Coronation Street 2011 – Nowt so Queer as Folk

Coronation Street played it gay in 2011, but, asks Tim Bennett-Goodman, was that a good or a bad thing?

Needless to say, a cringe-making class conflict plays itself out over the dinner (or is that lunch?) table – Eileen: “dinner’s ready” Jools: “It’s a bit early for dinner isn’t it?” Todd: “She means lunch” – you get the picture.

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★★★★★
UK: 83 min • Renegade Pictures • DVD and iTunes, March 2011

Polari‘s editor is impressed and deeply moved by My Kidnapper, a documentary by Mark Henderson about being kidnapped with 8 other people in Colombia in 2003, and then returning to meet two of the kidnappers years later.

My Kidnapper is an unexpected and surprising retelling of a hostage story. It is also a remarkably balanced look at a situation in which the emotions of all those involved ran hot.

★★★★★
Israel: 93 min • Ariel Films • 2009

Akkas Al-Ali finds little insight in Samuel Maoz’s Lebanon

Lebanon is not an anti-war film, as it has been hailed by some; there is no critique of the military, which is all the more shocking considering how militarised Israeli society is. For a true anti-war film, you’d have to watch Apocalypse Now.

★★★★★
US: 82 min • JJay Prods. in association with Sundance Channel • 2010

Christopher Brocklebank is enamoured with the documentary Candy Darling and its depiction of the Warhol era.

With cruel irony, Candy Darling’s trajectory was fit for a star of Hollywood’s Golden Era, which Candy worshipped but was born too late for.

★★★★★
Fr: 165 min • Peccadillo Pictures • DVD

Young director Aleen Khan has a mixed reaction to Born in ’68.

The film is fortunate to have a strong cast, with Laetitia Casta giving a particularly good performance as Catherine. Despite the poor makeup, which more than fails in transforming her into an aged women, Casta still manages to pull off her older years gracefully and with conviction.

★★★★★
US: 691 min • Warner Home Video • DVD

The fast, sexy and thoroughly anti-Twilight series True Blood has breathed life back into the vampire genre.

The story arc, the murders of local fang-bangers, and the tension between the living and the undead, makes for a mesmerising series. The twelve-episode format also means that it is not necessary to dilute the tension.

★★★★★
US: 110 min • Peccadillo Pictures • DVD

A fascinating and thorough documentary about how Hollywood has dealt with sexuality over the years.

In the pre-liberation period – a time in which homosexuality on the screen was largely a matter of coded meanings and sub-text – The Celluloid Closet is fascinating. In the post-liberation years it loses its focus and descends somewhat into a ‘Hooray for Hollywood’ ahistorical celebration.

★★★★★
US: 117 min • Paramount Pictures • 2009

It’s fun, it’s corny, and it has Channing Tatum in the lead role. GI Joe is definitely returned to his original 12″ glory.

“GI JOE: The mere mention of the name conjures up images of heroism, patriotism, and the kind of tough rigor required to get the job done,” states the press release. Either that or it conjures the thought, ‘damn, I bet he would be a hottie in real life.’ And boy is he.

★★★★★
US: 666 min • Fox Television • DVD

It may have started slow, but Dollhouse proved to be a fascinating series. The dollhouse is the base for people who are in a tabula rasa state. These voluntary ‘dolls’ have their personalities removed and stored on disc, which leaves them a blank slate onto which other personalities can be imprinted so that they can be sent out as operatives. Don’t be put off by episodes 3 and 4 …

By episode six, the Whedon written and directed ‘Man on the Street’, Dollhouse becomes compelling. The audio commentary, provided by Whedon alone, is a fascinating insight into the creative and production processes. Whedon is a master of the story arc.

★★★★★
US: 90 min • Peccadillo Pictures • DVD

A gay screwball comedy and love story that is satisfying enough.

It’s worth noting that the film, released in a pre-Will & Grace era, was rare for its time in that it presents a group of characters, some of whom are gay, in a fairly understated way.