List: 15 Cinematic LGBT Chemistries that Scorched the Screen
July 2nd 2011 00:16
15 Cinematic LGBT Chemistries that Scorched the Screen
There were specific rules with this list. The characters these actors/actresses portrayed needed to stated as gay/bi/questioning. In addition, the chemistry between them had to be something special, different; it needed to be “scorching.” When I say scorching, I don’t mean they have to be all over one another every single second. No, this simply means that the actors/actresses portraying these personas gelled in a certain way, providing such extreme underlying tension or charisma that it separates them from the numerous other onscreen chemistries of their kind.
Here are 15 of my favorites from the world of Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transsex ual cinema. There are many, many films I need to re-watch and so this list isn’t as accurate as I would like it to be. There will be an LGBT Couples in Cinema list to follow in the upcoming days as well as companion Male/Female chemistry list. In the meantime, tell me some of yours!
Note: I tried not to but there may be some spoilers within -- nothing beyond what you'd find in a film review though.
15. Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt as Lestat and Louis in Interview with Vampire
Note: the more overt nature is clearly in the books, which does not dance around that these two were a couple; in the film it is not specifically stated but the books allows this pairing fit the rules of the list.
Key Scene: The scene in which Lestat ‘makes’ Louis is essentially a sex scene – and it’s brutal and hungry and could not have been played better by Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. It’s weird to think these two powerhouse actors were in a film together, much less a homoerotic one, but they were and they didn’t hold back. Would the same project happen today? I seriously doubt it.
14. Jennifer Tily and Gina Gershon as Violet and Corky in Bound
Key Scene: Um, everything? It’s almost as though the scenes in which they gaze at one, flirting, are another are hotter than the sex scenes—almost. They just crackle with thick tension. So good – and they’re both off the charts sexy so watching their dance is a pleasure.
13. Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna as and Julio and Tenoch in Y Tu Mama Tambien
Key Scene: The threesome. Another film in which the build-up was so slow – and these two try to convince themselves the whole time that they’re only interested in women yet they jerk off right next to each other and are utterly involved in one another’s sex lives. When the kiss comes they don’t need to do it. They could just enjoy what’s currently happening to them – cough-- down there, but they don’t. Instead, they latch onto one another like it’s what they’ve been waiting for the entire time. It doesn’t hurt that Garcia Bernal and Luna have great chemistry in their off-screen longtime friendship. Beautiful portrayal here, throughout.
12. Ben Silverstone and Brad Gorton as Steven and John in Get Real
Key Scene: I can’t even pick one. Basically it’s that slow, gorgeous falling in love yet naturally one is repressed and won’t admit it (welcome to gay cinema ladies and gents! The world of self-loathing and unhappy endings). Each and every one of their scenes is thrumming with tension – the long looks, the near/slight touches – until finally John breaks down, literally, and all the desire comes rushing out. Silverstone and Gorton are so very believable.
11. Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix as Scott and Mike in My Own Private Idaho
Key Scene: The campfire scene of course, which I could talk about for hours, days, years. Phoenix is vulnerable, open, baring his entire soul. You can barely breathe watching the scene – can hardly look away from his face, shy and bold all at once. Theirs was something beyond cinematic – it just transcended the bounds of the script—which had never called for Phoenix to be in love with Reeves’ character. He added it all himself because it felt right. And damn, does it feel right.
(no picture available)
10. Justin Kirk and Randy Becker as Bobby and Ramon in Love! Valour! Compassion!
Key Scene: The kitchen scene. Kirk’s character is blind yet his attraction to Becker’s character is so desperate and intense it’s fascinating – it shows you something you don’t normally see on film: infidelity of a person who cannot see. You almost may think to yourself – why can’t he help it? He can’t even see if he the other guy is attractive yet he’s willing to risk his relationship on this. And then through the two of them, their blood-pounding scenes you realize it’s so much more – it’s the way Ramon treats him, the way Ramon just *wants* him. He literally can’t help himself. Brilliant stuff here.
9. Stephen Rea and Jaye Davidson as Fergus and Dil in The Crying Game
Key Scene: There’s no real moment here for me, just their entirety of their interactions – they’re natural and easy with one another and then the reveal comes and he keeps seeing him. These two just made everything which played out so damn believable and they meshed so well together, playing off each other’s responses perfectly.
8. Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Cherie Currie in The Runaways
Key Scene: First Kiss/Night together – Intense, so much more on Joan’s part – Kirsten Stewart brings so much to Joan’s complexity and her sexuality – it’s really something. The way these two actresses played these roles was rather fascinating – so much is occurring beneath the surface – so much queerity laced into each and every one of their interactions. Their scenes are some of my favorites ever.
7. Christina Ricci and Charlize Theron as Selby and Aileen in Monster
Key Scene: The roller rink. The way Lee holds onto Selby – the look of instant puppy love in Selby’s eyes that someone is actually interested in her – the way they just fall into one another and kiss, right there in the middle of the rink. Then their desperation outside. Theron and Ricci have never, ever been better.
