry
There were just scenes in the movie that made me start crying. and it was just an amazing and beautiful experience. Forget some of the bad acting, overall the movie was just fabulous. The ending was beautiful too, and such a touching way to end it without it being overkill. You just have to watch this movie, it'll make you cry.

An Amazing Project
The first thing that made me want to watch this movie was the layout of the DVD cover and its large ensemble cast.

The Laramie Project is a story of a town trying to cope with the aftermath of a young homosexual man who was beaten to death by two local youths.

As I said the DVD cover, with it's great photos of the large ensemble cast was the very first thing that made me check this movie out. I am attracted to films that have a large cast in it and this one was no exception. Everyone in this film had something going on for them; they signed on to this project not because they just wanted to work with other people but, they signed on to this because they belived in it so much. Each person had their time to shine. I felt that this film is one big monologue of the same idea. Each actor/actresses were given a monologue and had to present them and each and everyone of them presented their parts perfectly. I cannot even imagine how big this cast was. It's truly something to be seen. The editing and music of the film is great and so is the story. I belive that there is at least one charatcer in the movie that a viewer can relate to. I felt like I was looking through a telescope and watching these people just present their souls to you. It's very intimate and real, and you feel like you are part of the whole story.

Overall, if you like movies that are dramatic, real and one that has an enormous amount of actors/actresses who want to make a good film, then The Laramie Project is the one for you. GO CHECK IT OUT.

How Could Someone?
Matthew Shepard is a 22 year old college student, who is gay, and is brutally beat and tortured because of it. Based on a true story in Laramie Wyoming, this movie moved me and made tears swell up in my eyes. Every scene, i kept asking myself, How Could Someone Do Something Like This? ... Read more

Description

No one can live without love . . . By day, brooding, lonely Sergio works as a trash collector in the streets of Lisbon. Bynight, Sergio embarks on an increasingly intense odyssey of random, anonymous sexualencounters. Quickly, Sergio becomes fixated on a hot, young stranger and begins toretreat further and further into his dark dream life, blurring the lines between fantasy andreality, love and obsession. In Portuguese with English Subtitles ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Truly Strange!!!
First, let me say I am giving this completely unorthodox film four stars because I can't stop thinking about it. I'm not really sure I liked it, but I will say it is pretty daring in its approach to what can loosely be called "storytelling." There is very little dialogue, so we don't learn much about the characters, particularly Sergio, the central character, by what they say. Their actions are the primary sources of information into their unusual psyches. Sergio, a very attractive but deeply disturbed young man, is in the midst of a psychological meltdown, but I don't think his bizarre behaviour fully explains what is going on deep in his soul. The minimalist approach of the filmmaker in depicting Sergio's descent seems intent on providing slightly less information than we need to know. Perhaps the idea of this approach is to leave viewers in the dark just enough to be haunted by the film's imagery long after it is over. Maybe this film is an indictment of promiscuous gay sex, but then again, maybe it's an endorsement. I say this because there is an insidiously sexy edge to this work that snuck up on me and wouldn't let go. It's both seductive and repulsive at the same time. A very interesting, but perhaps not altogether successful endeavor. Yet, I highly recommend it!

Nice looking cast but...
I read a number of good reviews of this film so I ordered the DVD. It's a bit slow and the story line is not really followed through. A few explicit scenes and a good looking cast do not a good film make. The Director's commentary is also quite bizarre but at least explains two or three scenes that seem to cut midway through forcing you to wonder whether your DVD player's skipped a scene! Pleasant but not really worth the above average price.

