ju s t o u t ▼ m arch 2 1 , 1 9 0 7 ▼ 19
Now that
queers are out
and about in
Hollywood,
foreign and
independent
films, isn’t it
time we had
an awards
show?
by Raymond Murray
he queer revolution in film continued unabated this past year with an unprecedented number o f films Hollywood, foreign
and independent productions—that have featured gay, lesbian, bisexual or cross-dressing characters. Although their num
bers were great (in comparison to years past), the film s’ depictions o f queer characters were, if anything, uneven. Few o f the
mainstream films had gay men or lesbians in the lead, preferring simply to add them in “colorful ” supporting roles.
In addition to the big-budget films, there has been an explosion of independently-funded films that delve much deeper—and
infinitely better—into queer issues and concerns. Unfortunately one has to seek out these films, looking fo r them at film festivals;
in short runs mainly at Cinema 21, the Northwest Film Center and the KOIN Center; or on home video. Yet because it is becom
ing the trend to include gay men and lesbians, even fleetingly, in films, it is time to recognize, celebrate and, if need be, condemn
those productions. So put on something festive and pull up a seat fo r the 1997 Queer Academy Awards. The nominees are;
T
B est Q ueer H ouyw ooo F ilm
I t ’ s M y P arty (Randall Kleiser, director)
Gay director Kleiser’s emotionally candid
AIDS drama is both touching and forthright in
depicting two gay men in a complex but loving
relationship.
B ound (Larry and Andy Waehowski, directors)
A heart-pounding thriller about two women
who try to cheat the Mafia out of $2 million,
which depicts its lesbian heroines in the most pul-
satingly erotic and attractive light possible. A land
mark film.
T he B irdcage (Mike Nichols, director)
The Americanized version of the French farce
La Cage aux Folles features two men in a loving,
committed relationship, while the heteros are the
ones with family values problems. A wickedly
—
funny comedy where you can laugh with queers,
not at them.
decides to throw a party before his doctor-assisted
suicide in It's My Party.
T welfth N ight (Trevor Nunn, director)
Shakespeare’s comedy comes alive in this visu
ally striking film which features lots of transsexu
ality, cross-dressing and homoeroticism— enough
to keep all queers interested.
D avid B ow ie , who offers a wacky but delight
ful impersonation of Andy Warhol in Basquiat,
capturing the gawky beauty and trusting nature of
the artist.
B utterfly K iss (Michael Wintcrbottom, direc
tor)
While not universally liked, this shocking les-
bian-as-killer drama offers an unflinching look at
a woman and the bloody road she chooses to take
in looking for her woman.
B est G ay M ale C haracter
m a H ouyw ooo F im
E ric R oberts , as the gay man with AIDS who
J ared H arris , who in I Shift Andy Warhol also
plays Warhol. He looks more like the bewigged
pop icon and also captures, albeit in a different
fashion, the man who shyly led an artistic revolu
tion.
J ohn R itter , as a small-town homosexual
with a heart of gold, although he is also a bit piti
ful due to his inability to come out, in Sling Blade.
Openly gay actor S cott T hompson , who
plays (among other roles) a suburban family man
( O litili ned o il next page