6. Thomas Gibson and Matthew Ferguson as David and Kane in Love and Human Remains
Key Scene: In Kane’s house – when David realizes just how much power he has over him – how much Kane wants him yet is still a little afraid but would do anything, give him anything. Ferguson and Gibson are natural and the onscreen relationship here, not just the chemistry, is one of the best I’ve seen written.
5. Clive Owen and Lothaire Bluteau as Max and Horst in Bent
Key Scene: These two defy the odds and fall in love in a concentration camp. Owen and Bluteau are barely allowed to look at one another at times, and yet you feel their need from long distances. The essential moment is when they engage in verbal sex, telling one another what they’d do to each other – it’s perhaps one of the most erotic things to be put on cinema yet no bodies are touching. Their love and desire is so rich and Owen and Bluteau make it shine through the pages of the script.
4. Ewan Mcgregor and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Curt Wild and Brian Slade in Velvet Goldmine
Key Scene: The orgy scene. The music combined with the naked desire in their eyes as they stare at one another, eyes only for each other to the point they may as well not be in a room full of half naked people – it’s just guttural. Their relationship is fiery, volatile, and the way McGregor and Rhys-Meyers play off one another is engaging and so very hot.
3. Sean Penn and James Franco as Harvey and Scott in Milk
Key Scene: Their first interaction. You have two guys meeting in a subway station. It should come off as superficial, shallow. It should feel like hook-up, a one-night stand; it shouldn’t feel like we’re already witnessing a love story, but it does -- the demeanor of both actors is sweet and almost innocent. The kiss is shy yet bold all at once and from this first instance, we are in love with these characters. Now that takes something special to achieve.
2. Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as Jack and Ennis in Brokeback Mountain
Key Scene: It’s difficult to pick but probably the reunion kiss. It’s like they simply can’t help it – the tension and need is overwhelming. And the way it’s played between the two of them—the way Gyllenhaal and Ledger don’t hold back at all – it’s heady and perfect and honestly, it’s the realness of their interactions that makes this film so epic because the content is nothing new. I’ve watched a hundred gay-themed films (probably literally) with the same type of subject matter just different ultimate situations. However, between the direction and the fire between these two – it elevates it to the status it deserves. It’s largely considered the best gay film because it’s the most well-known, but, that’s not to say the praise isn’t warranted.
1. Hugh Grant and James Wilby as Clive and Maurice in Maurice
Key Scene: The room.
I’m not sure there will ever be a scene (see above picture) drenched in so much passion yet barely a kiss occurs. The looks on their faces, the openness, fear, the need; it’s unparalleled. The scene is fantastic. Their chemistry thereafter is so curious and interesting; the way one gravitates toward the other, then one pulls back at first only to confess love shortly thereafter. Then there's a complete shift due to fear, which starts an entire new arc allowing another romance to occur which, in itself is a fantastic one. This is truly a magnificently crafted film (based on a fabulous novel) and Grant and Wilby are spot on.
There were specific rules with this list. The characters these actors/actresses portrayed needed to stated as gay/bi/questioning. In addition, the chemistry between them had to be something special, different; it needed to be “scorching.” When I say scorching, I don’t mean they have to be all over one another every single second. No, this simply means that the actors/actresses portraying these personas gelled in a certain way, providing such extreme underlying tension or charisma that it separates them from the numerous other onscreen chemistries of their kind.
Here are 15 of my favorites from the world of Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transsex ual cinema. There are many, many films I need to re-watch and so this list isn’t as accurate as I would like it to be. There will be an LGBT Couples in Cinema list to follow in the upcoming days as well as companion Male/Female chemistry list. In the meantime, tell me some of yours!
Note: I tried not to but there may be some spoilers within -- nothing beyond what you'd find in a film review though.
15. Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt as Lestat and Louis in Interview with Vampire
Note: the more overt nature is clearly in the books, which does not dance around that these two were a couple; in the film it is not specifically stated but the books allows this pairing fit the rules of the list.
Key Scene: The scene in which Lestat ‘makes’ Louis is essentially a sex scene – and it’s brutal and hungry and could not have been played better by Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. It’s weird to think these two powerhouse actors were in a film together, much less a homoerotic one, but they were and they didn’t hold back. Would the same project happen today? I seriously doubt it.
14. Jennifer Tily and Gina Gershon as Violet and Corky in Bound
Key Scene: Um, everything? It’s almost as though the scenes in which they gaze at one, flirting, are another are hotter than the sex scenes—almost. They just crackle with thick tension. So good – and they’re both off the charts sexy so watching their dance is a pleasure.
13. Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna as and Julio and Tenoch in Y Tu Mama Tambien
Key Scene: The threesome. Another film in which the build-up was so slow – and these two try to convince themselves the whole time that they’re only interested in women yet they jerk off right next to each other and are utterly involved in one another’s sex lives. When the kiss comes they don’t need to do it. They could just enjoy what’s currently happening to them – cough-- down there, but they don’t. Instead, they latch onto one another like it’s what they’ve been waiting for the entire time. It doesn’t hurt that Garcia Bernal and Luna have great chemistry in their off-screen longtime friendship. Beautiful portrayal here, throughout.
