Board 8 > Gauntlet Crew Ranks LGBT Movies: Spooky Halloween Edition

(+) Yeah! (+)

I wonder how Mumei is doing these days

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9. Bound
Total score: 129

Karo - 4
Metal - 5
Inviso - 7
KBM - 9
John - 14
Charon - 16
Snake - 19
Gen - 22
Jona - 33

Karo
A pair of lesbians concoct an elaborate plan to hustle some mobsters out of their money in a gripping crime thriller
that is greatly entertaining.
It is engrossing to watch the girl put their plan in action, have things not go quite according to plan, and then adapt
to the situation at hand.
It is the Wachowskis' first movie and they already show their talent here for the direction is top notch with some
very daring and dramatic camerawork. It's just a very good movie overall.

Score: 87/100

Metal
You ever expect very little from a movie, only for it to completely blow you away? Ive experienced that a fair few times in the course of this project to some extent, but none more so than while watching this shockingly compelling neo-noir, propelled by the smooth sense of style and unconventional presentation I expected from the Wachowski sisters. Indeed, it's to their credit and Bill Pope's that there's nary a shot not worth gazing at. The use of music helps, absent as it is from long, tension-building scenes of talk before spotlighting the action. However, Bound's beating heart can be found in its portrayal of the relationship between everywoman Corky, framed as the protagonist, and femme fatale Violet, the story's real centerpiece. Despite limited plotting and characterization, Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly make the story of two lonely souls who click with each other, and then seek to escape their traps of circumstance together the only way they know how, really work, alongside Joe Pantoliano's screen-chewing turn as their would-be foil.

Inviso
Im always willing to enjoy a good mafia movie, and this one felt unique in that the central
characters were largely tangential to the main focus on the mafia plot. You have the girlfriend of
a random mafia enforcer (played by Joey Pants, as I affectionately refer to him), who falls for her
apartment buildings lesbian, ex-con, maintenance woman. Together they hatch a scheme to rob
Joey Pants, which results in the murder of a BUNCH of mafiosos, and some quick thinking to
spin his increasing paranoia to their advantage. Its all interesting and tense, but the best part is
how, all movie, theyve been building up the more butch of the duo as the badass, but in the end,
its quick-thinking Jennifer Tilly who not only manages to spin the appropriate web of lies, but
she winds up shooting Joey Pants once and for all, subverting the expectations of gender roles,
even in a same-gender couple. As a result, I found the movie quite compelling and satisfying in
its ending.

KBM
So, remind me how anybody thought the Wachowskis were actually men, when they
brought us one of the greatest lesbian wish-fulfillment fantasies ever set to film? Oh,
yeah, because 1996. This was just one of the most downright fun movies I've seen in
such a long time. From the Wachowski Sisters' unmistakable style, evident right from
the very beginning of their filmography, to the terrific chemistry between Gina
Gershon and Jennifer Tilly (both of whom are sexy as hell here), to a truly delightful
scenery-chewing turn from Joe Pantoliano as the villain, all of whom are clearly
having the time of their lives making this thing. Fucking loved it. How could I not?

John
Why I Chose It
The first movie from the Wachowskis! In addition, it's also one of the first mainstream films to be about a lesbian relationship without the fact that it is a lesbian relationship being the main focus. In particular, the film was praised for its realistic portrayal of a lesbian couple, as well as for the performances of both actresses.

What I Thought
Be gay, do crimes. Bound has to be the first movie to ever make plumbing seem seductive.

Charon
(no write-up submitted)

Snake
For the Wachowski's feature debut, there's a control & craft here that's simply indelible. The shadow work, steamy uncompromising sex scenes, & downright thrilling plot with maybe the best performances from all these wonderful actors I've seen in any film, especially Pantoliano. There are great scenes of violence that are grisly & bloody and they really punctuate the acting and rising tension incredibly well.

Gen
The back half of Bound is what gets it this placement for me. I wasn't a fan of Violet and Corky upon their introduction, nor was I there for the softcore porn that ensues. It all seems incredibly contrived and appealing to the male fantasy if I'm being honest (quite ironic given the duo that directed this). However what may have started as a misguided attempt at escapism on Violet's part clearly evolves into something real and intimate by the film's end. The action-packed mafia heist subplot provides not only a financial means to a happy end, but in Caesar provides a villain that's very easy to root against as an unhinged insufferable bigot.

Jona
I thought the beginning of this movie was terrible and it really made me tune out of a movie that I think I
could have liked more. I cant believe the porn plot of a plumber coming in to fix something is played
seriously here. The acting and dialogue really came off like a porn too. It also didnt help that I hated
Violets voice in this movie. The mob stuff does make things a bit more interesting but I just couldnt get
into it.


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8. The Half of It
Total score: 122

Karo - 3
Inviso - 4
Charon - 8
Gen - 8
KBM - 11
John - 12
Jona - 15
Metal - 27
Snake - 34

Karo
A shy girl helps some dumbass boy get the chick he wants by pretending to be him via text message and as you
might expect things quickly get very silly.
Aster and 'Paul' soon fall in love though their online communications, while the real Ellie is stuck being the stand in
for this guy who is so verbosely challenged that he manages to lead off a date by professing his love for Nazis.
It does stretch the believability that Aster could be be so dumb to fall for this for so long, but it is cute and funny
and is the perfect cure for all these depressing movies in this project.

Score: 88/100

Inviso
For the second list in a row, the movie that capped off the list wound up surpassing all
expectations and netting a spot in my tippy top tier. Everything about this movie is great. Its
sweet and the heart and soul of the film are just beautiful to watch. Normally in these kinds of
coming-of-age movies, there are multiple obnoxious assholes that you dont want to watch and
are designed to make the main characters look better by default. But in this instance, Trig is the
closest to that archetype, and hes not really a bad guy. Hes just a popular guy with an inflated
sense of self-worth. Ellie, Paul and Aster all feel like rounded characters with flaws that make
them human, without being awful people.

