The Green Plaid Shirt (1996)

In 1978 Philip (Gregory Phelan) meets Guy (Kevin Spirtas) at a yard sale where they both want the same green plaid shirt. Shortly afterwards they become lovers. Their relationship is "open", allowing both partners to have outside sexual contacts. Philip finds that he is not as "open" as Guy, but they only cease to be lovers when Guy informs him that he's moving in with another man. Their friendship continues, however, until Guy's death of AIDS in 1988. Friends Devon (Russel Scott Lewis), Jerry (Richard Israel), and Todd (Jonathan Klein) also die of the disease. Even though the film's focus is on their relationship, it handles it without sentimentality.

The cheeky wit of the characters is one of the movie's highlights. Because of a low budget, this film has sound that warbles between indistinct and tinny. Also the camerawork and music are poorly done and distracting. It's mostly a flashback movie and events are sometimes shown out of chronological order, with scenes presented in a disorienting sequence. A green plaid shirt is worn in almost every scene, and it becomes an annoying gimmick rather than a symbol. This film has a passionate and clear message, but is not very well dramatized. Norman Noll composed the original music, and Richard Natale wrote the screenplay and directed.

The Dying Gaul (2005)

Based on the play of the same name by screenwriter and director Craig Lucas, this film is about gay screenwriter Robert Sandrich (Peter Sarsgaard) who has a tragic affair with bisexual movie executive Jeffrey Tishop (Campbell Scott) . Robert's lover has just died of AIDS and Jeffrey offers a fortune for his autobiographical screenplay. Of course it must be changed into a heterosexual script. Jeffrey says, "America hates gay people", although he approaches Robert for sex and and his wife Elaine (Patricia Clarkson) learns of their affair--leading to deceptions, confessions and betrayals. A pessimistic movie with three unsympathetic characters viewers will love to hate, it's about what happens when people choose money over integrity and sell out. There are no easy answers regarding compromised principles, the price of greed, and the closeted nature of Hollywood. Scott, Clarkson and Sarsgaard give great performances, but the film is too complicated, with a tragic climax. The title is taken from an ancient Roman statue, which is a copy of an earlier and lost Greek statue. Steve Reich composed the music.

Johns (1996)

Two homeless street hustlers in Hollywood with different ideals and goals struggle through a tough night in this bleak edgy drama. It's Christmas Eve, the day before John (David Arquette) turns 21. He wants to spend that night and the next day at the expensive Park Plaza Hotel, so he ripped off a drug dealer for $300 to pay the bill. But as he's sleeping, someone steals his shoes with the money in them. Meanwhile, Donner (Lukas Haas), a hustler new to the streets, is infatuated with John and wants to leave the city with him for Camelot, a theme park in Branson, Missouri, where they can work as lifeguards. Donner admits his homosexuality, but John believes that despite his occupation he's really straight, and he has a girlfriend Mikki (Alanna Ubach) to prove it. John tries to hustle the money for the hotel and pay back drug dealer Jimmy the Warlock (Terrence Howard), keep his girlfriend placated, and figure out how to deal with Donner's friendship. They meet several street people, including Crazy Eli (Christopher Gartin) and Homeless John (Keith David), and find a few customers, ranging from a closeted businessman (Elliott Gould) to others looking for violent, dangerous sex.

"Johns" is the first feature film for former TV documentary director Scott Silver. It is intelligent and realistic, with good performances, uneven editing, out of place symbolism, and a sad and tragic ending. Charles Brown and Danny Caron composed the original music, and Scott Silver wrote the screenplay and directed.

Du er Ikke Alene (1978)

A student strike at a Danish boys school in the 1970's is the backdrop for "Du er Ikke Alene", considered one of the best coming-of-age films ever made. The focus is on the conflict between the headmaster's old fashioned views and the liberal views of the boys. It explores the relationship between 15-year-old Bo (Anders Agensø) and 12-year-old Kim (Peter Bjerg), the younger son of the stern boarding school headmaster (Ove Sprogøe). Kim sneaks out into Bo's bed late at night where an intimate relationship begins. It is portrayed as something natural, and they do not hide it from the other boys, who consider it normal. Then a student is expelled for displaying pornographic posters and the other students decide to protest and hold a strike. Kim and Bo decide to "come out" to the school, and in front of parents and classmates show a video they made about their relationship that concludes with a long and passionate kissing scene. This film was made during a time when gay-themed movies were all but forbidden, and it is a brave, delicate, tender, unpretentious tale of the bonding that occurs between two boys. The story develops slowly, so some viewers find it somewhat boring. Directors Lasse Nielsen and Ernst Johansen made a groundbreaking film about first love without sentimentality, with depth, candor, and a sensitive handling of a controversial theme. The English title is "You Are Not Alone".

Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story (2004)

Set in the fictional working-class town of Inniston, Canada, this film is about Marc Hall (Aaron Ashmore), a popular student who manages to avoid harassment as a gay teen in a small town. However, when Marc decides to take his boyfriend Jason (Mac Fyfe) to the prom, he finds he has stepped over the line at the Catholic school he attends . Suddenly, with the spotlight of the nation's media on his struggle, he discovers he is battling not just for his right to date, but for the rights of gay people everywhere. The battle reaches all the way to the Canadian Supreme Court. We hear of Mark and Jason's breakup, but we never really see it, and the eventual court ruling comes via fax. The soundtrack often doesn't suit the dialogue, and the dance music sometimes is too loud and annoying. Based on a true story, this made for TV movie with a limited budget explores the clash between religion and sex, and shows gay teenagers are coming out at earlier ages, becoming increasingly politically active, and are more accepted by their peers. Gary Koftinoff composed the incidental music, Kent Staines wrote the teleplay from a story he wrote with Michael MacLennan, and John L'Ecuyer directed.

Morte a Venezia (1971)

In director Luchino Visconti's adaptation of the Thomas Mann novella, composer Gustave von Aschenbach (loosely based on Gustav Mahler) travels from Munich for a rest cure in Venice in 1911. He is suffering from a heart condition. In the lounge of the Lido hotel he spots a Polish family, headed by Mrs. Moore (Silvana Mangano) and finds himself attracted to her beautiful 14-year-old son Tadzio (Bjorn Andresen). Gradually his obsession increases while a cholera epidemic threatens the city. The pestilence represents the corruption that compromises and threatens his ideals. There are long periods without dialogue, and much of the story is told visually, with Gustave's lingering looks at Tadzio, crowds at the beach, and hotel dining rooms.

The film is elegant, sumptuous, lush, moody, and slow-paced, with little emotional center. Mahler's music is used in this film, although he was not homosexual as far as we know. Thomas Mann is alleged to have been gay or bi, and much of the storyline is supposedly based on Mann's own experiences. Dirk Bogarde portrays Gustave as an aging homosexual voyeur rather than Mann's disturbed artist struggling with an attraction to a boy that he does not understand. Not all of the dialogue is in English. Tadzio's family speak in Polish, and some of the minor characters speak in Italian. Subtitles are provided in ten languages. Luchino Visconti and Nicola Badalucco wrote the screenplay derived from the novella by Thomas Mann. Luchino Visconti directed. The English title is "Death in Venice".

Leather Jacket Love Story (1998)

An 18-year-old aspiring poet named Kyle (Sean Tataryn) leaves West Hollywood and relocates to Silver Lake where he meets hunky 30-year-old carpenter Mike (Christopher Bradley). An intense sexual relationship begins, crossing the complicated terrain of intergenerational love, class differences, and long term relationships. The dialogue is smart and colorful, the eccentric Silver Lake characters interesting, and the full frontal nude scenes are impressive. Jack (Nicholas Worth) plays a theatrical gay poet and steals every scene he appears in. His poetry readings are quite funny. Drag queens defend the community. There is a memorable stripper (Dennis Larkin) and cameos by Mink Stole, gay activist Morris Kight, and Bob Prest as a doctor who pierces nipples and other body parts for a living. Geoff Moody plays Ian. He was supposed to play Kyle, but refused to do a full frontal nudity scene.

This 83 minute b & w film was shot in ten days for $60,000 in 16mm, with the same camera used for "Medium Cool" (1969). It does not have the best picture quality and there are no captions or subtitles. The DVD includes commentary and 37 minutes of "erotic" material--all the footage they shot of the various sex scenes. Jeremy Jordan composed the incidental music, Rondo Mieczkowski wrote the screenplay, and David DeCoteau directed.

