Where do I start?

If you look at most movies and TV shows featuring gays or something, you'll usually notice that they are always shown as acting really girly (in the case of gays) or really macho (in the case of lesbians) or drag-queen look-alikes (in the case of transgender people). I've known many gays all my life, and I've grown tired of people putting these steryotypes to them. So, in hopes of clearing some stupidity towards them, I'm gonna post three(if you know any more, please add) of the films I believe provide a more realistic look at what it's like to be gay/lesbian/trans/bi:

-Beautiful Thing
I love this movie... it's pretty heartwarming, yet funny at times. Not gonna spoil the whole thing, but it's about two 16 year old neighbors in London who develop gay love.

-Better than Chocolate
This is more graphic approach to gays/lesbian/trans/bi people. It's more explicit than Beautiful thing, but has the same humorous parts, and as meaningul. Again, I won't spoil the whole thing, but it's about a young woman who finds herself forced to admit to her mom and brother when they stay at their house that she is a lesbian. This film also has many subplots to them.

-Lost and Delirious
I don't like this film at all... very poor quality in general. But it's about two teen girls in love, and their reactions to all that happens after they're caught.

I have a fourth one in mind, but I forgot the title. Damn

What about the story of the boxer/ballerina boy whose friend is a crossdresser?

quote:

like to adress CNA's intro, though. The stereotypical femmes and butches do exist, I have a pair of each as real close friends, and I myself can be femmie at times. The stereotypes aren't always true, and that's important, but equally important is that the stereotypes do not contain negative things. There's nothing wrong with being a feminine male or masculine female (whatever those mean) in the first place.

I don't think it's wrong either, I just don't want people to think gays or lesbians or transexuals have a certain "criteria" they must fit into.

I suppose, yeah. It's a real life story about a transsexual teenage girl, Teena Brandon (Hilary Swank) who leaves her small-town where she is wanted for some big crime. When she goes to the new town, she becomes the popular Brandon Teena. He dates Lana, one of the most popular, beautiful girls. He has friends, dates, etc. However, when the guys find out that Brandon is really a woman, he gets humilitated, raped, and murdered.

In short: You won't wonder why Hilary Swank won her Oscar for it.

Would "Boys Don't Cry Count? I'm pretty sure the story line is something along the lines of girl dresses like guy, to pick up other girls but it's been a really long time sense I saw it last so I could be wrong

Brokeback Mountain
Obvious, but it wasn't here.

To wong-fu was excellent, but I'd just like to point out that it focuses on drag queens and cross dressers (and it points out the difference between), and not necessarily on LGBT issues.

The Laramie Project
This is the movie that got me on the road to acceptance. Angels in America is what finished it. I'd like to note, though, that AiA is actually a play made into a movie that started after Matthew Shephard. It's not your typical movie or play, either, and a lot of people will be confused or put off by it. Don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful.

I'd like to adress CNA's intro, though. The stereotypical femmes and butches do exist, I have a pair of each as real close friends, and I myself can be femmie at times. The stereotypes aren't always true, and that's important, but equally important is that the stereotypes do not contain negative things. There's nothing wrong with being a feminine male or masculine female (whatever those mean) in the first place.

quote:

Originally posted by ICELAND:
Euterpe: I did see Gia a month or two ago. It thought it was excellent. The documentary aspect made it really interesting, and more real. I liked the scene where her mom gets frightened by the completely naked guy walking around. My favorite scene was the one in which she gets on a motorcycle in a big red Chinese dress and drives off to "The Killing Time" by Tears For Fears. That was a perfect song for the sense trying to be conveyed in the film. I can't think of anyone who could harness the extreme emotional range needed to play the part Angelina Jolie did, now that I think about it, she was really damn good, and the only reason one might overlook that is because she does such an amazing job of making the character jump out at you instead of the actress.

Oh man, I know! Aside from Lisa in Girl, Interrupted, Gia is my second favorite Angelina Jolie character. (Until Catherine the Great comes out. That'll be interesting.) But aside from Angie Jolie, Elizabeth Mitchell was incredible.

She was really, really underappreciated in that movie, when her role was just as pivotal as Jolie's. Her performance in the scene where she fights with Gia about the drugs on the floor, had me in tears.

Er, I kind of wanted to revive this topic because it was inteersting to bring up. So, I'll add in D.E.B.S. Just because the short was funny as hell (I love Clare Kramer!) and the movie looks promising, and it came out in limited release Friday. It's about four girls picked from their SAT scores to be secret angets. They have to take down Lucy Diamond. One of the DEBS and Lucy fall in love, and madness ensues. It's campy, but it's meant to be.

-Angels In America
This is a six-hour long comedy/drama (divided into two parts). It centers around odd religious events in the lives of a man dying of aids, a Mormon who realizes he's gay, and the people around them. The scenes and characters are hilarious and different (some are spirits, a hallucinating woman, a demon) the acting is great, as well as the writing and plot even though it's complex. Merryl Streep plays three characters, one of which is a man! Don't let the length intimidate you, because it's really damn good and unique, and it won a bunch of awards.

-To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar
A movie in which two champion drag queens win a huge contest and decide drive to their free vacation in L.A. along with a drag queen trainee. However, along the way they get stuck in a small town and hilarity ensues. I haven't seen it, but I've heard it's hilarious. One of the drag queens is played by WESLEY SNIPES. That's reason enough for me to see it, but John Leguizamo is in it too, and he's awesome.


