Gay Essential

Gay Essential is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Alexander Ryll, Alistair Ryder, David Opie, Rich Cline, Shaun Alexander

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Rating

Title/Year

Author

Quote

1

3.5/5

Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life (2018)

Jonathan Agassi has said seeing this footage saved his life and made him become sober. It's not hard to see why.

Posted Dec 2, 2019

2

3.5/5

Almost Love (2020)

Drowning in Robert Wise's Pinterest board of apartment aesthetics is a narrative of equal parts wit and sentiment - a touching, funny tale of modern love.

Posted Oct 29, 2019

3

3/5

Monsoon (2020)

A slow burner, but it lingers in the memory long after.

Posted Oct 23, 2019

4

3.5/5

Moffie (2019)

It's not perfect, but the visceral impact of its depiction of homophobia during this era cannot be understated.

Posted Oct 12, 2019

5

4/5

And Then We Danced (2020)

And Then We Danced is so much more than a coming of age love story - and is all the better for it.

Posted Oct 11, 2019

6

The Garden Left Behind (2020)

An important reminder of the violence and oppression faced by trans women of colour on a daily basis.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

7

Killing Patient Zero (2019)

It should join the book upon which it is based as a key text for people researching this period of history.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

8

3/5

From Zero to I Love You (2020)

It's that rare thing - a high stakes romcom.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

9

3/5

Lemebel (2019)

An enrapturing look at the life of an LGBT icon, told with an intimacy that feels like catching up with an old friend.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

10

The Dark Mile (2017)

Even without the descent in to cult-territory, this would still be an effectively and disturbingly bleak effort for its portrayal of a failing relationship.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

11

3/5

Rafiki (2019)

It's such a sweet natured and widely accessible story of love amidst adversity that the idea of any censorship board watching this and getting outraged is hilarious. It makes a film like Love, Simon look like Stranger by the Lake in comparison.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

12

Love, Cecil (2018)

There's no denying the talent of Cecil Beaton, nor the scale of his influence to this day. But whether you leave the documentary having warmed to him is another question altogether, and is part of what makes Vreeland's film such an intriguing watch.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

13

3/5

At the End of the Day (2018)

It's unashamedly aimed at the mainstream American audience, with a mission to change hearts and minds - but when the film has a message like this (as obvious as that message may be), that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

14

A Skin So Soft (Ta peau si lisse) (2018)

Millions of people worry about trying to get the perfect body - Côté's film goes one step further to ask how far you would go to not just obtain it, but maintain it in the most image conscious environment imaginable.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

15

3/5

Devil's Path (2019)

It's unmistakably a midnight movie, but with a heart and soul that ever so slightly elevates it above the pack.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

16

3/5

Every Act of Life (2017)

For theatre fans, this is essential viewing - and for those of you like me, who shamefully don't watch as many plays as they should, this is still well worth a look.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

17

M/M (2018)

M/M is sure to polarise audiences due to its increasingly mind-bending nature - but it's such a singular, unique experience, it's worth stepping out of your comfort zone to experience the madness for yourself.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

18

Film Hawk (2016)

A charming documentary about an important figure in American indie cinema.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

19

Shining Moon (El Destello de la Luna) (2018)

With a warm comic touch, the film explores the differences between two different generations, allowing its characters to confront their prejudices without forcing any unbelievable character developments.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

20

3/5

Porcupine Lake (2017)

Whether or not its about an intense friendship, or a relationship between two confused young girls, Porcupine Lake is an impressive drama about two characters caught between childhood and a forever elusive emotional maturity.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

21

4/5

Obscuro Barroco (2018)

Don't let its experimental nature put you off. Instead, let director Evangelia Kranioti take your hand and guide you through a glamorous city in a light you've never seen it before.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

22

3/5

The Silk and the Flame (2018)

Jordan Schiele's film captures an intimate portrait of family life in rural China, examining the bleakness and the tenderness of various family relationships at close range.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

23

Evening Shadows (Surmaee shaam) (2019)

It's a timely film for India, and even though it may feel quaint to Western audiences, it still feels refreshing to see a mainstream film on this subject coming from a society that is conservative towards LGBT issues.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

24

Yves Saint Laurent (2014)

Yves Saint Laurent may have suffered from being one of two separate biopics about the fashion icon, and the more narratively straightforward of the pair. Luckily, the strengths of the performances help make for an entertaining, engaging drama.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

25

The Revival (2018)

Less a self-acceptance narrative, and more of an exploration of one man's crisis of faith, Samuel Bret Williams' screenplay avoids giving easy resolutions to the character's problems - making for an unrelentingly harrowing viewing experience.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

26

4/5

Abu: Father (2017)

It may have taken over forty years for this debut to reach the big screen, but let's hope it doesn't take another forty before we get a chance to see another of Arshad Khan's candidly honest and uniquely moving autobiographical efforts.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

27

A Very Sordid Wedding (2017)

Although far from the sordid affair the title suggests, this joyously camp film is a definite guilty pleasure that will be a flat out triumph to returning fans- and an enjoyably trashy time for newcomers to the franchise.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

28

3/5

Something Like Summer (2017)

Contains brilliantly likeable performances from the central cast, with the cheesy teen drama of the first half paying off in the more emotionally complex second.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

29

3.5/5

Santa & Andrés (2017)

No matter your political affiliation, it's hard not to like these two very complicated characters, and admire looking through the window in to their conflicted society.

