Gay romance onscreen - does it look right yet?

[+ friendofsheila]

I remember seeing a gay romantic moment in one of the "Tales of the City" when the Bill Campbell character asks something like "Should I ask you to take me back?" and the Mouse character says "Try me!" and they kiss. Somehow that didn't look natural to me, them "aping" the traditions of hetero romantic screen behavior.

 

Now I watched "I Love You, Phillip Morris" and watched Jim Carrey say sweet things to Ewan MacGregor's face, and totally believing it.

 

Ditto when John Barrowman held hands with and kissed Matt Rippy in "Torchwood". http://www.towleroad.com/2007/01/john_barrowman_.html

 

Has the scripting, or the portrayals gotten better? Or am I becoming an old softie?

[+ deej]

As the Dan Savage video campaign says, IT GETS BETTER.

 

But remember that even portrayals of hetero romance on-screen have always been highly sculpted, and not overly realistic at all times. They're just seen from a bajillion different points of view, over and over again.

 

We'll probably never see those bajillion different points of view. We'll almost certainly not see the repetition. The numbers just aren't there to support it.

 

But it's sure nice to see some effort going into it for a change!

[justaguy]

friendofsheila, you're getting to be an old softie :-)

 

IMO, it is getting better. At the very least there's more of it. I think we appreciate even a small increase in quality because it's still relatively rare. How many bad indie films have we all watched simply because of the gay angle?

[Diverdan]

I saw "I love you Philip Morris" yesterday and was amazed at the graphic scenes in the film! Yes, indeed it does get better, and I thought Carey was outstanding in this film. The audience was very small for an early Sunday afternoon film, but it was in one of the "art house" theaters, and I doubt it will be on the chain theaters list... but progress never the less.

DD

[happyguy2]

I just got home from spending Christmas with my family and I watched Glee with my mother (most tv doesn't fit into my travel life) and there were these two young gay guys singing a christmas type duet (one of the lines is its cold outside while the other guy is singing he has to go) They were so believable ... it was like young love. Did any of you see this - I am not describing it well and I really don't understand the context. I thought the writing was very believable. But, here's what struck me: My conservative mother didn't bat an eyelash - she loved it! Then the next day, sitting in front of the fireplace with my mother and sisters and their husbands, one sister told us she and her husband had attended a gay wedding of two of their friends - again, no one batted an eyelash - and this is real progress compared to what opinions they all had even ten years ago. Do any of you find your families have changed their attitudes too? All this to say, I think productions have changed, but so have viewers. Hope this is relevant.

[+ beethoven]

portrayal of gays

 

I just got home from spending Christmas with my family and I watched Glee with my mother (most tv doesn't fit into my travel life) and there were these two young gay guys singing a christmas type duet (one of the lines is its cold outside while the other guy is singing he has to go) They were so believable ... it was like young love. Did any of you see this - I am not describing it well and I really don't understand the context. I thought the writing was very believable. But, here's what struck me: My conservative mother didn't bat an eyelash - she loved it! Then the next day, sitting in front of the fireplace with my mother and sisters and their husbands, one sister told us she and her husband had attended a gay wedding of two of their friends - again, no one batted an eyelash - and this is real progress compared to what opinions they all had even ten years ago. Do any of you find your families have changed their attitudes too? All this to say, I think productions have changed, but so have viewers. Hope this is relevant.

 

Yes, I think your comments are not only relevant, but important. And thank you for sharing them with us. It IS getting better!!

[Guest DuchessIvanaKizznhugg]

For you happyguy2.

It's posted in the Glee thread, but it's a wonderful example of the increased exposure gay relating is receiving on TV[video=youtube;MTnwv2NN-DI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTnwv2NN-DI

[+ deej]

I watched Glee with my mother (most tv doesn't fit into my travel life) and there were these two young gay guys singing a christmas type duet (one of the lines is its cold outside while the other guy is singing he has to go)

 

I'm a little surprised you haven't heard "Baby it's cold outside" before. It's been pretty much a winter/seasonal staple since it won Frank Loesser an Oscar in 1949.

 

But do pop in on the Glee thread. You'll find a LOT of us follow the show.

[seeker630]

I'm a little surprised you haven't heard "Baby it's cold outside" before. It's been pretty much a winter/seasonal staple since it won Frank Loesser an Oscar in 1949.

 

But do pop in on the Glee thread. You'll find a LOT of us follow the show.

A few weeks ago I heard a version with Frank Sinatra & Cyndi Lauper that I really liked.

 

But the Glee version *was spectacular!

[+ deej]

A few weeks ago I heard a version with Frank Sinatra & Cyndi Lauper that I really liked.

 

But the Glee version *was spectacular!

 

I've heard a lot of them I liked (and a lot I didn't) over the years. The Glee version WAS indeed spectacular, on several levels. (Their holiday album is actually worthy of a place in your collection of kitschy Christmas music. It's good.)

 

The irony of that song is that Loesser wrote it and performed it often with his wife at private parties. She considered it "their" song and was ROYALLY pissed when he sold it to MGM. The ensuing Oscar may have smoothed that over. Stories vary.

[adriano46]

I had seen the GLEE version of this in the preview they ran on YOUTUBE prior to their Christmas Show (reviewed on the GLEE thread), and of course, since it was being sung by Darrin Criss (swoon) I likmed it, but I have to admit, two days later in our local (conservative area) SHOPPING MALL, I was stunned to hear it blared over the loudspeakers as shoppers began their Christmas shopping -- and like happyguy2 said, I looked around, and it seemed everyone was completely oblivious to the fact that this song was being sung by two teenage guys to each other! I smiled and thought, "well, another corner has been turned." -- but wondered what would be the reaction if people saw the video.

 

The video appeared a week later when the actual show aired, and.... hurrah... no negative reaction. So, yes, there are changes. And I see these too on rare episodes of series and films on LOGOS, which seem to show a less stereotyped idea of gay romance.

[happyguy2]

Dearest Duchess, thank you so much for the late Christmas present. Wereen't they great and so cute and believable? A BIG kiss to you, Duchess and Happy New Year!

[Guest ihpguy]

Darren Criss just makes me wet.

[happyguy2]

Can I ask an even dumber question? I don't know either of them. Who is Who? Thanks in advance!

[adriano46]

Here is Darren -- sorry so far no photos of him with no shirt (or less).....

 

http://djhamerabag.blogspot.com/2010/11/spotlight-on-darren-criss-glees-next.html

 

Oops found this not so flattering one from some time ago of him

 

http://shechive.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/eye-candy-darren-criss-16.jpg?w=499&h=755

 

And here is Darren (who is half-Filipino, half-Irish) "at home" over Christmas

 

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2010/12/27/darren-criss-somewhere-over-the-rainbow-in-the-philippines/