***TOO MUCH AND NOT ENOUGH*** O FANTASMA!
AGAIN I TOOK A CHANCE & BOUGHT A DVD WITHOUT FIRST HAVING SEEN IT. ITS' SUBJECT--A YOUNG MANS' SAME-SEX ESCAPADES ABOUT TOWN IN LISBON, PORTUGAL--SEEMS QUITE PROVOCATIVE WHEN BUYING A FILM. I MUST SAY ITS MAIN CHARACTER--SERGIO--WAS A DELIGHT TO WATCH & A GREAT CHOICE FOR THIS FILM AS HE POSSESSES THAT "BRANDOESQUE", UNTAMED SEX-APPEAL THAT CAN'T BE TAUGHT OR LEARNED. THE WAY HE SUCCUMBED TO HIS SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES WITH SUCH SELF-ABANDON WAS TRULY BELIEVABLE IF NOT RISQUE & DISTURBING. THE FILM STARTS OUT WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE SOME FORM OF S&M & PROGRESSES TO ANONYMOUS SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS IN A CAR & A PUBLIC RESTROOM. MIND YOU, THESE ENCOUNTERS ARE STRICTLY CARNAL & DEVOID OF ANY IDEALIZATION OF SEXUALITY ITSELF. ALL THE WHILE SERGIO MADLY OBSESSES OVER A DUDE THAT FINDS HIS STALKING BEHAVIOR ANNOYING AND INCOMPREHENSIBLE. THIS DOESN'T DETER SERGIO AS HE PROCEEDS DEEPER INTO HIS SEXUAL DILEMMA. THE GUY BECOMES A "PHANTOM" IN SERGIOS' PSYCHE; THE MORE HE AVOIDS & REFUSES SERGIOS' ADVANCES THE DEEPER SERGIO FALLS INTO HIS SELF-CREATED ABYSS. THE OVERALL SCENERY OF THE FILM IS DARK & DESOLATE WHICH HELPED TO ISOLATE & AMPLIFY SERGIOS' TROUBLED STATE OF MIND. OVERALL, THE FILM WAS NOT ALL BAD BUT "TOO MUCH & NOT ENOUGH". KUDOS TO RICARDO MENESES ON HIS DEBUT; HE ALONE MADE THIS FILM MEMORABLE.

How did it get financing?
The first hour of this film is truly dull, with only a few bright spots. This is one you definitely want to watch on fast-forward unless you have an extremely high threshold for boredom. As we visit - unfortunately - every detail of a garbageman's workday existence we do have the few bright spots contributed by his reluctant object of lust that he encounters on his route.
When the most excitement you get is wondering how the garbage service differs from the one offered within your own geography, you're in trouble with the film. But the lead character is so empty, and the other characters one or two dimensional at best, so everyone and everything is an oddity. And the commentary track reveals there is SUPPOSED to be a dreamlike quality to the story. But the is-this-a-fantasy element passed me by. Surreal, evidently, for those looking for it, but ultimately uneven, unrealized, dull, and boring. It's amazing this was financed at all.

Doesn't Compare To A Night A the OLD NYC Eagle
An extremely pretty boy garbage man TRAMPS it up all over town. The bathroom scene is sexy but I don't think that is the lead actor getting worked on. Body double if you ask me.
My problem with this flick is that I don't believe the lead at all. Brad Pitt would be more believable in this role.
There is NOTHING grungy about the boy...it's like trying to imagine CLAY AIKEN getting up to no good.
When your dull as dishwater like Clay, well...it's hard to imagine you in all these sexy situations even when you are play acting at doing them.
And frankly I used to get up to much worse at the old NYC Eagle. This dude has nothing on me. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

The Power of Cinematic Image
Based on the book by Vito Russo, written by Armistead Maupin, and narrated by Lily Tomlin, THE CELLULOID CLOSET uses interviews and hundreds of film clips to examine the way in which Hollywood has presented gay and lesbian characters on film from the age of silent cinema to such recent films as PHILADELPHIA and DESERT HEARTS. Throughout the documentary, the focus is on both stereotypes and the various ways that more creative directors and writers worked around the censorship of various decades to create implicitly homosexual characters, with considerable attention given to the way in which stereotypes shaped public concepts of the gay community in general.

Overtly homosexual characters were not particularly unusual in silent and pre-code Hollywood films, and CLOSET offers an interesting sampling of both swishy stereotypes and unexpectedly sophistocated characters--both of which were doomed by the Hayes Code, a series of censorship rules adopted by Hollywood in the early 1930s. The effect of the Code was to soften some of the more grotesque stereotypes--but more interesting was the impetus the Code gave to film makers to create homosexual characters and plot lines that would go over the heads of industry censors but which could still be interpreted by astute audiences, with films such as THE MALTESE FALCON, REBECCA, BEN-HUR, and REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE cases in point. Once the Code collapsed, however, Hollywood again returned to stereotypes in an effort to cash in on controversy--with the result that throughout most of the sixties and seventies homosexual characters were usually presented as unhappy, maladjusted creatures at best, suicidal and psychopatic entities at worst.

