film & television reviews from Philip Bahr focusing on a gay male gaze | gay film | gay movies | gay television | LGBTQ perspective | classics | indie | television reviews
Damn Sarah Polley wrote and directed Women Talking, a searing indictment of male and female relationships and the horror of the patriarchy. The story revolves around a religious sect. Does the action take place in the 1960’s or in the 2010’s? That confusion at least for me was on purpose. The timelessness of the piece allows you to focus on how this film reflects our own culture today? How do we as a society treat the 50.5% of the population who are female? What is the power dynamic that continues to prevail in our culture, and can women alone affect lasting change? We are living these questions out right now in real time as states strip reproductive rights from women and offer no options to unwanted pregnancies. Women are still mostly expected to raise children and give up careers. Women are expected to make less money, and do more if they do work outside the home. It’s a difficult tightrope walk that’s been going on for centuries. Women Talking addresses all of this and more. There’s only one male character in the film and he’s gentle and burdened with his own issues. All the other characters represent the spectrum of reaction to the patriarchal rule of this sect. It’s a microcosm of what’s going on today. Every day. The story is deeply disturbing. The film written and directed by Polley is luminous, full of quiet beauty. The drawings throughout the film are particularly worth noting. An easy 5 out of 5. A must-see.
Women Talking is currently available for a rental free from various streaming platforms and free on disk from your local public library.
I watched the final two episodes of Succession: Season 3 in anticipation of the Season 4 premiere , the final season beginning on March 26, 2023. Aside from my awe-struck fan love for the script, acting, editing, sets, locations, and wardrobe, I really caught the taste of how much patriarch Logan Roy has raised a pack of wild animals. All four children possess some form of insanity. Still there are moments to love each of them. Logan not so much. Peripheral characters add a delicious density to the performances. In particular I love the actors Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, Matthew Macfadyen, Alan Ruck, Sarah Snook, Jeremy Strong, J. Smith-Cameron, Justine Lupe, and Alexander Skarsgård perfectly playing an aloof, asshole tech giant. There’s still time to catch up. Can’t wait for the final season. 4 out of 5.
Not much for watching the actual Oscars. We opted to screen Women Talking instead. What an absolute joy. Review coming soon. After the movie, I discovered my favorite movie of the year, Everything Everywhere All At Once won both the Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role.
Finished reading Michelle Obama’s new book, The Light We Carry. The audiobook is amazing, read by the author. From my Goodreads review,
I have to begin by saying I loved “Becoming.” It was easily one of my favorite books the year it released and an all-time favorite memoir. So when “The Light We Carry” was announced, I wondered if I needed another Michelle Obama book. I thought I would give it a try and see. I got on our library’s wait list and bumped it up a few times, finally beginning to listen to her and hearing how she views the world. This isn’t a cookie cutter self-help book. It’s also not another memoir. Michelle shares with the reader what she’s learned, how she lives her life and why it’s so important to keep moving forward in a positive manner no matter the hatred, bigotry, or viruses that come our way. An amazing book. Perfect timing for me to listen after losing a friend to a stroke last month. We have a choice each day we wake up. We don’t always achieve perfection. I would say I nearly never do. But if my intentions are good and if I can steer myself back after some lows, I can live my life for love and with positive intention. There is so much work to do. We don’t read this book and that’s it. We read books like this to fuel our internal fire. And then we go out into the world and share a moment of goodness with others. And each light helps the world shine brighter and makes positive change a reality. So happy I read this book. Essential.
Yes, we need another book from Michelle Obama. Read it, listen to it, and feel hopeful. 5 out of 5.
My Mom, Jean Gould Mellinger Bahr died nine years ago on February 20, 2023. Her birthday is four days later on February 24th. She would have been 102 this year. Yikes. I still miss her like I knew I would miss her. I don’t cry often anymore, except at least once each Christmas holiday, just like she did missing her Mom. And when I experience something I wish I could share with her, sometimes I think, “damnit, I wish I could talk to you…” and other times I just get teary. She lived a great life. She was a quiet, gentle soul whose role as Matriarch still reverberates within my family today. My eldest niece Nikki mentioned to me last month how much she misses talking and visiting with her grandmother.
The last two movies she loved were eclectic, just like her taste in music. The last film she saw in the theater was Milk which she loved. The last thing she, my sister Nancy, and I watched together was Adele’s first recorded concert at The Royal Albert Hall. Every time I hear Adele’s music, I smile a bit remembering my sweet mother. Miss you Jean. I’m glad you’re not here to see the mess this country’s in. You lived through the depression, WWII, and McCarthyism. I carry your love and kindness as much as I can. I get angry too often, and want to punch more than a few people who are trying to tear down this beautiful country. But in my Jean moments, when I truly am your son, I send them all love, let go of what I can’t change on my own, give where I can, and continue reading my book.
Second time around watching this pitch perfect series. Bridgett Everett and crew create a beautiful small town lost soul experience. So much connection and so much precision. Click here or on the image for the full review.
New film tells Flack’s story in her own words and includes interviews with Reverend Jesse Jackson, Clint Eastwood, Yoko Ono, Angela Davis, Eugene McDaniels, Joel Dorn, Peabo Bryson and more.