The Cyrano storyline has been done to death, but it feels fresh by having the inter-gender
element to it. Suddenly, its not just popular football star Paul using the smarts of his nerdy
buddy, but rather, he develops a genuine friendship with a female friend and starts to fall for her
when he realizes that theres more to love and meaningful connections that just initial
judgements on outer appearances. Ellie is great too, of course. Sure, she gets ribbed by some
douchey no-names at school, but shes also a smart kid running a successful paper-writing
business, and she ultimately finds success and happiness when her dad gives her the go-ahead to
pursue her dreams, rather than sticking around to take care of him. Finding a kindred spirit in
Aster is so touching, and even if their relationship begins abruptly, its still sweet to end the
movie on them knowing they have one another if they ever want to try things out. Everything
just wound up feeling so nice and heart-warming, and Im glad to finish the list with a strong
entry.

CHaron
(no write-up submitted)

Gen
The Half of It is a fantastic alternative to your typical high school romance drama. The actors who play Ellie, Paul, and Aster all have this insanely believable chemistry with each other and I enjoyed watching each of them bond over the course of the film and grew to love their adorable quirks. Kind-hearted though a bit dim and impulsive, Paul struggles first with expressing his feelings, then with understanding his own feelings, and finally struggles to understand his friend's feelings because of his rural Christian upbringing. I think it's an understated arc, and ultimately his and Ellie's friendship became my favorite aspect of the film.

KBM
A funny, refreshing coming of age movie with wonderful characters and a great
atmosphere. Leah Lewis and Daniel Diemer are so great as the two best friends, Ellie
and Paul, that the romcom/love triangle elements of the plot almost seem secondary
by comparison to the development of their unlikely, delightful friendship. (I could
watch Daniel Diemer play dumb all day and never get tired of it.) At the fringes of the
story you've got Collin Chou, who's just so fucking cute as Ellie's dad and whose
backstory and comforting presence just brings a lot of heart to the movie. I also love
how this movie's screenplay manages to exist at the intersection of racial identity,
queer identity, and religious identity, without, for my money, getting preachy about
any of it or letting any of it overwhelm what's at its core just a cute story about
friendship and unrequited love. I loved this, and I already want to see it again. The
tears I cried at the end were happy tears.

John
Why I Chose It
The most recent movie on the list to come out, largely added because of a recommendation from a friend, in addition to being a highly received comedy and some much needed levity for the list.

What I Thought
This was a last second addition to this list, after I told a co-worker about it (a co-worker that happened to be a Chinese lesbian who identified a lot with the film) and they recommended it to me. And while it's not the deepest or most introspective movie on the list, it was funny, enjoyable and a lot easier to get into than most LGBT films. The friendship between Ellie and Paul is sweet and wholesome, and I was ultimately left wanting more LGBT representation in films like this.

Jona
The plot of the movie isnt that original but the Asian lead and the charm of the movie help make the
movie stand out. The conversations between Ellie and Paul are great and they have good chemistry. I did
find Aster to be more of a plot device rather than a fleshed-out character though. With her being the
only person to get Ellie, there is a feeling of her and Ellie having a sense of superiority over everyone
else which bothered me a little bit but it didnt take me out of the movie. I thought it was interesting
that they spoiled what would happen in the beginning but I still remained invested. The movie has
things that irk me but it really comes down to the moments between characters which are quite
entertaining.

Metal
Split in twain, fittingly - an annoying (albeit decently executed) first half high on deception and cringe humor was very difficult for me to get through; eventually, though, it did give way to an involving second half. Where both halves overlap is in the way they winkingly play on clichs with the movies set-up and broad plot beats while subverting them with its specific pieces to create something that feels fresh and real. Partially as a result of that, the whole thing had some uncomfortable parallels to my own life of late, particularly in Ellies depiction

Snake
It's fun-enough, but it feels like a checklist on how to make a LGBT coming-of-age movie. I do love Leah Lewis in this film, she absolutely makes it worth a watch, but I don't really feel a sense of originality in this movie, besides a strong directorial hand


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Outlier Ranking
Snake - 329
Metal - 309
JONA - 290
KBM - 257
Johnbobb - 259
Inviso - 253
PrinceKaro - 229
Gen - 214
Charon - 187


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alongside Joe Pantoliano's screen-chewing turn as their would-be foil.

to a truly delightful
scenery-chewing turn from Joe Pantoliano as the villain

Nice.

It's also interesting to see which elements each of us choose to emphasize (or not) in our write-ups. For example, many of us (rightfully, IMO) spotlighted Bound's direction and performances, but I was the only one to also highlight its use of music. Conversely, Vis's point about the deep subversion of societal gender roles baked into its conclusion is one I didn't really consider myself, and yet one I now find myself appreciating.

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7. Brokeback Mountain
Total score: 113

John - 2
Charon - 3
Snake - 4
Gen - 5
Metal - 10
Karo - 11
Jona - 17
Inviso - 28
KBM - 33

John
Why I Chose It
Was there really any chance this didn't make the list? To date probably the most mainstream movie focusing on gay characters... ever. I mean, this has everything. Extremely popular and respected actors? Check. Widespread and acclaim and award recognition? Check. Controversy over the movie potentially losing those awards because of its subject matter? Check. Deep exploration of sexuality; the struggles of being homosexual/bisexual juxtaposed with the undeniable passion of finding someone is truly and fully yours? Check. Enormous impact on the culture of the time and longstanding impact on the genre for decades to come? Absolutely.

What I Thought
Legitimately one of my favorite movies. Probably my favorite romance of all time if I really sit down and think about it. It helps that two of my favorite actors are the leads, and they both give incredible performances here. Neither of them ever feels like a stereotype. Ennis is a family man, who's hesitant to accept his sexuality and deeply cares for the people in his life, even as he ultimately hurts them. Jack is emotional and lustful, and while he knows what he wants, he's still insecure about his manhood. Their relationship is incredible and powerful, and the film is heartbreaking. It was one of the first films to ever make me cry.

Charon
(no write-up submitted)

Snake
I remember, growing up, that this was the first really big "gay" movie I had seen become relevant in mainstream popular culture. I definitely did not understand it at the time, but still it brought my attention to differing sexualites I had otherwise not seen or heard of before. And, I'm sure that was true for a lot of people, maybe even older than me. I know I'm saying this a lot through out these rankings & write-ups, but the characters here are so well-textured and brought to life magnificently by Ledger & Gyllenhaal, really two of the best actors to ever grace the silver screen. I love how it subverts all sorts of tropes & rules, especially in regards to Westerns, how Ledger acts in the presence of Gyllenhaal when compared to other characters, and just haunting little touches like Ledger hugging Jack's shirt after the latter's unfortunate death. Not a single precious moment is wasted, the film is absolutely touching and gut-wrenching, it's a true classic of our modern age.

