Many films with gay characters and themes, from the
sanctimonious Philadelphia to the incendiary Cruising, have played in local theaters, but few have caused the
sensation of Brokeback Mountain. Early on it was tagged “the gay-cowboy movie,”
and that seemingly negative label has turned into a marketing goldmine. Now
everyone is talking about this good but slightly overrated film. The basic
story is too inconsequential for the exalted status it has attained. There are certainly better films from 2005, and better
gay-themed films were released last year. Saving
Face (2004), quite frankly, isn’t better
than Brokeback Mountain, but it is entertaining fluff. Writer/director Alice Wu offers a
glimpse into Chinese-American culture in New York through a troubled
mother-daughter relationship. The daughter is a lesbian who hides her new
relationship with another woman from her mom, who is harboring a secret of
her own. Saving Face works best as an examination of the modern challenges facing
old Chinese customs, but Wu’s resolution is too heartwarming to be
real. Mysterious Skin (2004),
from gay filmmaker Gregg Araki, is a shocking story of two teenagers
haunted by traumatic childhood events. Neil was molested by his Little
League coach, and Brian believes that he was abducted by aliens. Araki
follows each story separately while suggesting a possible link. Joseph
Gordon-Levitt is a revelation as the teenage Neil, who is now a gay
hustler. No one could have expected a performance such as this from the kid
from the sitcom Third Rock from the Sun. Araki makes it clear in this bizarre and provocative tale
that the molestation is not the cause of Neil’s homosexuality.
Controversy has always followed Araki, and he really pushes the envelope
here. The child-molestation scenes may not be explicit, but they are very
uncomfortable to watch. Don Roos (The Opposite of
Sex, Bounce), another openly gay filmmaker, gives the subject of
homosexuality normalcy in modern society in his third film Happy Endings (2005). Roos uses
the hyperlink structure to follow separate but interrelated quirky
characters. Critics have committed a crime by ignoring this extraordinary
little film. From its startling opening to its finale, Happy Endings is a brisk, vibrant
comedy that is easily compared with the best of Woody Allen. No one writes
better dialogue than Roos. Brokeback Mountain is the safe gay movie that has crossed over to mainstream
audiences. See it first, then work up to the more challenging films.
New releases on DVD on Tuesday (Jan. 31): Corpse Bride, In Her Shoes, and The Legend of
Zorro.
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2006.