The film clips are fascinating stuff and are often highlighted by interviews of individuals who made the films: Tony Curtis re SOME LIKE IT HOT and SPARTACUS, Shirley MacLaine re THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, Stephen Boyd re BEN-HUR, Farley Granger re ROPE, and Whoopie Goldberg re THE COLOR PURPLE, to name but a few. All are interesting and intriguing, but two deserve special mention: Harvey Fierstein, who talks about the hunger he had as a youth to see accurate reflections of himself on the screen, and Susan Sarandon, who makes an eloquent statement on the power of film as "the keeper of the dreams."

Although the material will have special appeal to gays and lesbians, it should be of interest to any serious film buff with its mix of trivia and significant fact. The DVD also includes notable packages of out-takes from interviews that are often as interesting as the material that made the final cut. If the documentary has a fault, however, it is that it offers no "summing up," preferring instead to show only how far the portrayal of homosexuals has come and indicating how far it has yet to go. Recommended to any one interested in film history and interpretation.

Excellent film on so Many Different Levels
Looking at the roles given to gay and lesbian characters in American cinema over the past several decades, "The Celluloid Closet" manages to simultaneously be hilariously funny, educational, and occasionally quite thought-provoking and even tragic. We see gay and lesbian stereotypes being reinforced over and over again, scenes cut from famous films because they hinted at homosexuality, etc.

Although the initial reaction is to sort of laugh at how backwards and ludicrous the intense homophobia of Hollywood once was, there are also reactions from people growing up during those years who talk about the effect of seeing gays and lesbians in films, or the impact of NEVER seeing gays and lesbians in films. Also, as the film progresses, it helps one to see that, although things have gotten SO MUCH BETTER in many ways, they're still so far from being where they ought to be.

This is a great documentary to watch with friends who might question what the big deal is with GLBT issues... why it's even an issue at all. It really helps one to see the importance of how popular media deals with (or chooses to ignore) minority groups and the very real impact of those decisions on people belonging to that minority group. And the fact that it's so darn entertaining makes it a fun, light movie to watch - a real pleasure!

A MUST SEE
The Dvd extras alone are worth the $25.00 Made in 1995 just shortly after Tom Hanks won an Academy Award for Philadelphia (playing a gay man ). The hero of this production however is Lily Tomlin! This movie documentary was finaly made after the wirters & producers got in touch with her. Lily loved this project and got HBO to fund this movie! The basic theme in this movie is to show us how gay people have been portrade in the movies! Gay themes were Taboo! They were always taboo until the late 1960's. (However All movies were made to a strict code up to that point). So all gay themes (during the era of the Code) were between the lines! (This is the humor) After the code was lifted gays were shown mostly as the villians! ( This is the drama) This documentary was one of the best movies of that year!
Is it dated? Not by much! It has been ALMOST 10 years since this was first released! Now we now have on TV "Will and Grace" (but after 7 years and no boyfriend give me a break). The big break in Hollywood was "The Birdcage". The next year was "My Best Friends Wedding" and "In and Out". (all money makers) Earlier that year "ellen" came out on TV but her show was cancelled a year later. In 2004 "The Stepford Wives" remake hade a gay couple. Although gays are more visable now than ever in the movies most of the time they are regulated to the "best friend" for comic relief! Not much of a change! Would I like a gay movie hero? Of course! I would also like to see hollywood remake movies that had they had gay stories to begin with! "The Lost Weekend" "Gentelman's Agreement" "The Childrens Hour" all had gay themes but were rewriiten for straight story lines or toned down! Yes "Fried Green Tomatoe's" is another but there was a kiss!

After YOU VIEW "The Celluloid Closet" watch "Rebecca" "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Some Like it Hot"! You will be laughing!

A 1995 Documentary That is Still Relevant
The Celluloid Closet has been out for nine years and I have only now seen it for the first time. You would think that gay themes and the presence of gay characters would be even greater now, in 2004, than when the documentary was made in 1995, and that it would seem dated. Unfortunately, it does not seem at all dated. The idea of a gay hero is still edgy and daring, and oddly enough, television, rather than the big screen, seems to be taking the lead in featuring gay characters and themes.

The Celluloid Closet is an eye-opening look at how gays have been portrayed in American film. Film clips are interspersed with interviews and commentary by writers, producers, and actors who are gay or have played gay characters. It is interesting to see that people mocking gay men swished and minced the same way 100 years ago as they do today.

A highlight is the deleted scene from Spartacus with Laurence Olivier as a slaveholder in his bath telling his uneasy slave played by Tony Curtis that he enjoys both snails and oysters. Strangely absent in the documentary are any mention of Clifton Webb or Cary Grant.