Gen
Sexuality can be complex, and no film on this list better portrays this sentiment than Brokeback Mountain. These cowboys that develop a deep bond which quickly evolves into an intense friendship and finally into a passionate romance, but half of this duo contends to the very notion of their relationship due to societal pressure and a childhood trauma. They both end up leading double lives where they love the people they've chosen to wed, but said love is without fervor, essentially platonic, and the only time they are free to love each other is on the mountain or on "fishing trips". It's complicated and yet it doesn't have to be, but it's made so by the fact that Ennis would rather lie to himself than about what he is. Jack is a more honest to himself, which may or may not have gotten him into trouble and I like that his demise is left up to debate. The power struggle Jack goes through with his father-in-law over how he raises his family is a great parallel to the internal struggle Ennis goes through to accept himself, and Ledger and Gyllenhaal have a very believable chemistry together that makes this an easily digestible watch.

Metal
Hits its notes in broadly slow and predictable, albeit distinctly effective fashion for a romantic epic: finding, then longing, then reunion and a slow descent into tragedy. Its key actors performances and its technical aspects alike excel, enabling a lived-in, yet universal story. In particular, the last 15 minutes or so affected me.

Karo
The famous tale of two ranch hands alone on a remote mountain who discover some things about themselves that
gives new meaning to the term 'ride em, cowboy'.
It is refreshing to break the mold of gay stereotypes, but it feels a little overly drawn out from what is really
necessary to tell a story about their relationship.
It is still a very good movie, but the plot just needed a bit more giddyup in its step to be truly outstanding.

Score: 80/100

Jona
I wasnt too big of a fan of how the romance is built up despite the main characters chemistry. I just
found that part kinda dull. I was a fan of the aftermath though where they try and go back to their
separate lives but things dont work out. The climax of the movie is a great scene helped by the great
performances of Ledger and Gyllenhaal. While Im not that big on the movie compared to other people,
its still really solid.

Inviso
This might be a bit biased, but I LOVED Crash. And for about fifteen years now, Ive heard a
constant deluge of criticisms about the Academy voting wrong and Crash being a shitty choice,
and Brokeback Mountain was robbed. And now Ive watched Brokeback Mountain, and I am
just so thankful Crash won the Oscar. Because Crash was fun. Crash was interesting. This was
a bland melodrama with washed out coloration. Dont get me wrongI think Heath Ledger
(who is DEFINITELY Heath Ledger this time) and Jake Gyllenhall do an amazing job of
portraying the struggles of two men in a traditionally masculine societal role, trying to cope with
and hide from their homosexuality. But its justthis movie did not appeal to me. It was just
too slow and too boring, and I dont know how else to describe it. The relationship between the
main character grows and deteriorates, as do their other relationships, but its just not enough to
get me invested in their story. Give me Crash any day.

KBM
An undeniable pop culture milestone, I have a lot more respect for Ang Lee's
romantic Western epic than I do actual liking. Taken on its own merits as a movie, I
find Brokeback Mountain overlong and repetitive for the most part, although the acting
is great across the board, and the cinematography and the music are beautiful. It
would just be so easy to trim half an hour or more from this and improve the pacing
significantly, without losing any of the potency of the love story. I definitely appreciate
the impact it had in enabling queer cinema to become more mainstream, at least in
the US, but just on its own, this has never been one of my favorites, sorry.


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6. Milk
Total score: 111

Charon - 2
Inviso - 2
Karo - 7
John - 5
Jona - 9
Gen - 11
Metal - 17
Snake - 29
KBM - 29

Charon
(no write-up submitted)

Inviso
I didnt cry at the end of this movie, but I certainly teared up for it. This was a fascinating movie
to watch, because in this country, we obviously put Martin Luther King Jr. up on a pedestal as
the face of civil rights. Or Susan B. Anthony as the face of womens rights. But prior to this
film (Id never seen it before this watchthrough, but the films existence made me aware of the
origins of the gay rights movement), I had never really had a face to place upon the gay rights
movement. And admittedly, Im sure that Harvey Milk was not the paragon of purity and virtue
showcased by Sean Penns performance, but Ill be damned if doesnt fill me with pride to know
that someone was fighting as hard as he did, back in the 70s, for people like me to live a happier
and safer life. It helps that Im a fan of political machinations and the narrative of a successful
campaign. That scene where theyre tabulating the votes on prop 6 was so tense, and it just
turned into a joyous occasion. Overall, the film just kept me enthralled all the way through, and
it was a great way to introduce such an important figure in the history of gay rights in America.

Karo
A fascinating look into the early days of the gay rights movement, as well as San Francisco municipal politics,
which is apparently a lot more gangsta than you would expect.
Basically it follows Harvey Milk in his bid to be the first openly gay man elected to public office in california up
until his eventual assassination, and remains very interesting throughout. It's just a very good movie.

Score: 83/100

John
Why I Chose It
Because Harvey Milk is easily one of the most important and influential figures the gay community has ever had. The efforts he made back in the 70s have remained relevant throughout the last 50 years and the weight of his tragic murder (that he himself foresaw) is still felt to this day. The film itself is notable for doing a great job portraying his role in the culture, directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) and earning Sean Penn his second Oscar of the decade.

What I Thought
Milk is one of the best biopics I've ever seen. Sean Penn just completely nails this in such a way that I remember actually cheering back when I watched him win the Best Actor Oscar. The film is an inspiration, helped greatly because Harvey Milk himself is just such an inspiration. The people are well represented, the growth of the gay community is joyous to watch, and yet it boldly puts his murder front and center right from the beginning, so the inevitable dread that comes from knowing the end of his story is always there, even as I watched with glee over each success. Over a decade since my first watch of this and the ending still makes me cry.

Jona
Usually political drama isnt my thing but I was intrigued by this movie. I was invested in Harvey Milks
political journey as he fought for the rights of the gay community, who in the future would be a big
fanbase of AJ Styles. I just thought this was really good.

