The Prestige's Prestigious films to immerse you

I'm still waiting on that definition of a gay film... I'm only asking because My beautiful launderette is also frequently listed as one of the best British "gay films".

__________________
http://www.last.fm/user/diezelpower/

Aye, I'll echo that: love Frailty. Saw it in the theaters (with Aus/Mom, actually), and really enjoyed it. Got a little goofy around the end, but not too goofy, and the first two-thirds are really fantastic. Great mood, good cast, and a really singular kind of focus -- which is something I value very highly in most films. It paints a genuinely conflicted picture (most of the time, at least) and it rings true in those little ways that help a movie resonate.

So, yeah, I'd highly recommend Frailty.

Oh, I like the dark tinged stuff. BIG fan of Brick, for one. I mentioned Frailty, which I like a lot. Casino Royale is a great Bond film; dark and gritty, which hit the spot after some really goofy Bond films.

__________________

Listed by whom?

Oh, and you'll be waiting a very long time because I ain't in the mood to have to give somebody like you redundant definition of something you clearly have a definition of already. Now that you've failed here, why don't you go and pester somebody else. I'm sure that there are plenty of other peeps you can beat into an argument, if that's what gets you off.

Respect.

Yeah I like the moody setting of the film an all. The slow but graceful pacing definitely adds gravitas. So glad you guys love it as much as I do. I'm thinking I it might have to land a spot in my Top 50. I'll think about that.

Yeah mate, we both have a thing for the dark side of the human psyche . Props to you rating Frailty though. I'm well chuffed about that.

I completely forgot that I had seen Mysterious Skin. Strange as it sounds, I have seen it but couldn't remember it at all. Might have been drunk or something. Yeah, i remember it being quite disturbing.

Oh I don't know. My grandfather told me that that's what they used to call cheese in the RE (Royal Engineers) because that's what the doctor would tell you to eat if you had the runs.

I think it's pretty clear the only reason you're not going to answer my question is because you don't know how or you're afraid you'll end up looking even more stupid then you already have.

Incidentally, I have a very simple definition of a gay film (a film that features gay central characters), but was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and have a discussion on the matter (because I believe there is room for it)....alas...

Frailty did get a nationwide release in the UK at the time cos I remember seeing it at Cineworld, I remember liking it a lot although I haven't seen it since then. Time to have another look!

Mysterious Skin is a very moving film, specially if you've ever been affected by the issues dealt with in the film.

A fine choice, I love this film. I do wish you wouldn't say to 'forget' the gay relationship, though. True, it's not the most important aspect of the film, but that doesn't mean it isn't important to the film or should be forgotten. It makes the film more interesting, to me. Who knows what Frears does or doesn't give a damn about, I spot no theme to his varied body of work (although I'm sure some film student somewhere has found one). But I think it's interesting that he doesn't say 'stop! He's already Asian, lets not make him gay as well, that's too many issues!' making it a film about characters who are more like real people than stereotypes rather than an 'issue' film focussing on one thing. And Hanif Kureishi, the writer, clearly does give a damn about sexuality, but here we're wandering a bit far from the point.

And yeah, Daniel Day Lewis is good in this. But when is he not good?

Oh, I'd like to see this list of gay British films too. It's in my top 5 but to be honest I can't think of many more. Maybe we could get a good list of gay films for the mofo lists section (and Prestige can tell us all why they're not really gay films... )

I think Prestige was referring to Gay films as films that are generally considered to be part of the New Queer Cinema movement. I haven't studied the particular movement as they started it year after mine but i think. I can understand why Prestige doesn't want to answer Adi as it's not particularly constructive attempting a conversation on the subject with him. When he says not a 'gay film' i think he means not considered within the aforementioned movement (Brokeback not necessarily being part as it wasn't independent) or from one of the more prominent auteurs involved with it, who has more of a personal level of involvement with the subject matter.

__________________

Well there's; Another country, Maurice, If..., Beautiful thing, Bent, Sunday bloody Sunday, The crying game, Caravaggio, Edward II, Sebastiane and other Jarman films, A taste of honey, Victim etc...
AfterElton has a really good list of about 40 groundbreaking gay films.

I'm not sure who thinks gay films are only those by filmmakers belonging to this particular film "movement" (if you can call it that). From what I understand, it's a term designed to refer to a string of American independent gay films that started to emerge in the late 80's and early 90's that features an unapologetic and aggressive take on queer subculture. As I've previously pointed out, gay films have been made and continue to be made outside of this "movement". I mean the very title indicates this, New Queer cinema. And in any case, to make any sort of argument you'd have to be familiar with at least some of the films that are categorized as such, which neither of you (apparently) are. What would you deem a constructive conversation on this topic, for me to agree with what you're saying? For me to say yes, Brokeback mountain is NOT a gay film? Seriously now...it's not my problem that the bloke can't find any valid reason for denying either of these films their "gay" prefix. When he was asked to elaborate his views further, he stopped discussing it. :\ See above.

To be honest, if you're considering If... a gay film, then you're attending a pretty broard church.

Ok, that's a bit of a stretch, but it does feature some gay characters which was quite unusual and provocative at the time...

The bit in bold is why this isn't constructive, you've negated the fact that Prestige has said they are gay, when he was describing films as 'gay' (as i assume) he was referring to them being deemed as New Queer Cinema which Brokeback Mountain isn't. I'm not sure if you realise that you fail to take into account what other people say to make your arguments actually have some ground or just chose to ignore them. But it just goes round in circles, you fail to move onto any common ground even when Prestige has agreed that Brokeback Mountain IS is a gay film and continue to hassle him about his original statement:

If you noticed his use of grammar or misinterpreted this (as i said above) he's just saying he didn't feel it was part of the New Queer Cinema not it wasn't a gay film.

Key words:

Forget. Not that it doesn't exist which you seem to have put into his mouth. Followed by him saying this was what struck him the most. Again, not denying that it's there.


Now, we're both ruining his thread about his favourite films. So once and for all.

He has NEVER denied them their 'gay' prefix. And he has NEVER said it is not a gay film.

Stop being anal or just get laid. God knows you need to loosen up and stop putting words in people's mouth.
And there's a few puns there that i'm not going to make as well.

Pyro pretty much took the words right out of my mouth and expressed it in a way I could only hope to. I hope you're reading Adi and reading well. Like he highlighted, calling a film 'gay' is a very loose statement.

All I did was offer my own opinions of the film and came to my own conclusions as to what Ang Lee was trying to say, but you an saw fit to use one small sentence of mine and blow it up to be something that it wasn't. I never denied the gay theme of the film and why would I when it's crystal clear for everybody to see?

I simply felt that the game theme was USED as a SUBTEXT, METAPHOR or whatever to explore male companionship. That's all I said! But you clearly think just because you're gay you have the right to make these absurd and random arguments that have no real genuine goal to them other than to provoke people for no reason.

Face it, Adi...you were looking for ANYTHING related to homosexuality just so you could have a go. But the fact remains buddy that being gay doesn't make your points or thoughts any more valid than a hetrosexuals. Think about that the next time you feel like 'debating'.

OK, actually, I believe this is the appropriate time to have a group hug. If we can all agree that we like some of the same films, why do we have to attack each other for liking those said films? I realize that some people will have to take some deep breaths, but this is as good a play as any.

__________________
It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. - John Wooden
My IMDb page

Jeez, I don't know, Mark. That sounds pretty gay.