With this movie, I'm altering my format. Due to a relative inability to track down as many 'new-to-me' movies as I'd hoped, I'm allowing myself to watch movies I have previously seen.
The Movie: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, directed by John Cameron Mitchell
Recommendation: Me!
Reason: This movie's a real classic of the musical genre.
I actually rewatched Hedwig last week. This movie contains perhaps the best song from any musical ever (feel free to challenge me on this), The Origin of Love. As a song it stands up so well that the context of the movie is unnecessary. But what a context to put it into. Hedwig is the story of a transgendered person having an identity crisis, whose transition from male to female didn't go entirely as planned. With an 'angry inch' and a boatload of fabulous, Hedwig hit the road, telling the story of her life through song and pseudo-documentary.
Do not see this movie if transgendered people or cross-dressers creep you out. You'd be doing Hedwig a great disservice, because this movie is touching, sweet and very, very funny. The music also completely rocks. It's all new-wave, with a touch of country and an excellent punk interlude dedicated to that angry inch. The film is saturated with color, through Hedwig's flamboyant costumes, wigs and makeup.
I'd be remiss not to mention the absolutely great performances that follow John Cameron Mitchell's overwrought dramatics. Miriam Shore as Yitzak and Michael Pitt as Tommy Gnosis are both excellent in their roles (Miriam Shore had a bit of an advantage, having played the part when Hedwig was a stage show). As foils for Hedwig, both characters were strongly played and well developed.
138/365 down, 227/365 to go
Showing posts with label transgendered. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transgendered. Show all posts
Monday, July 2, 2007
Monday, February 5, 2007
If you want to win an Oscar, get ugly
(Please forgive me if this and all other reviews done today are rambling and weird. I'm sick.)
The Movie: Transamerica, directed by Duncan Tucker
Recommendation: Me
Reason: Queer film is a strange beast, and Huffman got a nomination for this.
Queer film is weird. Try to think of a single movie featuring a transgendered, transvestite, gay, lesbian or bisexual character in the last...oh...forever that didn't feature that character coming to a tragic end, or exploit the queerness of the characters for tittilation or comedy value. Brokeback Mountain, Boys Don't Cry, etcetera, etcetera. Transamerica isn't as transgressive as many of the other mainstream films in the catalogue, but something about a genetic-woman playing a transwoman still doesn't sit right with me. It's a small nitpick, since Felicity Huffman handles her character with a modicum of taste and a heap of respect for her journey. I can't speak to how 'real' Bree's lifestyle, affectations and eventual transformation are, but Huffman's performance at least made it seem close.
This film did get an Oscar nod for Huffman's turn, but I have to admit to being at least as interested in Kevin Zeger's layered work as Bree's son, Toby. His part was quite complex, the sort of thing most young male actors wouldn't undertake both for its complexity and for the amount of comfort with distinctly not-straight situations he needed to have for the part. I'm a fan of him as a supporting actor, and I will be watching for him in the future. His performance here was vulnerable and almost painful at times, but he developed a real sense of character.
The movie was alright. Nothing too spectacular, nothing horribly awful. The costuming was well done, managing to convey a lot about the characters. I suppose the real keyword for the movie would be 'subtle'. So yes. Not great, not awful.
-32/365 down, 333/365 to go
The Movie: Transamerica, directed by Duncan Tucker
Recommendation: Me
Reason: Queer film is a strange beast, and Huffman got a nomination for this.
Queer film is weird. Try to think of a single movie featuring a transgendered, transvestite, gay, lesbian or bisexual character in the last...oh...forever that didn't feature that character coming to a tragic end, or exploit the queerness of the characters for tittilation or comedy value. Brokeback Mountain, Boys Don't Cry, etcetera, etcetera. Transamerica isn't as transgressive as many of the other mainstream films in the catalogue, but something about a genetic-woman playing a transwoman still doesn't sit right with me. It's a small nitpick, since Felicity Huffman handles her character with a modicum of taste and a heap of respect for her journey. I can't speak to how 'real' Bree's lifestyle, affectations and eventual transformation are, but Huffman's performance at least made it seem close.
This film did get an Oscar nod for Huffman's turn, but I have to admit to being at least as interested in Kevin Zeger's layered work as Bree's son, Toby. His part was quite complex, the sort of thing most young male actors wouldn't undertake both for its complexity and for the amount of comfort with distinctly not-straight situations he needed to have for the part. I'm a fan of him as a supporting actor, and I will be watching for him in the future. His performance here was vulnerable and almost painful at times, but he developed a real sense of character.
The movie was alright. Nothing too spectacular, nothing horribly awful. The costuming was well done, managing to convey a lot about the characters. I suppose the real keyword for the movie would be 'subtle'. So yes. Not great, not awful.
-32/365 down, 333/365 to go
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