Gen
Many films on this list made me emotional, but Milk was the only one that made me openly shed tears. Part of this is due to knowing it's based on a true story, but as that applies to other films on the list that also end tragically or feature traumatic moments I'll have to chalk the rest of it up to an electric performance by Sean Penn and a very believable albeit contemptible supporting role by Josh Brolin. As for the hero behind this story I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to put his activism first over his own relationships and all at so much risk to himself. I couldn't be the voice of a community so I have all the more respect for the people who are brave enough to stand up for what they know is right. Also Anita Bryant sucks oranges. That is all.

Metal
Youre in for a consistently watchable, but only intermittently electric dramatization of an important figure from the history of the eternal battle for human rights and the major fights he fought when you choose Milk. Gus Van Sants direction and Dustin Lance Blacks script help by teasing out moments of observational wit and humanity. Alas, those arent quite enough to truly set their movie apart from the manner of a typical Hollywood biopic now that typical Hollywood biopics have dropped their old obsession with chronologically chronicling their subjects entire lives.

Snake
An important story, but a merely serviceable biopic anchored by a good performance. It definitely works as this sort of character study but honestly I found the direction mostly flat and the pace of the film really dragged for me.

KBM
This is, like, the quintessential pretty good biopic. Sean Penn gives a strong
performance as Harvey Milk (although I'm still mad Mickey Rourke didn't win Best
Actor that year for The Wrestler), Josh Brolin is great as his eventual killer, and the
script, while pretty standard fare structurally, is brought to life ably by Gus Van Sant. I
don't really have that much to say about this one; it's a good movie that was timely in
2008, and while it's not one of my favorites, I certainly get why it's as well-liked as it is.


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Outlier Ranking
Snake - 355
Metal - 323
KBM - 306
JONA - 303
Inviso - 278
Johnbobb - 265
PrinceKaro - 234
Gen - 221
Charon - 195

With only 5 rankings left, do Snake and Charon have their endspots in lock? Probably!

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5. I Love You Philip Morris
Total score: 110

Charon - 4
Snake - 9
Jona - 10
Gen - 10
Karo - 10
Inviso - 13
Metal - 14
John - 17
KBM - 23

Charon
(no write-up submitted)

Snake
One of the few straight comedies on the list I actually thought was extremely funny. This is one of Jim Carrey's more underrated performances, and I thought every part of his character was flawlessly executed, from his wild early life, to especially in his prison breaks and turbulent romance with Phillip Morris. It's light-hearted & fun but can have it's emotional punches, especially in regards to Jimmy, dying of AIDS. It's surprising but accessible and I just think it's great.

Jona
The dark humor just worked really well for me. It mixed oddly well with the more touching and romantic
moments. Its just really fun seeing Jim Carreys character get away with as much as he can.

Gen
I simply cannot imagine a different actor pulling off this role with aplomb. Jim Carrey's portrayal of actual con artist Steven Jay Russell in I Love You Phillip Morris is as hilarious as it is compelling. The lengths he goes to simply to continue to live in the manner "to which [his boyfriends] have become accustomed" despite neither Jimmy nor Phillip having ever explicitly stated they wanted such a lavish lifestyle is absolutely ridiculous and it's wild to watch him justify his many crimes. Ewan Mcgregor is also fantastic as the mild mannered unwitting accomplice to Steven's escapades. Their playful flirtatious chemistry makes them an adorable couple despite their relationship being built upon a foundation of lies, and, as much as I'd sympathized with him prior to this point, it's strangely satisfying to watch Jimmy's karma catch up to him to the point where the man he's obsessed with wants nothing more to do with him and his dishonesty. That penultimate con that he pulls to see Phillip "one more time" had me rolling. This is a man who would clearly stop at nothing to be with his self-proclaimed soulmate even if said mate hates his guts!

Karo
A romance between two prison inmates leads to hilarity as the worlds greatest conman cons his way out of prison
multiple times.
Though overall this is a very tolerable performance by Jim Carrey standards, my god the man cannot do romantic
scenes. His facial expressions are less 'I love you' and more 'I want to chop you up into little pieces and add to the
kidney collection in my fridge'

Still it is quite entertaining and it kept me interested just to see what crazy shit Steven was gonna do next.
Score: 80/100

Inviso
Honestly? The one thing I think holds this movie back from being a truly great film is Jim
Carreys comedic performance. I think he does a great job in the serious scenesspecifically
the scene where hes with Jimmy in the hospital and Jimmy is dying of AIDS. But whenever the
movie is meant to be funny, his performance is just too wacky and Jim Carrey-esque to take
seriously. And I get that thats the point, but you could, theoretically, have a comedic character
whos just witty and charming (hell, Leo did it in a similar role in Catch Me If You Can),
which makes the tonal shift between those serious scenes and the comedic scenes just utterly
bizarre. Its still a fun movie, if only because its tenuously based on a true story, and stories
about con men executing their elaborate cons are often really, really good. But I just wish either
someone else was in the lead role, or Jim Carrey shifted his comedic stylings to fit the role better.

Metal
Enduring time with this fairly middlebrow and slightly risky but not necessarily unenjoyable Jim Carrey vehicle as it zips merrily between interconnected milieus is not such a difficult task for most of its runtime. However, its the entire ending stretch that turns the film into something to be relished, upping the ante to the last logical frontier while sticking the most fitting possible bow on its prior events. For me, that stretch confirmed it as simultaneously a capital comedy and a chronicle of certain core truths of the human experience, ones which an ordinary funny movie wouldnt have made me think about.

John
Why I Chose It
In a list full of tragic, depressing "based on a true story" films, it's just nice to get in one of the more ridiculous, off-the-wall (mostly) true stories about a gay conman constantly on the run. It's a rare example of a mainstream film that's about gay relationships without focusing primarily on the gay aspect, and on top of that took the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film.

What I Thought
I saw this years ago when it came out, and thought it was fine but mostly forgot about it. Rewatching it again for this list, I had a much better appreciation for it. It's fast-paced and never boring for a moment. Kinda like a more flamboyant Catch Me If You Can. Carrey and McGregor are a surprisingly great pair, and the fact that it's a true story just makes the whole thing that much ebtter.

