#45 - Imagine Me and You

Ohh, Imagine Me and You. What to say about this movie? Well, I should start off by saying that this is neither the first time that I've seen this movie, nor would I think that this is it the first time that you readers have heard of this movie. It's on those movies that is usually mentioned as one of the better known, queer films,. Then again, it has Piper Perabo (Lost and Delirious) in it, so how could it not be mentioned?!

I'll start off by saying, that it's not one of my favorite movies. Time and time again, I fail to see why lesbians love this movie to pieces. I won't lie - it is a good movie, and it is heartwarming, but it's not memorable. You don't fall in love with any of the characters, you may feel for them, but honestly, this movie just feels like it tries too hard to be a good romantic comedy.

Summary:

Rachel is getting married to Heck. On the day of her wedding, she feels an unexplicable attraction to Luce, the female gay florist. After the wedding, she befriends Luce (invites her to dinner, etc) in the hopes of setting her up with Cooper, Heck's friend. However, sparks fly between the two ladies, and although neither of them do anything about it, you can tell that there is an attraction. The next day, she learns that Luce is gay, and is now even more interested in learning about Luce, and begins to do some "research" on lesbians on her own (cue in the hilarious scene at the movie rental place). From here, there is a lot of events that lead up to the romance between the two ladies. I won't give too much away after this, but it's definitely a journey that quite nice to watch. Although there isn't much of a sexual, physical intimacy between the two characters, you definitely get enough emotional intimacy to make up for the loss.

Relationships:

The relationship between Rachel and Luce is one of the sweeter ones that I've seen. They are adorable from the start, and the two actresses definitely had a lot of chemistry. You see why they fall in love, and every time I watch this movie, I always catch something between them that I missed the last time I saw them.

As for all of the relationships in the movie, they all are pretty realistic - as far as romantic comedies go. There are plenty of one liners between all the characters that are just friggen adorable. You are left touched, and at times also pensive.

Characters that were just too unrealistic:

The characters are charming, and completely fleshed out. You definitely understand their motivations and do feel empathy for their situations. While I don't completely agree with all of their actions, I can see why they are made - and I appreciate them for it. I'm also sure many people find the little girl adorable, I however cannot stand her. But, that's a rant for another day.

I think one of the problems with the movie is that everyone is just too friggen nice. Yes, they may be angry every now and then, but they are all together too forgiving. Heck. Really? Come on, you've just found out that your wife has fallen in love with a women, and thats all the emotion that you show? Come on. To quote Paulie "rage more." Then, let's look at Rachel's mom. You have a problem with your daughter's new attraction, but you seem to get over it within a few hours. That's pretty unrealistic, and just downright stupid on behalf of the writer.

I understand the need for a happy ending, but how about some realism, yea?

If you are in love and are watching this movie - you would definitely enjoy the affection between the characters, and the plot in general. I wouldn't recommend this as one of those movies that are going to be a fan favorite, but for a rainy saturday afternoon, this movie hits the spot. For those of you going through a break up, there is some peace to be reached after watching the movie. It's cleansing in a way.

#68 - Producing Adults

So what better way to break this blogger's rut than by reviewing a Finish queer movie from 2004. There's a better way you say? Lies!

So, what to say about this film? Well, Variety does get it right - it was entertaining, and it was also charming, but it also was dark. It is by no means a happy go lucky movie. The themes are indeed for mature audiences. The viewer grows like the characters, even if you are left pretty much frustrated by all of them.

I guess the best way to describe the film is by saying that it was like it captured a group of people in a particular moment in time. There is not a lot of exposition, but that doesn't mean that it's not hard to figure out what is going on in the film. Near the end, there isn't a lot of wrap up, just a lot of things left unsaid, and not entirely resolved for the future. However, this does not detract from the actual film itself. This in itself does make the movie charming and since there is this humane quality to the film, it also makes it easier to forgive that characters for their transgressions, which believe me - there are plenty.

Summary

The film starts off focusing on the long term relationship between Venla and Antero. She finds out that she is pregnant, but soon after miscarries, which wasn't so accidental. This however, has left Venla wanting a child. Meanwhile, that would be the last thing in Antero's mind, especially since he is focusing on his Olympic dreams. A good portion of the movie is spent with both willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that their desires are achieved. The extremes that both characters are willing to go are pretty comical, but on the hand, when one begins to think of the desperation in both of the, one is left feeling sorry for them.

One such extreme lands Venla receiving help from her co-worker, Satu. Here is where the real romance begins. The two women fall in love with each other and try to prevail despite the baggage that both of them carry.

