film & television reviews from Philip Bahr focusing on a gay male gaze | gay film | gay movies | gay television | LGBTQ perspective | classics | indie | television reviews
Reel Charlie Speaks is an LGBTQ podcast spin-off of Reel Charlie. Each month I select a classic queer film, television series, or creator. I talk about how the subject spoke to me when I first discovered it years ago, and how its stood the test of time.
In episode 10 of Reel Charlie Speaks, I explore two classic Alfred Hitchcock films, Rope and Strangers on a Train. Both films boast lesbian and gay writers, both star bisexual actor Farley Granger, and both feature queer male relationships during a time when Hollywood was contained by the Hays Code.. As always, I ask that age old Reel Charlie Speaks question, does this movie stand the test of time?
Reel Charlie Speaks is an LGBTQ podcast spin-off of Reel Charlie. Each month I select a classic queer film, television series, or creator. I talk about how the subject spoke to me when I first discovered it years ago, and how its stood the test of time.
In episode 9 of Reel Charlie Speaks, I explore the classic 1982 gay male film, Making Love. I discuss plot, homophobia, and fallout, and finally ask that age old Reel Charlie Speaks question, does this movie stand the test of time?
Reelz Originals presents a new documentary, The Golden Girls: Ageless on the continuing love for Dorothy, Sofia, Blanche, and Rose. Under an hour, the show talks about the reasons we still worship this perennial favorite and all the ways fans share their love these days including a Golden Girls cruise, a new book, new merch, and even a significant place at the Comic Cons table. And not so surprising – 3 of the talking heads are gay men. So much fun realizing I’m not the only stan in the house. Narrated by Valerie Bertinelli who starred with Betty White in Hot in Cleveland, I give The Golden Girls: Ageless a 3 out of 5.
Reel Charlie Speaks is an LGBTQ podcast spin-off of Reel Charlie. Each month I select a classic queer film, television series, or creator. I talk about how the subject spoke to me when I first discovered it years ago, and how its stood the test of time.
In this episode, I explore the classic New Queer Cinema film, The Watermelon Woman (1996), the first feature film from black lesbian filmmaker Cheryl Dunye.
Brenda’s mother Margaret and brother Billy spend some time together during the holidays on Six Feet Under.
It’s just not the holiday season without a trip down memory lane with some of my favorite television series’ Christmas episodes. This year I watched Six Feet Under‘s single contribution, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Season 2, Episode 8 aired Apr 21, 2002). It’s been a year since Nathaniel’s death. Each of the Fishers remember the last time they spoke to him as David and Nate hold a biker funeral on Christmas Day and Ruth tries to make her version of a perfect Christmas dinner. Another sublime episode from my favorite series of all-time.
Another season of The Great British Baking Show (original U.K. title: TheGreat British Bake-Off) dropped once a week culminating in the finale episode released last Friday, 11/18. For those of you new to Reel Charlie, GBBS is my all-time favorite competition show. I have never seen a consistent group of contestants year after year who support each other, play fair, and cheer each other on as much as I have on GBBS. It’s remarkable to watch and a blueprint for how we should all live our lives. This year I cried like a baby at the end of the semi-finals last week, and the finale the following week. Not to get too arm chair psychologist, but for those of us disinterested or not allowed to play sports, GBBS is my Super Bowl, it’s my World Series. I get so excited when a new “collection” (Netflix name for a season) drops. This year was no exception. I was immediately drawn into the cast, and the judges and hosts never seem to be phoning it in. Along with Paul, Prue, Noel, and Matt the tent welcomed Abdul, Janusz, Maxy, Sandro, Syabira, Carole, Dawn, James, Maisam, Rebs, and Will. I quickly came out for Janucz, Maxy, and Syabira. No spoiler alerts here. Just telling you who my favorites were from nearly the start. I also love the melting pot of people, their backgrounds and life stories. It makes for really good DEI as an extension of everyday life and entertainment. The 12 contestants represent England in 2022. Beautiful. As I mentioned, I sobbed and sobbed when they announced the winner. And as usual for GBBS, the other two runners-up, congratulated and were visibly thrilled for the winner. Seeing all the contestants back for the winner announcement with their family and friends always chokes me up. 5 out of 5 for this amazing slice of modern life and the kindest competition show ever created.
The Great British Baking Show currently streams on Netflix.
Amazon Prime is currently streaming all four seasons of The Partridge Family(1970-1974). Take a wild ride back in time to that psychedelic bubblegum bus which transported all of us to a Friday night escape from some very dark times. I chose the cruise episode where Laurie goes on a date with a fabulist. And the Lauriebelle episode where Keith convinces Laurie to impersonate a southern belle and pose as his fake date to impress a girl he’s interested in. That initial scene with Keith, Danny, and Laurie cracks me up every time I watch it. Whatever you watch, have fun!
There’s five Wednesdays in August 2022 and the Quad Cinema in NYC features a different restored Merchant Ivory film each week. From the Quad,
From the Vault: Cohen Film Collection
Every Wednesday in August — Gorgeous restorations of Merchant Ivory films!
New 4K digital restorations of Howards End, The Bostonians, and more.
Up first is one of my all-time Merchant Ivory favorites and definitely my top favorite films of all-time, Howards End. From the Quad,
One of Merchant Ivory’s undisputed masterpieces, this adaptation of E.M. Forster’s classic 1910 novel is a saga of class relations and changing times in Edwardian England. Margaret Schlegel (Emma Thompson) and her sister Helen (Helena Bonham Carter) become involved with two couples: a wealthy, conservative industrialist (Anthony Hopkins) and his wife (Vanessa Redgrave), and a working-class man (Samuel West) and his mistress (Niccola Duffett). The interwoven fates and misfortunes of these three families and the diverging trajectories of the two sisters’ lives are connected to the ownership of Howards End, a beloved country home. A compelling, brilliantly acted study of one woman’s struggle to maintain her ideals and integrity in the face of Edwardian society’s moribund conformist values. A Cohen Film Collection release 4K restoration!
Another season of The Great British Baking Show (original U.K. title: The Great British Bake-Off) dropped once a week culminating in the finale episode released last Friday, 11/18. For those of you new to Reel Charlie, GBBS is my all-time favorite competition show. I have never seen a consistent group of contestants year after year who support each other, play fair, and cheer each other on as much as I have on GBBS. It’s remarkable to watch and a blueprint for how we should all live our lives. This year I cried like a baby at the end of the semi-finals last week, and the finale the following week. Not to get too arm chair psychologist, but for those of us disinterested or not allowed to play sports, GBBS is my Super Bowl, it’s my World Series. I get so excited when a new “collection” (Netflix name for a season) drops. This year was no exception. I was immediately drawn into the cast, and the judges and hosts never seem to be phoning it in. Along with Paul, Prue, Noel, and Matt the tent welcomed Abdul, Janusz, Maxy, Sandro, Syabira, Carole, Dawn, James, Maisam, Rebs, and Will. I quickly came out for Janucz, Maxy, and Syabira. No spoiler alerts here. Just telling you who my favorites were from nearly the start. I also love the melting pot of people, their backgrounds and life stories. It makes for really good DEI as an extension of everyday life and entertainment. The 12 contestants represent England in 2022. Beautiful. As I mentioned, I sobbed and sobbed when they announced the winner. And as usual for GBBS, the other two runners-up, congratulated and were visibly thrilled for the winner. Seeing all the contestants back for the winner announcement with their family and friends always chokes me up. 5 out of 5 for this amazing slice of modern life and the kindest competition show ever created.
Reel Charlie 