Film Ratings…

As an avid DVD collector and movie buff - I have always been just a little intrigued about the whole movie rating thing. It’s … just … confusing!

Like most people I know - film ratings don’t mean all that much to me. I can see how they can be useful to some people - especially those with children - but when it comes to movies I either rent or buy for myself … those ratings have little (if anything) to do with what I walk away with.

Personally, I usually find that the “unrated” or “NC-17″ version of movies are better than the R-rated versions, although I don’t see this as much of a “ratings” issue as it is a “director’s cut” issue. For example - Fatal Attraction’s Theatrical Release is ok… but, the director’s cut is so much better. The only big difference is the ending… that whole ‘He kills her, then she comes back to life so his wife can kill her too’ … what the heck was THAT about? The original ending was, believe me, much better!

Now - this isn’t always true… Alexander is one of those movies where I enjoyed the Theatrical Version more than I did the Director’s Cut. (Due to political pressure from right wing groups, some of the gay-related themes were taken out of the movie.)

But, lately a bunch of movies have come up with both the Theatrical Version as well as an Unrated (NC-17) Version. Usually, the Unrated Version is just a bit more graphic (either nudity/sex or violence). It’s not that rare to compare the movie run times and see that only a minute or two of added footage has been added. I think this is more about censorship than anything else. (And, censorship is a completely different issue all together.) The Unrated version of American Psycho is merely five seconds longer.

I know that not all Unrated movies would have recieved an NC-17 rating… sometimes the films would have recieved an R Rating while the Theatrical Release was rated PG-13. Charlie’s Angles: Full Throttle is a good example of this.

Comparing Rated and Unrated versions of films can be kind of fun and interesting. Sometimes, it is just silly. (Dare I mention Team America: World Police? The only difference is some pretty absurd sexual acts between two puppets…)

Sometimes, though - it doesn’t make any sense.

One of the R-rated scenes removed from Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (but put back into the Unrated Version) was cut because it showed Dylan (Drew Barrymore) being hit in the face and spraying blood from the force of the impact. And yet, there are other movies where that happens frequently, yet still manages to keep a PG rating. (Not PG-13 … PG!) Rocky, for instance. So, why does one scene get an R-Rating, while the other gets away with PG?

When it comes to nudity or sex, however - the confusion runs more rampant. According to the MMPA, all movies are based on the same criteria, regardless of gender, race, or even sexual orientation of the characters involved. Yet gay themed movies are held to a different standard than heterosexual themed movies. A gay movie could not have two naked men wrestling each other - but a straight movie could. (Women In Love)

Last year, I wrote a blog post “Outrage Over Film Rating???” about a group of Evangelicals who were outraged that a movie they produced received a PG rating rather than a G rating (even though the movie deals with some pretty adult things like teen sex and pregnancy). Had the movie dealt with teenage homosexuality, I wonder what the movie would have been rated? I also wonder if the right-wing pundits who lobbied for a change in legislation regarding film ratings made any difference at all? I wonder what that means for me…

I started writing this blog post a few days ago, but last night I watched the movie This Film Is Not Yet Rated, that amazingly dealt with many of the topics I covered in this film, plus a lot of others. If any of this has made any sense to you - you ought to check this movie out too. Although, personally I would have liked to see the faces of those on the ratings board when this movie was submitted for rating…(wink)

The Year In The Rear-View Mirror (2006)

In some ways, 2006 was a great year… In other ways, it kind of sucked.

We saw Britney Spears Crotch shot by the paparazzi … We heard what Mel Gibson thinks of the Jews … We heard what Michael Richards (who played Kramer on Seinfield) thought about hecklers. No wonder the Jib Jab people think we’ve gone Nucking Futs!

Sigh. Thank god 2006 is over! But, you have to admit - we’ve been through a lot this past year…

It is easy to point the finger at some of worst cases of blatant intolerance - such as James Dobson’s attack on Mary Cheney or Ann Coulter’s many many many anti-gay statements or Don Imus’ and Chris Matthews homophobic review of Brokeback Mountain… But, the truth is that we still live in a time when public “fag-bashing” is still, somewhat, socially acceptable.

Several celebrities came out of the closet this year… Neil Patrick Harris, Lance Bass, and T.R. Knight, for example. Oprah Winfrey, on the other hand, came out as heterosexual.