Like I previously mentioned, the ending of the movie does a provide some kind of resolution, but nothing is completely left closed. The audience is left to assume the fate of the characters, albiet it - it is a happy fate.

Criticism

This was a good movie and I don't really have many negative things to say about it. The acting and cinematography were both really great. A small problem I had with the film was the way that men were treated by the film. For most of the movie, they were portrayed as jackasses or idiots. At the end, most do receive a reprieve, and they are shown as multi-dimensional people, but I feel like the damage had already been done.

All in all however, it was a decent movie and I would look into into it and see what you think of it.

#93 - The Secrets (Ha-Sodot)

Oh yes, I have mentioned The Secrets for so long and I have finally gotten to actually writing about it! Excited? I am. Why? Because I effing love this movie. It's so good... in every possible way. But, before I go and gush about this Israeli 2008 gem, I'll give you a bit of background.

The movie centers around Naomi and Michel and their time in a women's Jewish seminary. In the first part of the film there is a lot of tension and disagrements between these two characters, but of course as all movies go - they eventually become friends and lovers. Their story however, is not the central one. Actually, you don't get to any lesbian loving until maybe 2/3rds of the film has passed, and until then, there really isn't any indication that that's where the movie is headed. Most of the movie centers around the two women helping out Anouk, a French woman searching redemption for her sins.

Part of the reason I love this movie is because it goes into so many different aspects. It's neither a movie about two girls who fall in love, nor is it a movie about redemption. It's a movie that incorporates so many different aspects and you're just left completely awestruck by the quality.

The acting was fantastic, as was the script. The movie may have run for 20 minutes too long, but you know what.... that was 20 extra minutes where I got to see Noemi and Michel. Have I mentioned how incredibly beautiful both leading women are? And their interaction with each other? Wow. They were so friggen adorable that I didn't know if I should go "aww" when thinking about their cuteness, or be jealous that I will never be able to reach that level of aww factor with anyone.

Now, don't get me wrong. This is not a happy film. In fact, the ending will have you confused and wanting to go to Avi Nesher herself and demand a better ending. But, that's part of the movie itself. I won't spoil it, but I will say that it's not your traditional lesbian movie. Neither Michel no Noemi die, but that doesn't mean that either of them, as well as the audience, isn't left heartbroken.

Don't watch this movie after a break-up, or if you're feeling vulnerable, but definitely watch this movie. It's so good, and it will leave you haunted for a while.

Casi Divas

I just came back from seeing a special screening of Casi Divas (or roughly translated, Almost Divas/Famous). It's a recent Mexican film that has made it's way to the United States. Casi Divas is a film about a fictional reality show where the contestants are competing to be the next star for a movie. It's a comedy that as times is filmed as a documentary, reality show, absurd comedy, and expose. It follows the lives of 4 of its contestants: Francisca, Ximena, Yesenia, Catalina. They all come from different parts of Mexico and are a bit stereotyped into it.

The best I can describe the movie is that it's a movie about a reality show that does not take itself too seriously but also tries to bring about topics of importance. It touches on a number of topics that are issues in Mexico - kidnapping, racism, homophobia/transphobia, and eating disorders. In fact, each one of the women is the poster child for each of those issues. It's a movie that makes you think about these things, but it doesn't try to be a part of the movement to change any of the problems. In fact, it brings them to light just so that you know they exist. Ximena sums it up perfectly near the end of the movie: "I am who I am."

No one really learns anything in the movie, and many things go back to the same way they were. But, the thing is. The movie doesn't seem to be a movie where the characters is supposed to learn something new. The purpose was to get people to laugh and to make a satire of a few Mexican things - particularly soap operas.

I had my reservations about tagging this under "101 must see..." because no one in the movie a lesbian. Although, at one point you do think one is. In fact, that character, Yesenia turns out to be wtm transgender. Since I do not have a 101 for the trans community, and since Boys Don't Cry is on this list, I add it to this list as well, with hopes that newer updated versions will include it as part of the 101's as well. Because I do think that this is a movie that lesbians should see, or any woman for that matter. It's a movie about women before anything else. These women supported each other, were at times bitches, but did genuinely care about each other (for the most part).

I particularly liked how the topics were treated in the film. Like I said, they weren't added to start a movement or anything, they were added to simply inform the audience that these subjects do exist, and these are things that people have to live and deal with. And when the camera is off, these problems will continue to be there. Juarez is a place in Mexico that is notorious for kidnapping for women trafficking. Anorexia is something that many women deal with. The pressure to be thin knows no borders, and the fact that it does remain hidden for years, and can continue to be concealed is something that is also real. Racism because of how dark you are, even in Mexico, hell, in South America, is also legitimate. The browner you are, the harder it is. And for the homophobia/transphobia, so much has already been said about those issues, and I'm glad that they continue to be talked about.

