Worst2First: My Top Ten LGBTQ Films
Worst2First:
My Top Ten LGBTQ Films
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#10
Love, Simon
While it's more socially acceptable to come out as gay, it can still be something extremely difficult for some kids to do, especially when they're still in high school trying to maintain an image. Nick Robinson stars as Simon, a closeted gay teen who secretly longs to be in a relationship, but is afraid to come out to his friends and family for what he thinks would happen negatively. He begins to talk to someone named Blue in his school that's also secretly gay through e-mails, but he's still afraid to open himself up to the possibilities. The first major Hollywood studio film to tackle a gay teenage romance, "Love, Simon" is everything you'd come to expect from the subgenre made popular by John Hughes, filled with humor, heart, and an important lesson about loving yourself for who you are.
#9
Carol
To be considered homosexual in the 1950s was almost unheard of, a time when you still had to be closeted to achieve any sort of success in life. "Carol" tells the story of Carol (played brilliantly by the ever-amazing Cate Blanchett) and Therese (played by Rooney Mara, an underrated actress who always gives 110% in her roles), two women from vastly different ends of the social spectrum, who meet and fall in love in a time where it was forbidden. Carol is a wealthy socialite on the edge of divorce, while Therese is a department store employee and wannabe photographer, and the two women begin a whirlwind love affair that threatens to crumble even before it begins. Director Todd Haynes tells the story with a whispy, almost ethereal feel that makes you feel like you're floating much like the characters do, and thanks to the impeccable performances and natural chemistry between Blanchett and Mara, you'll absolutely fall head over heels in love with these characters and hope that all will work out for the best.
#8
Boy Erased
The church as a whole has pretty much condemned homosexuality and those who label themselves as such, so it's almost impossible for someone in the church to really come out and be themselves due to the stigma they receive. Churches even offer "gay conversion therapy" that's supposed to turn gay kids straight, but moreso than not it affects the teen in negative ways. Lucas Hedges plays Jared, a closeted gay teen whose father (Russell Crowe) is a minister and his mother (Nicole Kidman) is a typical doting minister's wife. When he finally comes out, his father sends him to a gay conversion therapy camp run by Victor Sykes (Joel Edgerton, who also directed), and his encounters there threatens his very soul. Based off the memoirs of Garrard Conley, "Boy Erased" shows the darker side of conversion therapy and the inherent dangers within, delivered with perfection by the talented cast.
#7
Rocketman
Elton John has been an iconic performer for decades, and "Rocketman" pays tribute to the man by telling his story - the highs, lows, and everything in between - in raw reality. Taron Egerton stars as Elton John, as we see his rise to superstardom, his addictions that threatened his life, and especially his unique love life as he enthusiastically embraces his uniqueness. The film highlights his toxic relationship with John Reid and the film really focuses on his relationship that almost took his life, providing a unique, personal look into the man, the myth, and the legend in a film that's wholly as unique as the man himself is.
#6
Milk
#5
Philadelphia
When the AIDS epidemic really struck in the 80s and 90s, people wrongly said it was strictly a gay disease. People diagnosed with AIDS lost their jobs, their families, friends, and everything because of the stigma that was attached to it. "Philadelphia" centers on successful lawyer Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks, winning his first Academy Award for his performance), who's unjustly fired from his firm once they learned he contracted the AIDS virus and was secretly homosexual. Denzel Washington plays Joe Miller, an attorney who takes Beckett's case despite his own homophobia, and learns an important lesson about intolerance. The first major film to tackle the AIDS crisis and the intolerant society about it, "Philadelphia" serves as a powerful, thought-provoking piece of cinema that's still as relevant today as it was then.
#4
Moonlight
Barry Jenkins' revolutionary film "Moonlight" tells the story of young Chiron, an African American youth who grew up with poverty, hopelessness, and violence. The film focuses on Chiron from his childhood, teenage, and adulthood as he struggles with his sexual identity and what he feels like really means to be a "man" as he also struggles with his crack-addicted mother (played with strong intensity by Naomie Harris), and is aided by Juan (Mahershala Ali, in his Oscar-winning role), a drug dealer who teaches Chiron important lessons in life. Through it all he was aided by his best friend, a bond that becomes tighter through the years and offers Chiron a hope for the future. Featuring spellbinding visuals and unique camerawork, "Moonlight" rightfully won the Oscar for Best Picture, shedding a light on the African American gay community and what it really means to be a man.
#3
Brokeback Mountain
The first mainstream homosexual film of the 2000s, Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain" was a critical darling (earning eight Academy Award nominations) as well as a film that really introduced the world to a unique love story. The film centers on Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal), two men in 1963 who fall in love, but due to the climate of the world, can't be together. They each get married to women and start families, but when they reconnect they realize that they can't hide their attraction for each other, despite the fears and prejudices that come with it. Comprising of strong performances and an intelligently written script, the film broke through the mold and helped pave the way for future LGTBQ films to follow.
#2
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Written and directed by Celine Sciamma, "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" tells the story of Marianne (Noemie Merlant), a painter who's tasked with painting the portrait of Heloise (Adele Haenel) for her wedding, but Heloise doesn't want to get married and Marianne has to paint her without her knowledge. Set in France in the late 18th Century, the film showcases these two women who grow as friends and begin a relationship that seems doomed from the start, but you can't help but fall in love with both of them as they face their own fears and uncertain futures together. The film is also beautifully shot in such a way that it feels almost like a painting come to life, with lush colors and visuals that rival the best paintings in the most prestigious museums, as well as not including any music except for one pivotal scene.
#1
Call Me By Your Name
Fully capturing first love and all the highs and lows that come with it, director Luca Guadagnino's "Call Me By Your Name" is the most achingly beautiful love story set to film. Timothee Chalamet stars as Elio, a cocky teenager who lives in Italy and finds himself drawn to his father's American student Oliver (played by Armie Hammer), and as the two spend more time together during the summer, their love story blossoms like the most beautiful flower. The film was beautifully shot with luscious Italian landscapes, with the addition of the compelling compositions of Sufjan Stevens, and brilliantly crafted from the work of Andre Aciman, along with the pitch-perfect performances by Chalamet and Hammer. Then there's a powerful, tear-inducing scene between Chalamet's Elio and Michael Stuhlbarg who plays his father, and the haunting final scene that lingers long after the credits end.
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