Euterpe: I did see Gia a month or two ago. It thought it was excellent. The documentary aspect made it really interesting, and more real. I liked the scene where her mom gets frightened by the completely naked guy walking around. My favorite scene was the one in which she gets on a motorcycle in a big red Chinese dress and drives off to "The Killing Time" by Tears For Fears. That was a perfect song for the sense trying to be conveyed in the film. I can't think of anyone who could harness the extreme emotional range needed to play the part Angelina Jolie did, now that I think about it, she was really damn good, and the only reason one might overlook that is because she does such an amazing job of making the character jump out at you instead of the actress.

If you are looking to help with something associated to gltb understanding.issues, go to heroinefilms.com (don't be fooled by the name, it's good, I promise)It is a film-to-be about lesbian issues. But the girls making the film don't have enough money. So, would anyone feel like popping over to the site and donating a dollar? Also, if you donate 1 buck (thats all) you get your name in the credits! And 10 gets you a cool shirt. So....that's it I guess.

http://www.heroinefilms.com

Oh man! You have to see Gia. I'll admit, it was not what I was expecting at all. It was far more dramatic than I presumed it would be. Not to say it didn't have it's light-hearted moments; it did. You won't wonder why Angelina Jolie won her Academy Award for it. She was simply perfect. And you can't underestimate the power of Elizabeth Mitchell's performance as a supporting actress. My favorite scene is a scene between Linda (Mitchell) and Gia in which it goes from like...angry/sad/playful/angry/sad. In all of five minutes. I won't explain it unless you want to be spoiled.

Euterpe; I heard that Gia was an amazing movie. I had never heard or seen anything about it besides from you and one other person.

OMG But I'm a Cheerleader is the FUNNIEST movie I have ever seen in my life and it is so true of how a good portion of society views us. As problems to be fixed instead of functioning members of society. Another movie I haven't seen but heard is good if you want to understand the struggle of gays etc

"Jim In Bold"

http://www.jiminbold.com/

I'm not so sure these demonstrate an understanding of gays/lesbians, but they do feature gay characters in a realistic way.

Bound - The first film with lesbians I ever saw, actually. Corky is a stereotypical butch ex-prisoner lesbian, but the steamy romance and crazy mob hijinks make for a good flick.

Kissing Jessica Stein - Okay, it's technically not about gays/lesbians or bisexuals...but it is, sort of. It protrays a neurotic, Jewish woman (played with HILARIOUS results by Jennifer Westfeldt) in her early thirties embarking on a relationship with a woman (the oddly entrancing Heather Juergensen) for the first time. Her neurosis, the awkwardness of their physical relationship and all the social madness that comes with experimenting is in it. Very cute. if you rent it on DVD, make SURE to check out the deleted scenes. Especially the boat scene. It is absolutely the funniest monologue you will ever hear. (Also, try watching the movie with the commentary. Heather & Jennifer, since they both starred in and wrote the movie, narrate.) Helen (Juergensen) also has two very flamboyant and very hilarious gay best friends. (One has a poignant scene that was cut, if you want to check that out.)

The Hours - Again, not totally about lesbians or gays, but it touches on it. Meryl Streep and Allison Janning are long-time partners with their daughter, Larisa Oleynik. Julianne Moore has a lesbian moment with a woman who plays her neighbor. Nicole Kidman smooches her sister, I believe, which was just odd. The character Richard is a gay with AIDS and another hallucinatory diease. It's long and drawn out and makes you want to kill yourself, but it was very well done.

Foxfire - If you haven't seen it. Duh.

Gia - I love Angelina Jolie and she is incredible in this movie. You'll just adore the tumultuous, loving and passionate romance between Jolie's Gia and Elizabeth Mitchell's Linda.

..That's it for me. At least for now. (You know, this is why I have to stop allowing other people to rent movies with me.)

I've seen Lost and Delirious as well; I liked it well enough, but it seemed pretty cliched.

The Broken Hearts Club: This is a film about a softball team composed of gay men. It is funny and geniune, and touches many of the problems gay men face today.

But I'm a Cheerleader: This movie pokes fun at the way straight people hold gay stereotypes. It's a bit sappy, but I really enjoyed it.

In and Out: Bleh. I actually didn't like this move very much at all. But it is fairly heartwarming, and seeing Kevin Kline dance is hilarious.

There's a few more, but I'll have to think about what to write in them.

But Suddha, Bollywood makes some damn good movies. My favorite movie fo all time is Lagaan: Once Upon A Time in India

ur societies at least to an extent are accepting of such things..
the first indian movie called julie about lesbianism was banned and relelased at the same time..in other words no one got to see it except for on the first day..thats just ridiculous and all local poltitical groups started threatning the director of the movie..just shows the substandard level of tolenrance ppl ahve..

in our society ppl cant even come open wid such stuff....

Yes, foreign films and indie films are much more allowed to be explicit, so they tackle issues like this more than Hollywood films.

Another good movie that deals with the homosexuality/ transgender perspective is MY LIFE IN PINK it is a French film with subtitles, kind of starnge but very interesting and moving. It's about a boy (about 6 or 7 years old0 who enjoys wearing girls' clothes, make up, etc and wishes he was a girl. There are a lot of very sad and toughing scenes depicting the boy's family and their reactions. I know someone who cried when she saw this movie. I don't want to give away to much of the plot but I definately think anyone who is interested in movies about these issues or foreign films should rent it.

Mambo Italiano- Weirdly like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, except with Italian guys and their families. Basically; a comedy.

Plata Quemada- "Burnt Money". About a group of criminals who rob a bank. The two main characters are gay lovers who try to escape the police and leave the criminal life once and for all. It's seriously like Bonny and Clyde except with two very hot Argentinean guys. One is Edward Noriega!

Oddly, the only gay films out there are foreign films.