I will be looking at old (and new) films in a different way now that I have seen The Celluloid Closet.

Excellent Documentary , but a bit too ideological
Celluloid Closet is a well-done, thought-provoking documentary detailing the history of homosexuality in movies. The author(s)
compile a fascinating list of films, many well-known and beloved, and describe how filmmakers, constrained by prevailing mores and production codes, were forced to deal with the subject creatively through innuendo and subtext. It works equally well as a history of film censorship. Only one drawback: the best documentaries are objective, letting the material tell the story, so why interview exclusively archetypal Hollywood liberal, pro-gay-rights activists? It would have been interesting, for example, to hear Charlton Heston's response to Gore Vidal's take on what "Ben Hur" is really about. Instead, we're left hanging by Vidal quoting the director: "Don't tell Chuck (Heston) what it's really about, or he'll die". (or words to that effect) ... Read more

Reviews (37)

I'm not the target demographic ...
This movie wasn't made for me. The director didn't cater to my tastes, fantasies, or ideology. Hollywood didn't pour megabucks into this movie, and the acting frequently felt self-conscious, almost like small-town community theater, with roles being enacted and lines being recited. Normally, having said this about a movie, I'd give it only one star, and that grudgingly.

But this is a movie about people and about romance and about finding a partner. It's a universal theme, even if the particulars (Chicago lesbians) don't match mine (straight SoCal guy). Most refreshingly, it's a love story told without Hollywood cliche. Told well. Heartwarmingly so. It is a beautiful movie, but don't expect to be able to lean back in the easy chair and let your stereotypes watch it for you. This movie demands attention and pays a handsome reward of emotional gratification.

A solid four stars.

(If you'd like to discuss this movie or review with me, please click on the "about me" link above and drop me an email. Thanks!)

Educational, Entertaining, Lesbians
So here's how it happens: Max (Turner) is a young lesbian, not knowing exactly what to look for in a mate. Current qualifications: fashion sense. Needness to say, she's not having an easy time, until her roommate, a more experienced woman, begins to take an interest in finding someone for the lonely girl.

This movie portrays lesbian life in a very accurate way. The way the characters speak, dress and gesture all have a strong sense of reality. At the same time, the conversations are frequently quite funny and insightful. It's a wonderful and rare mix of humour and education, thanks to an extreamly well written script.

The only real weakness is the acting. The entire movie feels as though the cast mearly read the script then went and filmed it as soon as they could stumble over the words. However, the acting is at least consistant, which makes it easier to ignore, as opposed to inconsistantly played characters.

If you're into modern and accurate portraits of lesbian culture, "Go Fish" is a movie you will almost certainly enjoy.

Watch the L-Word Instead?
I can't believe that someone actually suggested watching the L-Word instead of this movie. I will agree the movie is low budget and the acting is not at all polished but for me, that is exactly what makes it so genuine and honest. Yes, anyone today could pick up a camera and make a black and white film about lesbians. It would probably even be backed by Disney....because gay life is trendy. Ten years ago it was risky and you know this film was not made in the hopes of grabbing stacks of cash. The characters are tangible and believable in that they are acting from experience and not because they spent a month in a dyke bar researching a role. Everytime my roommate watches the L-word I say to myself "damn, this storyline can't get any cheesier"..and always to my amazement, it does just that. The only reason the L-Word would be more entertaining than Go Fish is because of how absolutely ridiculous it is. I recommend watching Go Fish not because it is a huge blockbuster Hollywood hit but rather because it isn't. And that is definitely a refreshing change.

twiddle your thumbs instead
the thing about this movie is that it is bad. The only plot is that there are two women, and woohoo! They end up together! I bet you couldn't have guessed that! What the hell else are they going to do - they're lesbians! That is what we want to see! But the fact that there are no subplots, no... anything else to keep anyone watching is just pathetic. Just because it's old doesn't mean we have to hold on to it. Anyone could just as easily make a movie in black and white, have two women cut each other's nails, and it would probably be better because maybe it would waste less of my time. Now, don't get me wrong, I know that many people do like this movie. I don't know why. All I am saying is, if you want to watch it, rent it first. Actually, just rent something else. Go watch the L-word. That is much better.