KBM
A black comedy that's better than its reputation suggests, I Love You, Phillip Morris is
certainly not perfect it's got yet another example of unnecessary voice-over
narration, which is a well-established pet peeve of mine, and it definitely loses a few
points for its rather glib, jokey depiction of implied prison rape. However, by and large,
it's carried by a very funny, charming performance from Jim Carrey and his
undeniable chemistry with Ewan McGregor. They're much more tender and loving
with each other than you often see with straight male actors playing romantic leads
across from each other, and that's definitely nice to see and speaks well of them as
actors. Once we really get into the thick of the film, with Steven Russell's numerous
prison escapes and crazy schemes (including faking his own death of AIDS
complications), it's really just a lot of wacky fun.


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4. Philadelphia
Total score: 105

Inviso - 1
Metal - 3
Charon - 5
Gen - 6
Jona - 12
KBM - 14
Snake - 18
Karo - 20
John - 26

Inviso
Even outside of the context of this list, I would say that Philadelphia is just a stunning movie in
terms of the character study of both Andrew Beckett and Joe Miller. I love the fact that Andy is
never portrayed as this paragon of sainthood that you would expect of a rapidly-diminishing
man, fighting for his rights in court. Hes not perfect. Hes a good guy, but as the defense points
out, hes unfaithful to his partner, which proves to be his fatal flaw. Between meeting his family,
meeting his friends, seeing home movies, and just generally watching him deal with everyday
life, Andy is just a real person going through some extremely difficult times. By the end of the
movie, when hes dying in the hospital, I was in tears. Just watching his family, one-by-one, say
goodnight with the knowledge that they were really saying goodbyeits tough and emotional to
get through.

Meanwhile, Joe Miller is almost the audience avatar. Im assuming in 1993, the attitudes
towards homosexuality were very similar to how they were portrayed in the movie. And Joe is
operating out of fear, off of inaccurate information that leads to him marginalizing a fellow
human being and discriminating him because of that fear. Throughout the movie, yes, he grows
to be more respectful towards homosexuality, but hes still rather coarse in his attitude. Its not
perfect, and hes not like, miraculously cured of his homophobia. But just having that small
change feels big in the context of society as a whole. The same goes for Andy winning his court
case in the first place. Its all just nice and touching overall.

Metal
Im not crying, youre crying.

Charon
(no write-up submitted)

Gen
I am aware that Philadelphia is a very groundbreaking and influential film for its time, but that's not the reason I've placed it this high and in fact I do think its themes are a bit heavy-handed in this day and age. However it is brilliantly acted by its two leads and does highlight a once highly misunderstood disease in a manner that paints AIDS victims as ordinary people to be sympathized with not scorned. That said it is difficult to stomach Miller's earlier interactions with Beckett and his homophobia in general is rather deplorable. I understand that the two of them bonded over facing discrimination from different sources, but that doesn't make it any easier to watch. The court proceedings are very entertaining and almost singlehandedly save this movie for me. Washington and Hanks go all out as is to be expected, and it's rewarding to see them overcome a gross injustice together. As an aside, that one juror who disagreed with the verdict can go to hell along with four of the board directors of Beckett's law firm.

Jona
This movie is really carried by the performances by Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Its
heartbreaking seeing Tom Hankss characters condition gets worse throughout the movie and how he
gets treated by his employees. Its also great to see Denzel Washingtons character develop and show
him overcome his prejudice. The movies kinda simple but its effective thanks to the engaging
characters and plot.

KBM
In rewatching Philadelphia for this list, a movie I was only lukewarm on when I first
saw it over a decade ago, I was struck by just how potent I found it this time around.
Tom Hanks is obviously exceptional here, but what really struck me this time was just
how beautifully constructed, how lovingly crafted this movie is. Nowhere is this more
exemplified than in the tearjerker of a scene where Hanks is listening to an opera
record and describing the music to Denzel Washington a scene that, with a less
capable director than Jonathan Demme, with lesser actors, might have come across
as melodramatic, but turns out to be incredibly moving. That's really the story of this
whole movie could have been too melodramatic in lesser hands, especially given a
somewhat formulaic screenplay, but the execution really turns this into something
special, and makes this 27-year-old movie still resonate today.

Snake
Hard-hitting performances from both Hanks & Washington makes this film an absolute triumph. It does not shy away from the pure paranoia & prejudice others feel when around people they don't understand, and that goes for AIDS or anything else that may make an individual different to the "norms" of society. I tell you it almost brought me to tears.

Karo
A lawyer fired for having aids sues his old old firm with the help of a homophobic attorney in what turns out to be a
pretty good courtroom drama.
It focuses on the dual stories of one lawyer confronting his bosses and the other lawyer confronting his bigotry, and
while it is a little too melodramatic in places, but it is still a powerful movie and a good watch.

Score: 68/100

John
Why I Chose It
One of the first mainstream American movies to tackle widespread homophobia, as well as the fear of HIV/AIDS and the discrimination that went hand-in-hand with it. With Hanks giving one of his all-time most praised performances as the lead, it wasn't an easy film to ignore, and its inspiration taken from real-world court cases about AIDS discrimination presented a terrible problem to large audiences.

What I Thought
By today's standards, this seems tame and grounded, to the point that it's difficult to look at it through the lenses of 27 years ago, when this movie was absolutely necessary. The performances across the board are decent, with Tom Hanks SHOCKINGLY being a very good actor for the 100th goddamn time. It is unfortunately kinda dull, as courtroom dramas often can be (at least in my experience) and not a lot is memorable beyond Hanks himself


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Outlier Ranking
Snake - 373
KBM - 334
Metal - 333
JONA - 316
Johnbobb - 299
Inviso - 289
PrinceKaro - 255
Gen - 228
Charon - 197

Very little movement left as most spots are just about locked in, though we do see KBM finally knock Metal out of 2nd place!

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3. Moonlight
Total score: 98

Jona - 1
Metal - 1
KBM - 2
Karo - 8
John - 9
Gen - 14
Snake - 20
Inviso - 21
Charon - 22

Jona
Moonlight deserves all of the praise it gets. No part feels too short or too long and help convey how
Chirons character has developed and what his state of mind is. The movie makes Chiron feel so
relatable which really helps when the setting and social environment feel so real. There is just so much
weight when it comes to the conversations and actions in the movie. Despite the movie not having a
plot, it doesnt feel like time is being wasted. The performances and the cinematography are also top-
notch. Just phenomenal.

