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Withnail and I

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann, Richard Griffiths, Ralph Brown, Michael Elphick
directed by: Bruce Robinson

September 10, 1997
Written and Directed by Bruce Robinson (who would later go on to make the Uma Thurman movie JENNIFER 8) WITHNAIL & I is a semi-autobiographical black comedy about two struggling actors in Camdenton London during the last months of the 60s. The future is looking rather bleak for Withnail (Richard E. Grant) and I (Paul McGann). Both are out of work and in the midst of drug and alcohol problems. After hitting rock bottom the pair decide to take a peaceful vacation in the country and plan on how to re-establish some direction in their lives before the new decade begins.
However their stay in the country turns out to be anything but tranquil when the boorish, self absorbed Withnail manages to bring out the hostilities of the locals. Both ... Read More:

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Go Fish

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
from: Behaviour Distrib.

January 13, 2004
what a disappointment. this film has a lot of potential - lesbian filmmakers, lesbian actors, good concept, passable script, artful black and white - but just can't deliver in the acting and editing departments. while it's wonderful to see women like us positively depicted onscreen - and there should be more of this - it would be great if they could act, too. the script's witty dialogue, while sometimes a little too preachy and unrealistic, is decimated by the actors' lack of skill. the actors' obvious awareness of the camera is also a big problem, as are the confusing, artsy segues between scenes. the editing also leaves a lot to be desired - many transitions are awkward, making the story feel disjointed. if you wish to support lesbian filmmakers - ... Read More:

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Desert Hearts

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Donna Deitch, Helen Shaver, Patricia Charbonneau, Audra Lindley, Andra Akers
directed by: Donna Deitch

September 17, 1996
This film contains what may well be the most powerful & well-done love scene I have ever seen on film. If only everyone's "first time" with his or her lover could be this beautiful! Ah, well. Actors can rehearse, as Shaver & Charbonneau did, according to director Dietch. But ordinary real-life lovers have no such luxury . . .

My main problem with the film was its portrayal of Frances Packer. Don't get me wrong--Audra Lindley's performance is terrific (& such a pleasant surprise after only having seen her in __Three's Company__!). But Dietch & Cooper made Mrs. Packer out to be a venomously lonely & alcoholic homophobe. Rule's portrayal of her in the novel is much more sympathetic & broad-minded.

I believe ... Read More:

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Blue

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Derek Jarman, John Quentin, Nigel Terry, Tilda Swinton
directed by: Derek Jarman

November 11, 1998
This film contains what may well be the most powerful & well-done love scene I have ever seen on film. If only everyone's "first time" with his or her lover could be this beautiful! Ah, well. Actors can rehearse, as Shaver & Charbonneau did, according to director Dietch. But ordinary real-life lovers have no such luxury . . .

My main problem with the film was its portrayal of Frances Packer. Don't get me wrong--Audra Lindley's performance is terrific (& such a pleasant surprise after only having seen her in __Three's Company__!). But Dietch & Cooper made Mrs. Packer out to be a venomously lonely & alcoholic homophobe. Rule's portrayal of her in the novel is much more sympathetic & broad-minded.

I believe ... Read More:

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Kiss of the Spider Woman

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian

November 14, 1995
This film contains what may well be the most powerful & well-done love scene I have ever seen on film. If only everyone's "first time" with his or her lover could be this beautiful! Ah, well. Actors can rehearse, as Shaver & Charbonneau did, according to director Dietch. But ordinary real-life lovers have no such luxury . . .

My main problem with the film was its portrayal of Frances Packer. Don't get me wrong--Audra Lindley's performance is terrific (& such a pleasant surprise after only having seen her in __Three's Company__!). But Dietch & Cooper made Mrs. Packer out to be a venomously lonely & alcoholic homophobe. Rule's portrayal of her in the novel is much more sympathetic & broad-minded.

I believe ... Read More:

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Glen or Glenda

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Edward D. Wood Jr., Bela Lugosi, Lyle Talbot, Timothy Farrell, Dolores Fuller
directed by: Edward D. Wood Jr.