This movie was a perfect mix of humor and seriousness. It times it was completely absurd, and then you were brought back quickly to reality. Even then, most of the times it was done as a satire. I don't really have anything bad to say about this movie. It was very well done. Even though it was a bit stereotypical, it was done so that you could laugh at the stereotype. And it wasn't done maliciously, for someone who doesn't know much about Mexican culture, it wouldn't give you a negative perspective on it.

As I've said before, I'm very proud of Mexican cinema as of late. They have produced some truly tremendous films, and this is an example of one of them. It was well written, well acted, and well received.

#42 - I Can't Think Straight

Well.....*applause*

I've got to say, I was completely floored by I Can't Think Straight. It was an amazing movie. By now I'm sure you've realized that I'm a huge chick flick fan, be it gay or straight. Not since Saving Face have I finished watching a movie feeling renewed in my belief in love and happiness. I want to tell the world of this great movie, and also tell everyone that I'm gay (which not everyone knows). Yes. It was just that good and inspiring. To give you another comparison, like most people, I too have the Devil Wears Prada on top of the chick flick movie list. After seeing this movie, however, I think we have a new contender.

It could be that I just finished seeing the movie, so I'm on that rush and haven't fully processed the film, but all I can say, is that it was... fantastic. It was funny, it was provocative, it was emotional, and it was bittersweet. It was all things that a chick flick should be, but only to the next level, but it also got you to think. There was a lot of political opinions thrown into the movie by the author/director, but honestly, it added to the realism of the film. It made the characters believable, and gave you a better insight into their depth. For the rest of this post, I will talk about the relationship between Tala/Leyla, then the two characters individually, and then their relationships with their parents.

Relationship:

The chemistry and relationship between Tala and Leyla was fantastic. Like I mentioned in my last post, it doesn't really matter how good the acting is, if the chemistry isn't there... well then it hurts the film. After seeing these two on the screen... well...I just wish they were together in real life! I loved every scene where they were together. They fed off of each other so well, and it made it so that you really believed what you are watching. In fact, I haven't seen a dynamic so well since Lost and Delirious and Saving Face. The intimacy behind the sex scenes was also to die for. While it was provocative and very sensual, it lacked the crudeness of the scenes in Better than Chocolate. The camera work on both of the sex scenes was also well done. Their first time together was well portrayed with just the camera work in itself. The fact that you never really got a full picture, but instead it was a mangle of limbs, lips, and moans made it very believable as a first time between two in-the-closet girls. Their seduction of each other was also...wow....

Characters

What I first must say about all the characters in the movie is that all the characters really represented different sides of the spectrum. Some were controlled by their men, others were rebels, others were just confused, and others were just ... getting by. I could go into each of the characters, but why ruin it! Watch it yourselves, and you'll see!

However, I do want to talk about Leyla and Tala. Both were really at times opposites of each other, and often times I found myself being reminded of the relationship between Noemi and Michel in The Secrets. Tala was very outspoken, open minded, fierce, and very intelligent. There's a reference that she went to Cornell... so shout out! Leyla on the other hand is very shy, reserved, has a strong sense of family expectations, etc. A writer and a business woman... what do you expect? Their development and their feelings were expressed phenomenally in the movie. Their fears, their joys, their love made me fall in the love with the characters and their stories. Watching Leyla coming to terms with her sexuality and facing her fears head on, and becoming stronger for it, and Tala going through her own thing and her own obligations made this movie very thought provoking and brought up my own insecurities and concerns. They were not only validated but also given hope for the future.

Family

Well, what can I really say about the way that family was treated in the movie? Only that it was done superbly! You had the relationships with siblings, mothers, and fathers, and all of them were handled, albeit with a light undertone, quite seriously. The relationship between Leyla and her sister was very nice to see. Her sister was very open minded, and the scene in which she figured out that her sister was hiding something was hilarious! (references were made to K.D. Lang, lesbian literature, and even a book by the director herself). Leyla's coming out to her parents was also very touching and covered a lot of different themes and issues that come up when coming out to family (expectations, disappointment, religion etc). Tala's family dynamic was also interesting to watch. The reactions and actions from her sisters and parents also covered many aspects that are sometimes a part of the coming out experience. Sure, maybe it was too many different kinds of reactions thrown into one, but... sometimes that just has to happen.

Alright! So, I have spoken enough, and if you stuck with me through the end...good for you! Now, go rent/buy/download this movie for yourself and tell me what you think. It was a great movie, and it's ending was definitely part of the positive lesbian movie! It really did leave me smiling.