Metal
Never did I think Id see the day Id want to rewatch Moonlight after my first time through, as much as I appreciated it back then - so naturally, I was worried about how it would hold up. However, it actually shined brighter for me this time, uniquely leaving even my thoughts behind in a stunned silence as the credits rolled and for quite a while after. Above all else, I credit its effectiveness to its dramatic, cinematographic, and musical economy. I could wax poetic about all the other reasons Moonlight is the film it is, but Im scarcely inclined towards rote repetition of the sentiments much better writers have expressed long before I ever could.

KBM
It is a crying shame that the narrative surrounding this film has been reduced to the
Oscar fuck-up (as incredible as said fuckup was). Don't get me wrong, I loved La La
Land, but I was delighted when this won Best Picture instead. Moonlight is a tender,
beautiful labor of love from Barry Jenkins, a masterwork of cinematography, directing,
writing, acting, music basically everything comes together to create just an instant
cinematic classic. I do think as time passes this is one that will stand the test of time.
In fact, this is one of the few films on this list that, if anything, I thought could have
stood to be a bit longer. But it's also clear that this is a film where every single scene
was so carefully considered, that perhaps adding anything to it would detract from its
overall power. This tale of of a gay Black man in Miami growing up from childhood
into adulthood and learning to accept himself just has such a power to it that I almost
can't imagine it NOT being remembered as one of the all-time great Best Picture
winners well into the future.

Karo
A three stage film that focuses on the difficulty of a young gay man growing up in the hood and the bullying he
receives from just about everyone including his mom.
Chiron is a very compelling character, someone who just wants to be himself when the world around him wants
him to be a big tough gangsta and pushes him until he finally loses a part of himself.
The finale is very sweet and I am glad to see at least a few of the characters in these movies got something
resembling a happy ending.
It might not be quite deserving of its upset best picture win, but damn if this is still not some good shit.

Score: 82/100

John
Why I Chose It
One of the most notable LGBT films of the last few years due to its huge Oscar upset and controversy, following the life of a young man as he grows older, discovering his sense of self along the way. To write off Moonlight assimply the "story of a gay man" is a mistake, as Barry Jenkins' film tackles every sense of Chiron's identity; his sexuality, race, masculinity, poverty, social status, and his troubles with the police, his classmates, his mother and his chosen families. Moonlight is commonly considered one of the best films to come out in the last few years.

What I Thought
One of the few Best Picture winners of the last decade to actually deserve the award. The film focuses its entire runtime to the development of its main character, and does so to incredible effect. Little/Chiron/Black is portrayed excellently from beginning to end, and you get an intimate look at every aspect of his life. His sexuality obviously, but also how he identifies with his race, his community, his family, and his sense of self. (Editor's note: I forgot that I covered most of this stuff in my write-up because I wrote up the "Why I Chose It" while posting this update)

Gen
Having always been interested in watching Moonlight, but not getting around to it until this project I must say it was well worth the wait. Not only is it an incredibly nuanced experience with many strong themes, but it's gorgeous to look at. The juxtaposition of the gritty inner city and its torn up streets against idyllic beaches makes for a stark contrast that fits the two conflicting aspects of Chiron's nature: the faade he constructs in order to appear masculine in front of his peers, and the more honest identity that he keeps suppressed in order to conform to the first. Throughout the film there's this undercurrent of toxic masculinity that follows and oppresses Chiron, from being bullied as a child by his peers due to "the way he walks" to having to undergo a beating led his peer-pressured best friend. Ultimately Chiron clings to this false perception of what it means to be a man by societal standards, but though it's brought him respect and acceptance it cannot bring him happiness.

Snake
A painfully pure exploration of poverty & individuality, a narrative at once meaningful & complex but also a painfully real truth for many across the country. Seeing what Chiron has to go through at all points in his life structures the film around a cycle of hatred, and it sucks to but to see that splayed out for all to see is important on our perspective's as human beings.


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Inviso
Moonlight is essentially three vignettes told about the life of a single boy-turned-man over the
course of his life. The first is good: its the story of a little kid whos an outcast and gets bullied
over accusations of homosexuality. He meets a drug dealer who takes him in and serves as a
much-needed father figure, and I liked that characterization. The second vignette is even better
in my opinion: Little has grown up into Chiron, and hes still dealing with his bulliesonly
now the threats are more real and more dangerous. His mothers descent into drug addiction
makes his home life terrible, his father-figure is dead, and his best friend shares a sexual
encounter with him, only to beat him up soon after at the whims of his bullies. All of this is
intense and interesting to watch, ending with Chiron getting his bully back and beating the shit
out of him with a wooden chair. Very satisfying, that scene was. Unfortunately, the third and
final vignette is the weakest of the three: Chiron is an adult and hes a drug dealer and his life is
relatively smooth. The whole third act is very slow and plodding, without any of the conflict or
drama of the first two, and it justthe movie loses a lot of steam at the end, which is not where
you want your story to be losing steam. So its two thirds good, one third boring I guess.

Charon
We watched this very early in the project, perhaps even first? I'm not sure, but I remember my very first thought after seeing this movie: "Wow... I'm a little disappointed". I'd heard of this movie obviously and the accolades/awards it had received, so I expected this for sure to be a heavy hitter on my list. It has all the things going for it I usually would be keen on; it's modern, it was well received by critics and audiences alike and broke new ground in terms of casting. That said... I just couldn't get into this. In the opening act I was for sure though, but unfortunately I feel like every act after that fell in terms of enjoyment. I liked the relationship between Chiron and Juan a lot, and was severely disappointed when his character died off screen. I expected this character to be in most of, if not all, of the movie and then suddenly he's gone. Act 2 wasn't bad or anything, but again I feel like they introduced plot elements that ultimately went nowhere. The story is about Chiron sure, but when you introduce important cast members (in this case the bully Terrel) you expect them to have a lasting part in the film. Sadly again, this character was gone by the end of the act. The thing about this movie is that Chiron is really only interesting to me when he has another character to play off of. Whether it was the father he never had or a school bully, his interactions with these characters were the best parts of the film, not his "romance" with Kevin. I just never was very interested in that and I don't really feel they built it very well. Very unsatisfied with the person Chiron became as well; again, it's like the first two acts meant nothing and they forced him to become a drug dealer because he's black and that's all he could know. Just didn't like that take; this was a character who could have learned something from the way he grew up and escaped that life.