Posted Oct 10, 2019

30

Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots (2019)

Shaun Alexander

Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots is able to effectively explore a range of issues that many young gay and bisexual men are faced with in this technology driven time and does so with a careful gaze which never exploits its subject matter.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

31

Good Kisser (2019)

Megan Christopher

As our community rightfully becomes more open to the idea of polyamory, Good Kisser is a gentle reminder that, regardless of the number of people in your relationship, honesty in love is always the best policy.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

32

3.5/5

Second Star On The Right (2019)

Megan Christopher

Second Star on the Right (Segunda estrella a la derecha), explores Emilia's reluctance to let go of her arguably childish ways, and gently mulls over the true meaning of maturity.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

33

3/5

Vita & Virginia (2019)

Megan Christopher

In this portrait of a 1920s same-sex romance, Button successfully pays homage to the historical presence of queer cultural icons, and this is certainly an achievement worth celebrating.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

34

4/5

Roobha (2018)

It's a powerful film about people who are straining against the limits of their society, building a strongly engaging wave of emotion as the plot develops.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

35

4/5

The Gospel of Eureka (2019)

The Gospel of Eureka is notable for its striking honesty and hopefulness, depicting a place where religion and sexuality aren't mutually exclusive.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

36

4/5

Nevrland (2019)

Nevrland is a bold, provocative story that digs into the mind of its teen protagonist with psychedelic intensity. So it's not surprising that it thoroughly unnerves the audience.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

37

4/5

Papi Chulo (2019)

There's an offbeat charm to the low-key American comedy-drama Papi Chulo, which gets under the skin as it explores some deep emotional themes with a light touch.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

38

Daddy Issues (2019)

There's an engagingly dreamy tone to this offbeat queer romantic comedy, continually wrong-footing the audience as the plot twists and turns around complex, likeable characters.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

39

4/5

Socrates (2019)

There's a strikingly realistic tone to this Brazilian drama, pulling the audience into the experiences of a teen who is being squeezed in from all sides.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

40

5/5

The Blonde One (2019)

Without ever shouting his themes, Berger simply lets this story unfold as an exploration of the difficulties that exist in any relationship, gay or straight.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

41

4/5

Leitis in Waiting (2018)

Ffilmmakers Hamer and Wilson skillfully maintain a steady hand in weaving together multiple perspectives on the importance of modern-day Leiti in Tongan society, with just the right amount of delightful humour included for good measure.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

42

5/5

Cassandro the Exotico! (2019)

A unique documentary, much of Cassandro, the Exotico! feels like a home movie with plentiful glimpses of objects and trophies symbolizing the luchador's life, all revealed in a 16mm film look and feel.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

43

4/5

Knife + Heart (Un couteau dans le coeur) (2019)

Gonzalez offers a stark contrast in Knife + Heart (Un Couteau Dans Le Coeur), delivering graphic murder scenes juxtaposed with playful softcore porn, and a story driven by a strong female lead.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

44

3/5

Silvana (Silvana - väck mig när ni vaknat) (2017)

Following the outspoken Swedish rapper Silvana Imam for three years, this lively documentary offers fans a chance to go behind-the-scenes with a young woman who has become a lesbian hero.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

45

4/5

Sunburn (Golpe de sol) (2018)

Writer-director Vicente Alves do Ó fills each scene with bold experimental filmmaking touches that draw out the attitudes that gurgle under the surface.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

46

Sorry Angel (Plaire, aimer et courir vite) (2019)

Eclectic French filmmaker Christophe Honoré creates a drama that feels powerfully autobiographical as it explores events from 25 years ago.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

47

4/5

Fireflies (Luciérnagas) (2018)

The characters of her film are broken and lost, each in their own way; they are marked by a restlessness and instability that is reflected in the Mexican port city of Veracruz, where Fireflies (Luciérnagas) is set.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

48

4/5

Elisa & Marcela (2019)

Over a century before Spain finally legalized same-sex marriage in 2005, two women called Marcela Gracia Ibeas and Elisa Sánchez Loriga beat the odds and were married under the eyes of God in 1901.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

49

3/5

Greta (2019)

Through absorbing long takes, Pedro and Jean open themselves up to each other and the audience too, revealing a vulnerability that is sometimes overlooked in queer arthouse movies of this nature.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

50

4/5

Tremors (Temblores) (2019)

Through sombre and somewhat oppressive hues, Tremors (Temblores) takes a more mature approach to the now well-worn themes found in other recent gay conversion stories like Boy Erased and The Miseducation of Cameron Post.

Posted Oct 8, 2019

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