Two of the most (shockingly) successful movies this year included Brokeback Mountain and Transamerica. The NBC comedy Will and Grace aired their final episode.

Gay Marriage was, off and on, a hot topic - especially in areas like New Jersey.

Chicago (where I live) was host to the Gay Games… and I got to be a part of that.

The 25th Anniversary of AIDS occurred this year as well, and it was published that gays were not the origin of HIV (the virus that causes AIDS.)

Yes - this is just a small reminder of a few of the events that took place over the past year … it serves to remind us not only how far the gay community (in general) has come … but also serve as a reminder about how far we still have to go.

Those Gay Cowboy Films…

Today, Brokeback Mountain came out on DVD, (yes, I already bought my copy, thanks for asking) and just like I expected, the Blogsphere has been filling up with Brokeback Posts. (I also got The Chronicles of Narnia at the same time, and I am wondering if that is sacrilegious.)

Most of the comments I've been reading on people's blogs (other than the posts where some straight dude is debating if he should rent Brokeback Mountain or not) are starting to sound like there has never been a cowboy movie with gay people in it. So, to compliment my most recent post, I thought I would share with you a brief list of cowboy movies for gay people…

Blazing saddles (1974) - Mel Brooks' takes on the Old West isn't exactly a gay themed movie, but what the heck. It's hysterical. It really isn't your typical cowboy movie, although all the cowboy stereotypes are picked on. And if you can't picture some drag queen doing Madeline Kahn's "I'm Tired" number, you weren't paying attention. Or, maybe, like me, you had to run to change your pants because you laughed so hard you peed…

Wagons East (1994) - While the main attraction to this movie just may be John Candy's next-to-last film (unless you're a Star Trek: Voyager fan) - John C. McGinley's flamboyantly gay character can't be forgotten. Yes, that's the same guy who plays Dr. Cox on Scrubs - so trust me, it's worth it. He's … um … FABULOUS!

Midnight Cowboy (1969) - This seems to be another one of those movies everyone forgot about. When it first came out, because of the homosexual situations and homoerotic themes, the film was given an X-rating. In fact, it's gone down in history as being the only X-rated film to ever have received an Academy Award. Fortunately, the ratings people eventually relaxed a bit and the film was later allowed to have an R-rating. However, considering when the film was made - it is definitely worth a look and a mention here.

Ok, I know - that's only three. Unfortunately, I'm running out of time, for now. Happy Watching!

Those Forgotten Gay Films

Yeah, I know - I've told a few people I wouldn't add to the seemingly endless posts about Brokeback Mountain. I swear, sometimes it seems like everyone either thinks it's the best movie ever made, or the worst. Me? I haven't seen it yet, and am patiently waiting for it to come out on DVD next week.

Many of those who love Brokeback Mountain seem to think it is the first gay movie ever made. Or, maybe they think it's the only gay movie that ever won an award. I hate to say this - but both statements are wrong. Here's a short list of a few movies you may like: (in no particular order)

The Crying Game (1992) - was one of those movies that most people never would have noticed had it not been nominated for six Academy Awards. (Best Editing, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actor (Jaye Davidson), Actor (Stephen Rea), Best Director (Neil Jordan), and Best Picture.) It did, in fact, win for Best Original Screenplay. It's the story of what happens when a kidnap victim befriends one of his IRA Terrorist captors and asks that after they kill him, that the guy go find his girlfriend and let her know he was thinking of her when he died. The terrorist guy does exactly this, but falls for the guy's girlfriend - only to find they have a lot more in common than they realize (wink) … Yes, there are some gay twists. And not just Lyle Lovett singing "Stand By Your Man" either.

Boys Don't Cry (1999) - is yet one more of those gay movies that had it not been for the Academy Awards, nobody would have seen it. Hillary Swank (who later went on to do it again with Million Dollar Baby) did win the Best Actress award. The movie is supposedly based on the true story of Brandon Teena/Teena Brandon - although I highly disagree with that. You can read my article on that here. If you forget that it is supposed to be a true story, Swank does an amazing job transforming herself into Teena/Brandon, and did deserve to beat out people like Anette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Meryl Streep for that Best Actress Award.