Judging by the cover...
...Once I got over the fact that the cover and the movie seemed to be entirely un-related, I really enjoyed this movie. From the "who is gay?" conversation (face it - don't we all do that?) to the love in unexpected places theme and the interwoven stories of the different characters - I thought this movie was really worth watching. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A touching and entertaining film!
His Secret Life touched me. I found myself thoroughly engrossed with the story and relating to both main characters, and the secondary ones. The kind of real emotion and character development is exactly what's missing in most Hollywood films, making me turn to the Foreign section most of the time. This is one of the best gay-themed films I have seen, one anyone can enjoy and relate to. It is a sweet film, heart-warming and touching without being overly sentimental. The chacters are thouroughly developed and experience real emotions as they deal with loss and heartbreak. Words cannot describe how this movie affected me and made me long for a better world where people can care about each other as much as this small group does. A wonderfully entertaining and emotional experience that is highly recommended.

P.S. Despite the preview, this is not sexually explicit and only features one scene of a gay threesome. The rest of the film is tame.

Touching and beautiful
In a nutshell, a womans husband is killed crossing a busy road (possibly the worst effects I've seen on film in many years) and when packing away his things, comes across a painting with a message from his lover on the back. She tracks 'her' down, and discovers she is in fact a he.
Naturally she is upset and cant understand the life her husband has lead for the last seven years, but over time, she gets to know his lover and his friends, both learning things about their lover that they never knew.

I heartily recommend this film - not for those just looking for flesh though. So many gay films are below par, and either over play the sentiment or are just too trashy. This is not one of them. This really is a beautiful film; all the characters are played with sensitivity and the film is so well acted, especially by the lead actress.

(NB: This films original title is translated as 'Ignorant Fairies', which is the name of the painting in the movie - the title shouldnt have been dumbed down, and the cover art! so cheap looking. The international covers are much more appropriate.)

Terrible
I find this movie as pretentious, heavy-handed, boring and silly as the previous one directed by Ferzan Ozpetek, 'The turkish bath'. So much for 'auteur theory'. I don't know what people see in them.
The transfer in the dvd is ok.

One of my favorite movies ever!
I sent so many people to see this movie and everyone (men and women alike) have raved about it. Such a genuinely moving film with amazing characters. If you haven't seen it, find it and watch it now!

Will somone make a move that allows GAY LOVER to live
This is a great date movie. The only drawback is the centeral charater is killed off within the first few minutes of the minutes. The remander of teh movie you are left to live the moments of joy between the gay lovers as a memory.

WILL SOMEONE MAKE A MOVE WHICH SHOWS GAY LOVE AS AN ACTIVE HAPPY EVENT. CAN SOMEONE MAKE A MOVE THAT DOES NOT KILL OFF THE GAY LAVOER TO AIDS, ACCIDENTS OR HATE CRIMES.

CAN SOMEONE MAKE A MOVIE WHERE 2 GUYS CAN MEET AND FALL IN LOVE AND ENJOY EACH OTHER. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

That show makes your ass look fabulous!
When I first saw "The Beginning," I couldn't stop laughing. Now, after having seen it a few times, I still can't stop laughing. Ellen may not have been completely "on" in terms of her timing, but that didn't make the material any less funny.

The "search for silence" routine was priceless. It's classic Ellen, with the goofy tangents and circuitous timing. Listen carefully on the DVD when Ellen tells her sex toy joke (the "pogo stick"). You'll hear a woman cackling in the background. That woman obviously was busting over with laughter. You'll be busting up, too.

A comedy before it's anything lesbian
Don't be so hasty...
I've had many guests who were itching to watch this, only to be diappointed because they expected a big dose of homosexual humor. While this act does touch on everything from coming out to sex toys, there is about as much discussion of animals as there is of sex. And that is quite a bit.

What this special brings to mind is, though many may argue, that we knew Ellen was a comedian long before we knew she was a lesbian. We're not let down in terms of gay material, especially by the opener, but Ellen pounds home the reality that she's a comedian first. All in all, she's at the top of her game, showing off the versatility of her impeccable wit. As long as you're not determined to watch an hour and a half of "What do you call a lesbian...?" jokes, "The Beginning" will either make you realize that you love Ellen or that you still love Ellen.

As far as chosing between the VHS and DVD, the special features just aren't there, so VHS wins out here.

Bottom Line
Cuddles: **
Tissues:
Hotness: ***
Laughs: ****
Quality: ***
Rent unless you're partial to owning standup.

