Arts & Culture :: Movies

Forever Amber: queer rom-com's cute and complicated

Forever Amber: queer rom-com's cute and complicated

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Nov 17, 2020

Gay filmmaker David Freyne gets personal with his Ireland-set queer rom-com 'Dating Amber.' Set in 1995, two students at a Catholic high school —Eddie, who's gay, and Amber, who's a lesbian— decide to 'date' each other.

BlaQ ArTed filmfest showcases new works by local artists

BlaQ ArTed filmfest showcases new works by local artists

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Nov 15, 2020

Short films by nine Black queer, trans, and nonbinary emerging youth filmmakers will be streamed online, with a drive-in opening night at Oakland's Chabot Space & Science Center.

Mother dearest: 'Stage Mother's familiar tropes

Mother dearest: 'Stage Mother's familiar tropes

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Nov 10, 2020

There's so much familiar territory visited in gay writer/director Thom Fitzgerald's 'Stage Mother' that watching it conjures feelings of déjà vu.

French twists: Gay rights movements and dance moves in 'Proud' and 'Bare'

French twists: Gay rights movements and dance moves in 'Proud' and 'Bare'

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Nov 10, 2020

'Proud' portrays the evolution of a family over three decades, using important gay rights decisions in France as markers for significant events in the character's lives. 'Bare' documents an all-male nude dance created by Thierry Smits in 2016.

The Lawyer: Lithuanian love story

The Lawyer: Lithuanian love story

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Nov 3, 2020

Gay activist and filmmaker Romas Zabarauskas discusses his third film, the intense and passionate 'The Lawyer,' about a bisexual Syrian refugee and his legal advocate.

Political Flix: Election films to engage and enrage

Political Flix: Election films to engage and enrage

  • by Jim Provenzano
  • Nov 1, 2020

While you're waiting for the real election results, which could takes days (or longer), take a gander at some election films. From fictional to biographical, comedic and dramatic to darkly satiric, here's our Dem vs. Repub baker's dozen of movie choices.

Halloween horrors with a queer twist

Halloween horrors with a queer twist

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Oct 27, 2020

In the mood for something spooky? Here are some movies (and a book) you can watch to enhance your Halloween season. All titles have a decidedly queer twist.

A boo-quet of scary movies: Screen Savor's take on 'Spiral,' 'Rent-A-Pal,' 'Followed' and the Dragula crew

A boo-quet of scary movies: Screen Savor's take on 'Spiral,' 'Rent-A-Pal,' 'Followed' and the Dragula crew

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Oct 20, 2020

Three new horror films borrow known tropes with varying results. In 'Spiral,' a gay protagonist couple faces off with some creepy neighbors; also, 'Rent-A-Pal,' 'Followed,' and The Boulet Brothers' 'Dragula: Resurrection' are reviewed.

Fabulous at 50: celebrating the history of the Imperial Council

Fabulous at 50: celebrating the history of the Imperial Council

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Oct 13, 2020

50 Years of Fabulous, Jethro Patalinghug's stirring documentary about the half-century history of the Imperial Council of San Francisco, shows the past five decades of the council's growth and glamorous moments, including founder José Sarria.

Plot for Teacher: Hugh Jackman's school corruption flick gets an A+

Plot for Teacher: Hugh Jackman's school corruption flick gets an A+

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Oct 6, 2020

Based on a true story, 'Bad Education,' the school financial corruption scandal tale, embodies our current political and social condition all too well. The acting and direction make it one of the finest movies of the year.

Tom Dolby: making art and 'The Artist's Wife'

Tom Dolby: making art and 'The Artist's Wife'

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Oct 6, 2020

'The Artist's Wife''s gay writer/director Tom Dolby discusses his new film, as well as his collaborative process in making them.

TV eyes: The Lavender Tube on Trump's 'Covita' act, and SNL's cringeworthy return

TV eyes: The Lavender Tube on Trump's 'Covita' act, and SNL's cringeworthy return

  • by Victoria A. Brownworth
  • Oct 6, 2020

Trump's 'Covita' balcony moment highlights a week of surreal news, and 'Saturday Night Lives's return odd parody of the presidential debate wasn't as bizarre as the real one.

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Sep 29, 2020

Virtually every issue of importance about what it means to live a life and to be a human being, was concentrated in Oliver Sack's unusual life story, says director Ric Burns of his new documentary about the gay neurologist and best-selling author.

The Boys in the Band: Tony nominee Robin de Jesus on his role in the new stage and film adaptations

The Boys in the Band: Tony nominee Robin de Jesus on his role in the new stage and film adaptations

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Sep 29, 2020

Robin de Jesus, who plays Emory in both the recent stage and new film adaptations of Mart Crowley's groundbreaking play, discusses portraying a joyful "flamboyant, effeminate queen."