Boys Life (1995)

This three story anthology explores the reminiscences of directors Brian Sloan, Raoul O'Connell, and Robert Lee King. "Pool Days" and "A Friend of Dorothy" deliver the most fun about coming out of the closet. "The Disco Years" details the heartache and self-deception that is often a part of struggling through high school for gays. The protagonist of "Pool Days" is portrayed by Josh Weinstein , in "A Friend of Dorothy" it's Raoul O'Connell, and Matt Nolan plays Tom in "The Disco Years". Basically it's more "gay coming of age" stuff, too familiar but done quite well. Each 30 minute short is presented full frame only.
"Boys Life 2" (1997) is a 4 story anthology. Three are about homophobia, and all 4 are artistic, realistic, and episodic. "Must Be the Music" is about 4 gay teens; in "Nunzio's Second Cousin" a NYC cop takes a gay-basher home for a family dinner; "Alkali, Iowa" is about a farm boy who discovers his father was gay; and "The DadShuttle" centers on the communication breakdown between a father and his gay son.
"Boys Life 3" (2000) is a compilation of five short films that deal with coming out and the trials and tribulations of being gay in America. It includes: "Inside Out" with Jason Gould satirizing what happens when you come out in Hollywood, "Just One Time," a fantasy involving a groom-to-be; "Hitch" about sexual discovery on a road trip; "Majorettes in Space," a witty French spoof of post-modern sex; and "$30", centering on a closeted teen's experience with a prostitute (Sara Gilbert).
There are also: "Boys Life 4: Four Play" (2002), "Boys Life 5" (2006), and "Boys Life 6" (2007).

Fresa y Chocolate

In 1979 Havana, David (Vladimir Cruz) is a student and hard-core Communist whose personal life is in something of a slump. His girlfriend left him to marry another man, then he meets Diego (Jorge Perrugoria), a flamboyant gay eating strawberry ice cream, even though it's one of the rare days when chocolate is available. David is not impressed with Diego's criticism of Castro's regime, especially the government's persecution of gays, but he accepts his invitation to visit his apartment. David realizes that Diego has seduction on his mind, but this is outweighed by the fact that Diego's flat has forbidden things such as Time Magazine, American record albums, and Johnny Walker Red scotch. Miguel (Francisco Gatorno), David's friend, is convinced that Diego is a dangerous dissident and urges David to spy on him and pass along his findings to the government. But David enjoys spending time with Diego and also likes Nancy (Mirta Ibarra), Diego's sexy neighbor. This is a story of friendship and love between two men that overcomes prejudice and intolerance.

In 1993, "Fresa y Chocolate" swept the awards at the Havana Film Festival. The film won the top overall prize (the Coral), the Popular Choice prize, Best Director, Best Actor, and the International Critics' Award, among others. It's from the short story "The Wolf, the Forest and the New Man" by sceenwriter Senel Paz. José María Vitier composed the original music, and Juan Carlos Tabío directed. The English title is "Strawberry & Chocolate". In Spanish with English subtitles.

Amnésie: L'énigme James Brighton (2005)

Gay American James Brighton (Dusan Dukic) is found naked and amnesiac in a vacant parking lot in Montreal in 1998. He knows his name, but the only thing he's sure of is that he's gay. Based on a true story, the film's first half covers Brighton's months in Montreal trying to rediscover who he is. Volunteers from S.O.S Gay organize a media campaign to help him recover his forgotten past. After three months no one has claimed him. Then his Tennessee family find him when his brother, a Pentecostal minister, recognizes him on TV. Except his name isn't James Brighton, it's Matthew Honeycutt. He is arrested for committing fraud by faking his amnesia, but many are uncertain about the truth of his claims. A year later a student in criminology named Sylvie (Karyne Lemieux) begins to study it, only to discover that her own identity is becoming elusive. The second half of the movie picks up the pace, focusing on Brighton's adjustment to life in Tennessee and director Denis Langlois' disturbing fictional explanation about what led to Brighton's traumatic memory loss. Slow-paced and probably better suited to the small-screen, "Amnesia" is a reminder of the ravages of homophobia. John Lunn composed the original music, and Chris Lang wrote the screenplay. The English title is "The James Brighton Enigma". In Québecois, French, and English with variable subtitles.