Ellen is halirious!
Not only is she funny, but some of her comedy makes very valid points. Like she she says "Do we still need directions on the back of a shampoo bottle. Who's shampooing for the first time anybody? IAnd if you are you can't read anyway. And there's also a 1-800 number in case the directions are too vague for you. the only thing more pathetic that calling the 1-800 number is working at the 1-800 numer." That is not only very funny, but it also makes a valid point. this is a must buy for any Degeneres fan

Disappointed.....
Bought this DVD on blind faith--I've seen enough of Ellen talk shows,etc. to realize that her dry, witty sense of humor is something that I wanted to see more of. However, I felt that "The Beginning" was full of bits that I just wanted to end. Knowing that Ellen is funny, I kept on waiting and waiting to laugh riotously--but only to be disappointed. There are two bits worth mentioning--a)why do we need directions on the back of a shampoo bottle + an 800 number (b)trying on clothes while shopping.

Sorry folks... not her best work.
I've seen and heard so much of her older stuff before watching this. Somehow she failed to make me laugh out loud once. I dont mind that she keeps on making pointless references about her sexual preference, but its simply not funny... I hate to beleive that this is Ellen at her best, so if you're expecting something special from her, this is not it. ... Read more

Description

"Love!" follows eight gay men, longtime friends, who spend three summer holiday weekends together at a beach house. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

It's a must own film
I did not see the play, so perhaps without it to campare to, I can honestly say I was not disappointed, becasue I had no prior expectations. This movie is funny, funny, funny; while at the same time dealing with life, AIDS, and relationships.

Yes it is very over the top in some places, but it fits the characters, and there are some very dramatic camp queens out there, so I think this movie is an example of some gay men, but not all. Just watch it and enjoy, don't get caught up in whether or not it is a representation of you personally.

Not Your Usual
I came upon the movie by accident and though my finger hovered over the channel changer I found myself increasingly caught up with the characters and their lives. I laughed and cried and thought it was a work of art. At first when I realized it was a movie about gay men I thought, "Oh no not another movie about AIDS",and indeed Aids was there but it only really hovered in the background for most of the film. The characters were quite believable and I laughed and cried and fell in love with this brave and intelligent film. The movie which comes to mind when I try to find a comparrison is, "Smoke signals" which is not about gays or aids or anything but life love and relationships and co-incidentally American Indians. I will buy this movie so I can see it again and I recommend it to anyone with a heart.

Boys In The Band meets On Golden Pond
Terrance McNally's LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! was a Tony-winning powerhouse on the New York stage--but the same cannot be said of the play's screen adaptation, which plays like a yuppie version of BOYS IN THE BAND that has unexpectedly collided with ON GOLDEN POND... but without much benefit to either.

The story itself concerns a group of eight gay men who meet at an isolated but lavish country house for summer weekends and who thrash out their various hopes, desires, and relationships in the process. In this sort of ensemble piece, where the story is more about people than plot, the cast is key--and in truth the cast is quite fine, with John Glover a particular standout in the dual role of John and James Jeckyll.

Trouble is, the gifts of the cast are repeatedly undercut by some of the most uninspired direction and cinematography going, and after a while it all begins to acquire a strangely superficial quality. I laughed now and then, I felt moved now and then, and I was occasionally impressed with some of the dramatic ideas involved. But when the final credits rolled I felt the film as a whole lacked any significant impact. The cast, however, makes it worth the effort.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Watch This With One You Love!
By Richard Valentine Reily, author of Gregory's Hero.

This is not a production for the close minded, or children.
Ramon returns from skinny dipping in the lake with only a big towel draped loosely over his shoulder, his short muscled body exhibiting all its Latin splendor. The show is on.
L!V!C! allows audiences a glimpse into the usually disdained world of every day gay life, giving them the opportunity to laugh nervously and to glance at their partner's responses. Once settled in, the production shows that gay and straight lives are roughly similar. This play is certainly reminiscent of The Big Chill.
Bobbie turns in a stunning performance as Gregory's blind lover. His hesitancy at movement, stammering articulation and resistance to pandering by his friends works. Not to mention his naked, practically hairless blond body, complete with a kneeling scene on the lake raft with his tight posterior pointed directly at the audience. Blindness obviously keeps him from visualizing his less than attractive lover.
Gregory is an over the hill choreographer who owns a fabulous country house to which the six friends retire on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Gregory is in search of his final routine, yet dispenses his energy in fear of Bobbie leaving him. In the end he finds his final piece while finding his body to fatigued to perform it. Thankfully, Gregory's nakedness is exposed only in the ending scene.
All the actors played their roles superbly. Yet, in every production, one must sh