While you're at it, pick up the soundtrack too. The music used was amazing!

#62 - Nina's Heavenly Delights

Who knew cooking could be so sexy? Well, after watching this Indian/Scottish movie (which made for some awesome accents, albeit a bit difficult to understand at times), I am now a believer.

So I just finished watching Nina's Heavenly Delights (number 3 on the Amazon happy lesbian list, number 62 on the 101 movies to see for lesbians). I've got to say it was a good movie. It had all the elements of one. Great cast, great acting, great script, story line, etc.

Yet, now I must refer to something Nina said at a couple points in the movie when talking about good vs. great cooking - just because a meal has all the ingredients, if the chemistry isn't right, then it won't taste that great. Unfortunately, I must use her own words against her when describing this movie. There was something that was missing. I feel like the chemistry between Nina and her main squeeze was just not... there. They both played their part well, and it wasn't awkward, but I guess it also wasn't very believable. There was no intimacy between them - just a relationship. Don't get me wrong, there were scenes where this was the case. Nina teaching Lisa how to cook, them tasting the food, meeting at the club... all great scenes acted out wonderfully. But there wasn't any chemistry between the actresses. I couldn't believe that the two characters were in the love. It all felt a little empty.

However, that is not the say that in general the movie wasn't that good, or that it didn't leave me smiling. On the contrary, I was laughing, tearing up, fuming, all within a period of 120 minutes.

What I liked about the movie was that the lesbianism wasn't obvious, or at least not the focus of the film for at least 30 minutes into it. Illusions were made of course (Nina left her fiance at the altar before going off to London for a few years), eye contact, side comments Nina's flamboyantly gay friend makes upon her arrival, but if you weren't watching close enough, or didn't know anything about the movie before watching it, you would have been surprised when Nina's orientation came to play.

Nina's love life came second to the bigger story arc. A family getting over a death and also trying to win a competition for the title of best curry restaurant. Nina's love life, and the secrets her brother and sister held were also amusing and in the end tied well together.

I also particularly liked Nina's internal conflict of whether to come out to her family or not to. She had much to lose if she did and if she didn't. And that heartfelt conversation with her friend was one that I'm sure many of us could relate to. I appreciated how the character voiced the fears that are often just left unsaid mainly because it's already pretty obvious as to why the character cannot come out.

(Spoiler ahead)

I did find the ending to be a bit cliche. We've already seen it before in Imagine Me & You and in Saving Face. Lisa leaves Nina because she won't come out, Nina is heartbroken, and then her mother comes to the rescue, gives her the advice, courage, and approval she needs to get her girl back. But then again, it is a nice touch to add. Sure Saving Face did it a bit better, but that's up to the taste of the viewer.

(End of Spoiler)

I've got to say, Nina's Heavenly Delights was heavenly to watch. Like I said, it had all the elements of a really great (chic flick) movie and I really enjoyed it. But in the end, when all the ingredients were in the pot, I think it was just the chemistry that did it in. It wasn't amazing, and it wasn't memorable. However, it was a better movie that others that I've seen and and it's one that people can enjoy and even love (as I am sure that there are some would probably not agree with what I've just said).

So... Buen Provecho!

Fuera de Carta

So, I just finished watching a movie from Spain called Fuera de Carta. It's a movie about an owner of a restaurant who happens to be gay, his matre'de/fag hag that happens to hump everything that moves, and the ex-professional soccer player that moves in right next to them, and the hilarity that ensues. Oh, and I should also mention that the owner, Max, has to also take care of his 15 year old son, and 5 year old daughter who are now under his care after their mother (his ex-wife) dies in the beginning of the move. He has to find a way to balance his in-the-closet boyfriend, insane friend, misbehaving kids, and goals of being rated one of the top restaurants in Spain.

Not the best movie I've seen by a long shot. But it was good enough. It's just a gay chick flick, and since I do love my chick flicks... I'll tolerate it. The acting could have been better, and the writing needed some work, as did the camera angles, but all in all, it was decent. The characters were believable. None of them were particularly good or bad, just... troubled. Which, in itself was a good thing. It made the characters easier to relate to, even if they were frustrating.

I don't know much about gay movies to really compare it to anything else. The only two I've seen other than this one is Quemar las Naves and Brokeback Mountain. Of course I've seen a plethora of lesbian movies...but these are out of my realm of knowledge!

If you're looking for a couple good laughs, zanny story plots and characters...go for it. Don't buy it...just rent it. But a word of caution... even if you are proficient in Spanish, I'd recommend using subtitles. Even for a native speaker...those Spaniards sure talk fast!