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2. Black Swan
Total score: 95

Snake - 2
KBM - 3
Jona - 5
John - 6
Gen - 7
Charon - 10
Karo - 16
Inviso - 20
Metal - 26

Snake
A skin-crawlingly good psychological horror character study, in what is probably my favorite performance by Natalie Portman ever. I love all the different layers Aronofsky effortlessly glides through: from Cronenberg style body horror to tackling impostor syndrome and the immense pressures of being in the spotlight & having to perform for others. I find the LGBT themes here equally as compelling, playing into the themes of performance too by making us as a viewer ponder Nina's sexuality in a scarily voyeuristic way, adding a new psychological layer where we become invested in something that shouldn't even be our business. Both the way the film frames its story and by proxy, it's participants, is nothing short of subtle & deserves to be paraded today, even more so than it was released ten years ago, I think.

KBM
Downright iconic; one of the best films from one of my favorite filmmakers, Darren
Aronofsky. This was an instant classic in 2010, and with good reason; it's one of those
movies where the right director met the right script met the right actors, the right
music it just all comes together to create something really intense, special, and
engaging.

Jona
This was a pretty good Perfect Blue remake. Now that I got that joke out of the way, Black Swan is a
great movie in its own right. The atmosphere is dark, moody and intense. The movie was effective at
making me cringe, especially when it came to the scenes regarding toes and nails. The scene with the
black feathers was funny yet off-putting due to how weird the effects looked. Natalie Portmans
performance is great and helped this engaging experience.

John
Why I Chose It
While certainly not the MOST LGBT-centric film on this list, it's important to note that, even a decade ago, cinema was finally starting to move into a spot where different sexualities could be a part of films without that being the entire focus. In addition, the discovery of Nina's sexuality (both for her male director and female co-star) are integrally woven into the progression of the character throughout the film. It definitely caught the attention of many, being Aronofsky's newest acclaimed success and one of the best, most acclaimed performances Natalie Portman had given to that point. It admittedly wasn't without controversy though, and not because of its dark themes, but rather because some accussed it of ripping off 1997's Perfect Blue.

What I Thought
Part of me was hesitant to include this on the list because it is admittedly much more of a horror/thriller than it is an LGBT movie, and I'm sure my love of the film admittedly swayed that judgment call. Natalie Portman is just an amazing actress and I don't think it's ever been proven more than in Black Swan. The film is dark and scary and seductive. I'm always a sucker for unreliable narrators descending into madness (see American Psycho) and there aren't many films that capture that idea this well.

Gen
In my opinion Black Swan does what Thelma could not and delivers a memorably chilling experience in psychological horror. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis completely nail their roles as uptight perfectionist and natural seductress, playing off each other beautifully. Throughout the film you're given hints that Portman's character might not be the most reliable of narrators, but all the foreshadowing couldn't prepare me for the epiphany that the pressure of the lead role itself was inevitably going to be her undoing. It calls the entire film's events into question and makes one wonder how many bizarre occurrences actually happened and how many only happened in Nina's decaying mind.

Charon
(no write-up submitted)

Karo
The story of an overworked ballerina who slowly loses her mind and touch with reality as the stress of an upcoming
big performance starts getting to her.
It is a pretty good movie all around, though it could have done without the silly CGI bits. However there is one big
issue here, that being the film is pretty much just a ripoff of Perfect Blue and the director denies it with the audacity
of Donald Trump pretending inconvenient things don't exist.
'Oh wow yeah I absolutely know who Satoshi Kon is and I even met him once but I totally didnt plagiarize his
movie and just put it in a different setting! Nope, nosiree!'
Classy.

Score: 70/100

Inviso
If the entire movieor even just a more reasonable chunkmaintained the same level of
intensity and intrigue as was on display in the second half of Black Swan, I would rank it so
much higher. Watching Natalie Portmans descent into madness over her lust for the pride and
acclaim of nailing the Swan Queen role was fascinating, and by the end of the film, it was
impossible to tell what was real and what was hallucinated. All of that was great. Unfortunately,
the first half of the movie is EXTREMELY boring. I hit the fifty-minute mark and started
checking the timestamps because I was thinking to myself nothing is happeninghow much
longer is this movie? I just think the film could have done a better job of pacing that first half
so that it wasnt such a slog, while the back half was extremely backloaded.

Metal
A movie thats as effective as it needs to be in artfully depicting its central characters descent into madness and all the pressures and influences contributing to that arc. That wasnt quite enough to truly compensate for its failure to make me feel or care about what I was seeing and hearing, though. I can certainly respect Darren Aronofsky & co. from a distance for their craft, especially since the film could easily have turned pulpy in other hands, a tone that would have ill-suited the material. Yet, perhaps it wouldnt have left me so utterly cold then.


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1. The Talented Mr. Ripley
Total score: 64

John - 1
Gen - 1
Charon - 1
Snake - 3
Jona - 4
Metal - 6
Inviso - 6
KBM - 19
Karo - 23

John
Why I Chose It
Because it was the first film (that I can remember) to really make me question my sexuality. There are plenty of other reasons why it SHOULD be included, such as how it effortlessly weaves Ripley bisexuality into his character's neurosis, as his desire for everyone he comes across slowly turns into obsession and a need to be loved and accepted by them, and ultimately leads to him wreaking havoc and devastation on those around him in an effort to both emotionally and legally defend himself. But why I actually chose it? Because I am a biased person who as a questioning young person long the way Matt Damon longingy stared at a gorgeous Jude Law and found myself encapsulated by a longing desire I didn't fully understand at the time, and to this day, at least 5 watches down, I still adore this movie above most others.

What I Thought
Everything about this film is incredible. Matt Damon gives the best performance of his career here imo, but that's not to say anyone else is lacking. Law, Paltrow, Hoffman, etc. Every piece of this film is placed together with such precision and care. I adore when a film can effortlessly pull off an excellent genre shift. Almost everything about this film feels like it's heading in the direction of complicated forbidden romance, right up until Jude Law gets beaten to death with an oar, immediately diving deep into the thriller that had been slowly building behind Ripley's glasses. I've seen this movie maybe 5 times now, and each time I swear I love it more than the last.