April 18, 1995
Ed Wood's continuing reign as the so-called 'worst director of all time' has earned him many fans, but it has also done his work a disservice: few reviewers dare to go against the tide and write constructively about his movies, preferring instead to hop in the so-bad-it's-good bandwagon. This is unfortunate, because his most interesting films are worthy of critical scrutiny - especially his first project, 'Glen or Glenda' (1953). Whereas most of his other films tackle a specific genre, this movie creates its own: an unlikely but personal blend of documentary and fiction, horror, romance, police procedural, and more. There isn't a single storyline throughout but rather a set of imbricated tales that feed off of each other. The bulk of the narrative is devoted to a couple ... Read More:

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The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Laurel Holloman, Maggie Moore, Kate Stafford, Sabrina Artel, Toby Poser
directed by: Maria Maggenti

June 30, 1998
I bought this during my mammoth search to find more than one lesbian film that to enjoy watching and this was definitely not it. How anyone can call it the best lesbian film they've seen is beyond me. Try Better than Chocolate, But I'm a cheerleader, Lost and Delerious or Porquoi Pas Moi if you want a good film. Anyway it's supposed to be a coming of age story, first lesbian love etc but I found it simply unwatchable. I didn't relate to the characters at all, the low budget quality was awful and there was no good storyline to make it worth getting over that point. If you want a really good coming out/coming of age film watch Show Me Love (sweedish with subtitles) it's excellent and you really feel for the characters unlike you ever could with this. This is slow, boring ... Read More:

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Flaming Ears

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Ursula Puerrer, A. Hans Scheirl, Dietmar Schipek, Margarete Neumann, Sabine Perthold
directed by: Ursula Puerrer, A. Hans Scheirl

November 11, 1998
I bought this during my mammoth search to find more than one lesbian film that to enjoy watching and this was definitely not it. How anyone can call it the best lesbian film they've seen is beyond me. Try Better than Chocolate, But I'm a cheerleader, Lost and Delerious or Porquoi Pas Moi if you want a good film. Anyway it's supposed to be a coming of age story, first lesbian love etc but I found it simply unwatchable. I didn't relate to the characters at all, the low budget quality was awful and there was no good storyline to make it worth getting over that point. If you want a really good coming out/coming of age film watch Show Me Love (sweedish with subtitles) it's excellent and you really feel for the characters unlike you ever could with this. This is slow, boring ... Read More:

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Crocodiles in Amsterdam

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian
starring: Joan Nederlof, Yolanda Entius, Hans Hoes, Marcel Musters, Trudie Lute
directed by: Annette Apon

November 11, 1998
I bought this during my mammoth search to find more than one lesbian film that to enjoy watching and this was definitely not it. How anyone can call it the best lesbian film they've seen is beyond me. Try Better than Chocolate, But I'm a cheerleader, Lost and Delerious or Porquoi Pas Moi if you want a good film. Anyway it's supposed to be a coming of age story, first lesbian love etc but I found it simply unwatchable. I didn't relate to the characters at all, the low budget quality was awful and there was no good storyline to make it worth getting over that point. If you want a really good coming out/coming of age film watch Show Me Love (sweedish with subtitles) it's excellent and you really feel for the characters unlike you ever could with this. This is slow, boring ... Read More:

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Lie Down with Dogs [IMPORT]

Childrens Toy Shop > VHS > Gay and Lesbian

April 15, 1997
This is the gay filmmaking at it's shabbiest and most incompetent. Every moment of this film is a nightmare of mind and nerves. I was unable to watch more than fifteen minutes at a time--I was so stupified that I had to take breaks. The only redeeming quality of this film is that it's easy to point out who's responsibe for this atrocity: Wally White. He not only stars in this film, but he wrote, directed, and produced. Appearantly, the only thing he didn't do was cater and pour coffee. That's a blessing, cause if he did that as badly as he did the rest, everyone else in this film would have gotten food poisoning. The "story" is about a young gay man from NYC who goes to Provincetown, MA looking for romance and happiness. White plays the hero, and gives a truly annoying performance. ... Read More: