Tag: LGBTQ
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Young Adult Matters Review: A Well Performed, but Self-Indulgent Runaway Teen Flick
Movie explained – Despite the glaring flaws present, Young Adult Matters is held together by the performances from Yoo Mi and Hani, who keep the story afloat. Though an interesting story, Young Adult Matters is worth watching solely for these performances. Among its brilliant performances is a messy, self-indulgent, and at times overwhelmingly brutal story…
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Reclaiming Her Body: “Jennifer’s Body” & Why We Need Diverse Storytellers
The height of subversive horror cinema is Jennifer’s Body. No, I will never budge on that. Yes, Cabin in The Woods is funny, Scream is very well made, and the Scary Movie franchise is …. there. But nothing is quite as satisfying as watching the teenage succubus that is Jennifer Check rip apart boys. In…
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“Love, Simon” is a Relatable Film, Transcending Orientation
Love, Simon (2018) based on the book “Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda” (by Becky Albertalli) is a teen LGBTQ+ rom-com with themes of longing to find others with similar struggles, and ultimately is a story of acceptance of identity from those around you, and most importantly, from yourself.
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“She’s Gotta Have It” was Ahead of the Curve in Portrayal of Female Sexuality
In Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It (1986), we follow the love life of powerful female protagonist Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns) and explore the relationship dynamics she has with her partners. She sees three men simultaneously: Greer Childs, (John Canada Terrell) Mars Blackmon (Spike Lee), and Jamie Overstreet (Tommy Redmond Hicks). Though an 80’s…
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Why You Should Know About ‘Welcome to Chechnya’, One of 2020’s Most Thrilling Films
CW: This article discusses forms of LGBTQ+ oppression that may be triggering to many readers. This is a spoiler-free article but it should be known that this film comes with a trigger warning. ‘Welcome to Chechnya’ contains strong violence and real footage of gay bashing. Welcome to Chechnya is a 2020 HBO documentary that explores…
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‘Thelma’ is a Chilling, Hauntingly Beautiful Story of Discovery
Thelma (2017) opens with a startling and chilling scene that perfectly sets the stage for the unnerving, quietly powerful, and hauntingly beautiful story that is about to unfold. A man and a young girl walk through a frozen landscape, hunting. When they stop to shoot a deer, the man, standing behind the girl so she…
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“Imagine Me & You” is a Sweet, if Dated, Rom-Com for the Ages
Imagine Me & You tells the story of Rachel, a newlywed bride who begins to question her sexuality after meeting Luce, an out lesbian who does the floral arrangements for her wedding. As the two begin to develop a closer bond, Rachel finds herself falling for Luce while trying to figure out what this means…
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Margarita with a Straw (2014) Movie Review
Shonali Bose’s Margarita with a Straw (2014) is a moving coming-of-age film. Its journey of discovery and self-love is tender and emotionally fulfilling. It also wrestles with important issues such as disability, inclusion, and sexuality. Unfortunately, its plot feels confused and convoluted at points, its second half lacking in a clear progression of story and…
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Throwback Review: The Dreamy Landscape of ‘My Own Private Idaho’ (1991)
The following review contains spoilers. My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 independent LGBT drama, the third feature film from director Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk). The story follows Mike Waters (River Phoenix), a narcoleptic street hustler in love with his best friend Scott Favor (Keanu Reeves). The film opens with the definition…
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“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”: A Beautiful, Lush Love Story Between Two Women
Portrait of a Lady on Fire, from director Céline Sciamma, tells the story of Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a painter living in eighteenth century France who is tasked with painting a portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a woman who is to be married off soon. Initially painting her in secret, Marianne develops a close bond with…