From “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to “Killing Me Softly” and beyond, Roberta Flack gave voice to a global soundtrack of beauty and pain, love and anguish, hope and struggle. American Masters: Roberta Flack illuminates where reality, memory and imagination mix to present music icon Roberta Flack, a brilliant artist who transformed popular culture, in her own words. With exclusive access to Flack’s archives of film, performances, interviews, home movies, photos, hit songs and unreleased music, the film documents how Flack’s musical virtuosity was inseparable from her lifelong commitment to civil rights.
Roberta Flack has long been a favorite of mine. Her albums run from 1969 – 2018, just shy of 50 years. I have loved Roberta since her beginnings including Killing Me Softly, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, The Closer I Get to You, Feel Like Makin’ Love, Where Is the Love, You Are My Heaevn, Set The Night To Music, Making Love, and the amazing freaking incredible remix of Uh-Uh Ooh-Ooh Look Out (Here It Comes) (House Of Trix Mix) I danced to very specifically in 1989 Philadelphia the year before I moved to NYC. Flack was diagnosed with ALS in 2022. She will no longer be performing. This film is a must-see. 5 out of 5.
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.
Outstanding documentary No Straight Lines from PBS’s Independent Lens profiles the past 40 years of Queer Comics from underground to mainstream. Directed by out lesbian filmmaker Vivian Kleinman and based on the book by producer/writer/professor Justin Hall. From PBS,
When Alison Bechdel received a coveted MacArthur Award for her best-selling graphic memoir Fun Home, it heralded the acceptance of LGBTQ+ comics in American culture. From DIY underground comix scene to mainstream acceptance, meet five smart and funny queer comic book artists whose uncensored commentary left no topic untouched and explored art as a tool for social change. Featuring Alison Bechdel, Jennifer Camper, Howard Cruse, Rupert Kinnard, Mary Wings, and other queer comics artists.
The Filmmakers
Vivian Kleiman
Director/Producer Vivian Kleiman is a Peabody Award-winning filmmaker and a Fleishhacker Eureka Fellowship artist. She was the story editor for Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, and her work with landmark filmmaker Marlon Riggs includes Tongues Untied, among others. She taught at Stanford University’s Graduate Program in Documentary Film.
Justin Hall
Producer Justin Hall edited the Lambda Award-winning, Eisner-nominated No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics and created the comics True Travel Tales, Hard to Swallow. Hall is chair of the MFA in Comics Program at California College of the Arts, the first Fulbright Scholar of comics, and has curated international exhibitions of comics art.
Really worth watching. When you worry that we haven’t made progress over the past 50 years, this puts it all into perspective. Yes, we’re facing book bans and all the horror of “Don’t Say Gay” in Florida and other ignorant states, but we will not be shoved back in the closet. These artists remind us all to use the tools at our disposal to fight back and demand a place at the table. Hey DeSantis – Joe McCarthy died over 60 years ago. Your hatred and bigotry are the last gasps of the patriarchy. Watch No Straight Lines and feel the power. 5 out of 5.
Italian locked room murder mystery and comedy, 7 Women and a Murder is a remake of the 2002 film 8 Women by François Ozon, and the play Huit femmes by Robert Thomas. Kooky, campy, silly and lots of fun, this film is a perfect antidote to a long week at work or a difficult time navigating the news. 7 Women boasts an impressive international cast including Margherita Buy (His Secret Life), Diana Del Bufalo, Sabrina Impacciatore, Benedetta Porcaroli, Micaela Ramazzotti, Luisa Ranieri and Ornella Vanoni. Full disclosure, I fell asleep during the ending (that’s happening more and more lately) and couldn’t figure out who the murderer was. So I will be rewinding some early evening this week to find out whodunnit. Meanwhile the rest of the film I was awake for was charming, silly, and made me laugh out loud in places. And it all takes place during Christmas! 3.5 out of 5 which means it’s may not be perfect, but it’s worth a try if the details interest you.
7 Women and a Murder currently streams on Netflix.
By the way, have you noticed the outstanding international content Netflix is purchasing? I’m very happy to see that.
Finished reading Michelle Obama’s new book, The Light We Carry. The audiobook is amazing, read by the author. From my Goodreads review,
My Mom, Jean Gould Mellinger Bahr died nine years ago on February 20, 2023. Her birthday is four days later on February 24th. She would have been 102 this year. Yikes. I still miss her like I knew I would miss her. I don’t cry often anymore, except at least once each Christmas holiday, just like she did missing her Mom. And when I experience something I wish I could share with her, sometimes I think, “damnit, I wish I could talk to you…” and other times I just get teary. She lived a great life. She was a quiet, gentle soul whose role as Matriarch still reverberates within my family today. My eldest niece Nikki mentioned to me last month how much she misses talking and visiting with her grandmother.
Italian locked room murder mystery and comedy, 7 Women and a Murder is a remake of the 2002 film 8 Women by François Ozon, and the play Huit femmes by Robert Thomas. Kooky, campy, silly and lots of fun, this film is a perfect antidote to a long week at work or a difficult time navigating the news. 7 Women boasts an impressive international cast including Margherita Buy (
Reel Charlie 