Gen
Immediately upon completion of The Talented Mr. Ripley I had to go back and rewatch some of my favorite scenes. That is the mark of a fantastic film: it stays in your conscience and inspires you to want to relive it over and over again. Tom Ripley is a fascinating character who, at least as I interpreted it, doesn't fall in love with Dickie Greenleaf so much as his wealth and lifestyle. The conflicting nature of his twisted "love" for Dickie and his sense of self-preservation motivate him to commit some heinous crimes, and, using the talents displayed throughout the first act of the film he quickly evolves into the villain of his own story. In the ultimate twist of irony, once Tom develops a far more genuine romance with a different man- one who accepts him for who he thinks he is- Ripley is forced to dispose of Peter to protect his identity thereby eliminating his chance at happiness. I really did think he was going to get away with everything because he had been so clever and lucky up until this point, but thankfully this wasn't entirely the case. Bravo!

Charon
(no write-up submitted)

Snake
A terrifying portrait of a psychopath, played to perfection by Matt Damon. The LGBT themes here are played up more as an obsession by Ripley and play wonderfully into the pathos of his character. Much like American Psycho, I love the clashing of high-society with despicable crimes and there are times when Ripley even rivals Bateman in his tranquil insanity. Once again, bursts of violence punctuate the picture with startling brutality, only accenuating the film's strong themes of attachment, identity, & infidelity.

Jona
Early in the movie its established that theres something not quite right with Mr. Ripley. The movie has
a good sense of anticipation and buildup of when everything will go wrong. During that time, Ripley has
a good dynamic with Dickie. I found the movie to be a pretty exciting thriller once shit goes down. I
loved seeing the different ways Ripley tried to get out of suspicion. The movie definitely has times where
things can be too coincidental, Cate Blanchetts character pretty much exists to make things more hectic
for Ripley, but those moments also made things more exciting. I just loved anticipating what would
happen next.

Metal
Distinct to me most of all for its enthralling, convincing acting from its stacked cast; Toms motivations and psyche in particular are frighteningly real. The principals, most importantly Anthony Minghella, also deserve commendation for properly realizing that a subdued slow burn (musical direction included) can render the drama more compelling even while enhancing the shock factor. If anything, the resulting movie is perhaps a tad too slow, especially early on. The setting is notable in its own right for always being striking but never being the point, hammered in by all the crucial characters being a bunch of expats.

Inviso
Fun fact: I had never seen this movie before, but for some reason I always thought this movie
was Mr. Hollands Opus. Anyway, this was pretty intense. Its like a more violent version of
Catch Me If You Can (admittedly Leo is more charming than Matt Damon). Its just amazing
to watch Tom Ripley weave an intricate web of lies, all starting with an innocent observation
about his college from a borrowed jacket. He joins high society and falls in love with Jude
Laws Dickie Greenleaf, only to start having to kill off victim after victim, as his efforts to
maintain his status snowball out of control. The amazing thing is that, aside from Gwenth
Paltrow not buying his lies, he manages to get away with all of his crimes, yet in the end, he
doesnt get a happy ending. That last moment of subterfuge bites him in the ass, and hes forced
to kill the one person who loves him for himself in order to keep all those plates spinning. Its a
really interesting plot, and even more impressive is how much lying is required to keep one step
ahead of his fate.

KBM
Consistently entertaining and very twisty, this incredibly well-acted thriller is one of
those movies I kind of feel like I need to watch a second time to fully appreciate.
Features one of Matt Damon's best performances, playing against his normal type as
the chameleonic, disturbing Mr. Ripley, and he's surrounded by an incredibly stacked
supporting cast (with the likes of Jude Law, Cate Blanchett, and Philip Seymour
Hoffman) who all bring their A-game. It may be a bit pulpy, but when the execution is
this stylish and engaging, plot contrivances are easy to look past. I can't say I was
completely sold on the ending; there were several points in the preceding 20 minutes
of this film that I thought might have led to a better, more definitive ending, although I
understand that it's based on the first in a series of novels so they kind of had to have
him get away at the end. Still, despite the fact that it's a two-and-a-half-hour movie
that just kind of stops rather than feeling as if it has any real closure, this movie is a
great time and keeps you guessing about what's going to happen right up until those
last moments.

Karo
In a convoluted plot setup, this rich guy sends this dude to europe to befriend his son and convince him to come
home and of course that doesn't fucking work.
The first part of the film is very boring and drags on for what seems an agonizing eternity before Ripley beats his
friend to death with a boat oar and steals his identity and the real movie starts.
As Ripley goes further and further down the rabbit hole and the bodies start piling up, we finally see the salvaging
of the movie, but the excruciating nature of the first hour is never really made up for, and for that reason this is not
something I would ever want to watch again.

Score: 65/100

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Tommy... how's the peeping?
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FINAL Outlier Ranking
Snake - 393
Metal - 364
KBM - 354
Inviso - 330
JONA - 324
Johnbobb - 309
PrinceKaro - 296
Gen - 244
Charon - 214


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Thank you for everyone who participated in the watching and ranking of 40 excellent (and sometimes horrible) movies! It's been a blast to host (for the first time since I joined Gauntlet a few years ago) and I hope to see many of you in future rounds to come!

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Any thoughts about movies you wish had been included? Ones that surprise you? Ones you regret seeing that aren't Another Gay Movie?

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Well one I've mentioned a few times is Nightmare on Elm Street 2, though I definitely get why it wasn't included. For those unaware, it has several subtle homoerotic themes and actually lead actor Mark Patton was a closeted gay at the time and the film negatively affected his mental health because of it. There was a doc about Patton's experiences called Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street released last year.

I was surprised at Black Swan being here, I even planned for that to be in 2010s horror before this but I still enjoyed its inclusion. It was nice to see a doc on here again like sports, lists should do that more (I might included the sleep paralysis doc The Nightmare for example in 2010s horror)

Anyway super fun project with a ton of great movies, I feel like i learned a lot too over the course of it.


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I liked Black Swan but wasn't particularly crazy about it. 7-8/10 film IMO.

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