Any GOOD gay films?

[stu]

I can recommend all the following films (some are transgender rather than gay)

Another Country
Merry Chirstmas Mr Lawrence
My Beutiful Laundrette
My Own Private Idaho
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Dog Day Afternoon
Boys Don't Cry
XXY

[Tulloni]

Some gay films can be good. But I am weary of some of them. Weekend wasn't bad, got a bit sentimental and soppy towards the end though.

My Own Private Idaho is a good one. Sommersturm (or Summerstorm in English) is a good German film with a deep, meaningful story which avoids too much sex and drug taking. French gay films are a safe bet. I've watched loads I enjoy. Le Clan has a lot of gay themes in it and has multiple storylines involving 3 siblings. It is such an amazing films, if you can bear to read subtitles I'd recommend it. Other French gay films are good. Presque Rien is one to watch. And there's plenty more from France as well. Eurocinema is a good place to start.

Queer as Folk comes from Britain and the British version is surpringly good and memorable. Timeless even. I'd recommend the original over the US version. I liked the US version but it doesn't have the same magic as the original.

[princealbertofb]

In times gone by when truly gay themed films were hard to come by, there was Maurice, by James Ivory.. which was based on E.M. Forster's book of the same name. It's a very beautifully crafted film.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093512/
More recently there has been a spate of gay themed films, some well crafted, some a little more ordinary, but most of them have some knowledge or feeling to impart. My partner and I shared the whole first season of the Australian series : A Place To Call Home, which I would recommend, but it's not just for its gay content (there isn't much)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2258904/
The Showtime tv film Soldier's Girl was also quite moving : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0324013/

Several quality French films, some actually made for tv have hit the "best of" lists.
I can think of this one in particular : Un Amour A Taire http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444518/ a title that would be best translated by A Love To Keep Secret... which takes place during the second world war. Then there's also some of Pedro Almodovar's films : La Mala Educación http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275491/ or his earlier Ley Del Deseo in which a very young Antonion Banderas gets it* for the first time in his life http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093412/
For English films you can always watch the romantic Beautiful Thing http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115640/ or the more challenging Prick Up Your Ears about gay writer Joe Orton http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093776/ . Happy viewing.

P.S. The time-old Victim and Tea And Sympathy still hold their promises. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055597/ & http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049829/

[princealbertofb]

I'll add to the list : Clapham Junction (television film so I had difficulties to find it)

Can only agree, Ekwarph.

[princealbertofb]

One of my favourites is Torch Song Trilogy. It's an older flick, but I still get watery eyes during a couple of the scenes.

Absolutely!! A great choice, Lycanthropist.

[ggugcuuau]

I'd recommend a movie called Strapped (2010), it's a fairly interesting story and well done for a low budget movie

[Ekwarph]

So I'll check out some of those I don't know...

Well, personnaly, I didn't like so much "la Mala Educacion". Found it way too much provocative and easily sensationnal. Isn't boring at all, but thinking of it afterwards, it's "too easy".

[davearoo]

Milk was quite good. (The bio of Harvey Milk.)

[Undreamt]

There is such variety out there, lots of different types of gay movies or movies heavy on gay themes

The broken hearts club - Light hearted / Comedy
But I'm a cheerleader - Light hearted / Comedy (Lesbian)
Behind the candelabra - A biopic about Liberace
Party Monster - Based on a true story of the new york 80's drug/club scene (heavy gay references)
The birdcage - Comedy

[Pix]

I thought this was good (and IMDB 6.8 rating), but I have to warn you that it starts off fun, goes to beautiful, then tragic, and the ending was like a punch in the gut so I've always thought this movie was brilliant and yet I've never been able to watch it again (but I remember much after about 10 years so it really left an impression on me):




If you prefer something not so depressing (however good) I have 2 guilty pleasures...this one is a lot of fun, IMO, though it should be nominated for a "don't bet on it ending" (6.1 IMDB rating):




This one (6.3 rating) is pretty funny, too, though playing on the stereotypes (but of heterosexuals, too) for comedic effect annoys some people:




Naturally these are all focused on lesbians, though the last ones has a mix (but even then it's from the PoV of a girl sent to be "turned straight" where she falls in love with another girl).