Angels In America (2003) - Staring Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Emma Thompson, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Mary Louise Parker, Meryl Streep, Mary Louise Parker, Emma Thompson and … ok, just watch the movie and you'll understand. The movie totally swept up multiple awards at both the Golden Globes and the Emmy Awards (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, just to name a few) I was a little reluctant at first to watch the six hour movie, but honestly after those six hours were over, I wish it could go on another six hours. The play (and therefore the movie as well) is just so F'int brillant, you just can't get enough.

The Children's Hour (1961) - Wait a minute. Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine as lesbian lovers? Maybe, just maybe. It isn't the best movie Hepburn or MacLaine ever made, but it was a movie from the 60s (and a play from even before then) that dealt with topics like lesbianism.

To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar (1995) - might not be one of the best films ever, but it isn't all that bad. In fact, I think that both Patric Swayze and Wesley Snipes did a little too good of a job playing drag queens. Stockard Channing and Blythe Danner are awesome as well, and the cameo apperances from people such as RuPaul and Robin Williams (who plays John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt) and of course, Julie Newmar, make this movie quite fun.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert (1994) - When Terrance Stamp, Hugo Weaving, and Guy Pearce all play drag queens, you'd better expect something a little different - and that pretty much discribes Priscilla. Ok, Priscilla was the bus, but you know what I mean.

In And Out (1997) - Debbie Reynolds in a gay movie? Ain't going to happen. Just kidding. You know we love you, Debbie, more than we love our luggage. Kevin Kline does an awesome job trying to convince us his character is straight, just as Tom Selleck does an awesome job trying to convince us his character is gay. I'm not sure if Joan Cusack is really doomed to only marry gay guys, but …

Six Degrees of Seperation (1993) - Will Smith in this movie plays a gay man. Well, he plays a guy who likes to have gay sex when he's happy. His sexuality is kind of a side point considering what else the character does and stands for (claiming to be Sidney Poitier's son). It is, still, a movie that one ought to catch.

Far From Heaven (2002) - This was one of those movies I almost passed by before I realized it might be interesting. Once I started watching it, I couldn't turn away. Julianne Moore plays a woman who discovers her husband's homosexuality (the hard way) and deals with it by having an affair with a black man. Did I mention that the story takes place in the 1950s?

Basic Instinct (1992) - Who can forget all the bisexual hoopla over Basic Instinct - not to mention the protests from that group calling themselves Catherine Did It. Yeah, I know - their attempts to boycott the film just made everyone want to see it more. Oops.

Desert Hearts (1985) - This Mid-80s lesbian drama is a great film and proves that homosexuality can exist on the screen and not be offensive. (Ok, as a gay man, I almost find that the legnthy lesbian sex scene was a bit … ok, maybe not.)

But I Am A Cheerleader (1999) - This was another one of those movies I didn't think much of until I reluctantly started to watch it - and found it to be much better than I feared. Ok, any film where RuPaul plays a "heterosexual" has got to be interesting, although she's (I mean, he's) no match for Cathy Moriarty.

Even Cowgirls Get The Blues (1993) - Uma Thurman as a girl with big thumbs, based on the Tom Robbins novel, and if that isn't enough for you, I have but three more words for you. Lesbian Dude Ranch.

Midnight In The Garden of Good And Evil (1997) - Clint Eastwood (Dirty Harry himself) directed this movie, a supposedly true story based on John Berendt's bestselling book. Yes, Jude Law does play a gay guy (which isn't really all surprising, considering he's done that several times) but I think the real star of the show is Miss Chablis - a character so unique that they couldn't find anyone good enough to play her, so they got her to play herself.

And The Band Played On (1993) - Let's say I told you there was a gay movie with everyone (pretty much) who's anyone in it? I'm talking Matthew Modine, Alan Alda, Phil Collins, Richard Gere, Angelica Houston, Steve Martin, Ian McKellen, Lily Tomlin, D.B. Wong, Swoosie Kurtz. The only person you swore shoulda been in the movie but isn't was Mary Louise Parker, but we forgive her after such amazing performances in both Angels In America and Boys On The Side. The book by Randy Shultz is classic, and can't be compared to the movie, however this film is one of the best and most honest portrayals of the AIDS Crisis in the early 80s.