Arts & Culture :: Movies

Andra Day in 'The United States v. Billie Holiday'

Andra Day in 'The United States v. Billie Holiday'

  • by Cornelius Washington
  • Apr 13, 2021

The queer, Black classic that everyone in the LGBTQ community deserves is here. 'The United States v. Billie Holiday,' as a film, is an indictment, instructional guide and spiritual love letter rolled into one.

Mike Nichols: A Life, celebrated in new biography

Mike Nichols: A Life, celebrated in new biography

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Apr 13, 2021

Written by Mark Harris, the husband of gay playwright Tony Kushner, the new Mike Nichols biography profiles a prickly genius who was a virtuoso observer of others, yet a stranger to himself.

SF Film Festival 2021; a few fave flicks

SF Film Festival 2021; a few fave flicks

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Apr 6, 2021

SFFilm is making big changes to accommodate the pandemic for its 64th Annual San Francisco International Film Festival to be held from April 9-18 that will include primarily online streaming and in-person events at the Fort Mason Flix drive-in theater.

Screen times: Film coverage in the B.A.R. through 50 years, part 2

Screen times: Film coverage in the B.A.R. through 50 years, part 2

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Apr 6, 2021

As the 1990s approached, films began to offer more positive portrayals of LGBTQ people, often as the loyal best friend, with characters beginning to be more fleshed out, having lives rooted in their sexuality but not necessarily ruled only by it.

The B.A.R.'s decades of stars

The B.A.R.'s decades of stars

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Mar 30, 2021

From the beginning, the Bay Area Reporter has covered celebrities, both Broadway and Hollywood stars. many have indeed sat down with us for a chat. There are many such examples in the B.A.R. archives.

Screen times: B.A.R. film coverage through 50 years, part 1

Screen times: B.A.R. film coverage through 50 years, part 1

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Mar 30, 2021

It wasn't until the third issue of the 'Bay Area Reporter' in 1971 that the rationale for having a film section was revealed by its first critic. 100s of film reviews since then have catalogued the rise of indie and mainstream cinematic LGBT depiction.

The Pretender: Fran Lebowitz' Netflix series excavates New York City

The Pretender: Fran Lebowitz' Netflix series excavates New York City

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Mar 23, 2021

There's an unintended poignancy to 'Pretend It's A City,' the new limited-series documentary on Netflix, showcasing author, public speaker, and humorist Fran Lebowitz. Filmed in 2019, it portrays a vibrant Manhattan chock full of people.

San Francisco gay filmmaker takes intimate look at sex

San Francisco gay filmmaker takes intimate look at sex

  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Mar 17, 2021

Sex wasn't a topic of conversation for Alex Liu's Asian American, Roman Catholic family when he was growing up.

Aretha Franklin: Genius - National Geographic series dramatizes the life of The Queen of Soul

Aretha Franklin: Genius - National Geographic series dramatizes the life of The Queen of Soul

  • by Cornelius Washington
  • Mar 16, 2021

Singer-songwriter Aretha Franklin's life and career is dramatized in National Geographic's five-part series, which also serves as a testament to Franklin's talent and determination amid decades of civil rights inroads for Black culture and women in music.

Bay Area Reporter revives YouTube channel

Bay Area Reporter revives YouTube channel

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Mar 14, 2021

In the "better late than never" department, the Bay Area Reporter has revived its YouTube channel in preparation for its April 2021 50th anniversary. The BAR's channel currently consists of playlists, but will soon include original content.

'Your Name Engraved Herein' - Taiwan gay film's hits and misses

'Your Name Engraved Herein' - Taiwan gay film's hits and misses

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Mar 9, 2021

Patrick Liu's film 'Your Name Engraved Herein,' which just started streaming on Netflix this month, profiles a longterm romance between two teens, while reflecting on Taiwan's political changes that led to same-sex marriage legalization.

X marks his spot: autobiography of John Amero, porn pioneer

X marks his spot: autobiography of John Amero, porn pioneer

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Mar 3, 2021

In his newly published memoir, 'American Exxxtasy: My 30-Year Search for a Happy Ending,' gay filmmaker Amero recalls those bygone days with wit, humor and heart.

Sri Lanka queer drama: Shyam Selvadurai & Deepa Mehta's 'Funny Boy'

Sri Lanka queer drama: Shyam Selvadurai & Deepa Mehta's 'Funny Boy'

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Mar 2, 2021

Set in Colombo, Sri Lanka during the mid-1970s and early 1980s, 'Funny Boy,' based on Shyam Selvadurai's acclaimed novel, is timely for a variety of reasons.

Bill Eld's posthumous porn paean

Bill Eld's posthumous porn paean

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Feb 23, 2021

"Big" Bill Eld, one of gay cinema's first porn stars, didn't last long in the business, as director Toby Ross recounts in his ruminative odd 'docudrama.'