film criticism by maryann johanson | since 1997
Alison Nastasi at Cinematical, where I found this, says that Harry Hanrahan has here gathered “some of cinema’s funniest and most profane put-downs.” So, if these are the greatest insults in movie history — and perhaps they are; perhaps they are — it’s distressing to see how many of them are gendered. How is a … more…
I noted recently in connection with the Jim Carrey/Ewan McGregor movie I Love You Phillip Morris, a gay love story starring two straight men, that the writers of the film pointed out that they couldn’t hire gay stars because no one is gay in Hollywood… or at least not out about their sexuality, anyway. It’s … more…
Every week my browser gets cluttered up with tabs for stuff that I stumble across and figure I might be able to use as a Question of the Day or a WTF Thought for the Day or grist for some other post. And inevitably, I end the week with most of that material unused. But … more…
The trailer for Valentine’s Day hides the fact that Bradley Cooper is portraying a gay character. In fact, the trailer goes out of its way to imply that Cooper and Julia Roberts are gettin’ it on. Or perhaps it’s because someone thinks that girls don’t want to see OMG-megahottie Cooper as someone playing for the … more…
It almost doesn’t bear asking, since, clearly, plenty of gay actors have been so convincing as straight characters — which most roles still are, even today — that no one has questioned it: Meredith Baxter, who just came out as a lesbian, was America’s (hetero) mom for years on Family Ties; or Rock Hudson, who … more…