12. Ben Silverstone and Brad Gorton as Steven and John in Get Real
Key Scene: I can’t even pick one. Basically it’s that slow, gorgeous falling in love yet naturally one is repressed and won’t admit it (welcome to gay cinema ladies and gents! The world of self-loathing and unhappy endings). Each and every one of their scenes is thrumming with tension – the long looks, the near/slight touches – until finally John breaks down, literally, and all the desire comes rushing out. Silverstone and Gorton are so very believable.
11. Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix as Scott and Mike in My Own Private Idaho
Key Scene: The campfire scene of course, which I could talk about for hours, days, years. Phoenix is vulnerable, open, baring his entire soul. You can barely breathe watching the scene – can hardly look away from his face, shy and bold all at once. Theirs was something beyond cinematic – it just transcended the bounds of the script—which had never called for Phoenix to be in love with Reeves’ character. He added it all himself because it felt right. And damn, does it feel right.
(no picture available)
10. Justin Kirk and Randy Becker as Bobby and Ramon in Love! Valour! Compassion!
Key Scene: The kitchen scene. Kirk’s character is blind yet his attraction to Becker’s character is so desperate and intense it’s fascinating – it shows you something you don’t normally see on film: infidelity of a person who cannot see. You almost may think to yourself – why can’t he help it? He can’t even see if he the other guy is attractive yet he’s willing to risk his relationship on this. And then through the two of them, their blood-pounding scenes you realize it’s so much more – it’s the way Ramon treats him, the way Ramon just *wants* him. He literally can’t help himself. Brilliant stuff here.
9. Stephen Rea and Jaye Davidson as Fergus and Dil in The Crying Game
Key Scene: There’s no real moment here for me, just their entirety of their interactions – they’re natural and easy with one another and then the reveal comes and he keeps seeing him. These two just made everything which played out so damn believable and they meshed so well together, playing off each other’s responses perfectly.
8. Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Cherie Currie in The Runaways
Key Scene: First Kiss/Night together – Intense, so much more on Joan’s part – Kirsten Stewart brings so much to Joan’s complexity and her sexuality – it’s really something. The way these two actresses played these roles was rather fascinating – so much is occurring beneath the surface – so much queerity laced into each and every one of their interactions. Their scenes are some of my favorites ever.
7. Christina Ricci and Charlize Theron as Selby and Aileen in Monster
Key Scene: The roller rink. The way Lee holds onto Selby – the look of instant puppy love in Selby’s eyes that someone is actually interested in her – the way they just fall into one another and kiss, right there in the middle of the rink. Then their desperation outside. Theron and Ricci have never, ever been better.
6. Thomas Gibson and Matthew Ferguson as David and Kane in Love and Human Remains
Key Scene: In Kane’s house – when David realizes just how much power he has over him – how much Kane wants him yet is still a little afraid but would do anything, give him anything. Ferguson and Gibson are natural and the onscreen relationship here, not just the chemistry, is one of the best I’ve seen written.
5. Clive Owen and Lothaire Bluteau as Max and Horst in Bent
Key Scene: These two defy the odds and fall in love in a concentration camp. Owen and Bluteau are barely allowed to look at one another at times, and yet you feel their need from long distances. The essential moment is when they engage in verbal sex, telling one another what they’d do to each other – it’s perhaps one of the most erotic things to be put on cinema yet no bodies are touching. Their love and desire is so rich and Owen and Bluteau make it shine through the pages of the script.
4. Ewan Mcgregor and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Curt Wild and Brian Slade in Velvet Goldmine
Key Scene: The orgy scene. The music combined with the naked desire in their eyes as they stare at one another, eyes only for each other to the point they may as well not be in a room full of half naked people – it’s just guttural. Their relationship is fiery, volatile, and the way McGregor and Rhys-Meyers play off one another is engaging and so very hot.
3. Sean Penn and James Franco as Harvey and Scott in Milk
Key Scene: Their first interaction. You have two guys meeting in a subway station. It should come off as superficial, shallow. It should feel like hook-up, a one-night stand; it shouldn’t feel like we’re already witnessing a love story, but it does -- the demeanor of both actors is sweet and almost innocent. The kiss is shy yet bold all at once and from this first instance, we are in love with these characters. Now that takes something special to achieve.
2. Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as Jack and Ennis in Brokeback Mountain
Key Scene: It’s difficult to pick but probably the reunion kiss. It’s like they simply can’t help it – the tension and need is overwhelming. And the way it’s played between the two of them—the way Gyllenhaal and Ledger don’t hold back at all – it’s heady and perfect and honestly, it’s the realness of their interactions that makes this film so epic because the content is nothing new. I’ve watched a hundred gay-themed films (probably literally) with the same type of subject matter just different ultimate situations. However, between the direction and the fire between these two – it elevates it to the status it deserves. It’s largely considered the best gay film because it’s the most well-known, but, that’s not to say the praise isn’t warranted.
1. Hugh Grant and James Wilby as Clive and Maurice in Maurice
Key Scene: The room.
I’m not sure there will ever be a scene (see above picture) drenched in so much passion yet barely a kiss occurs. The looks on their faces, the openness, fear, the need; it’s unparalleled. The scene is fantastic. Their chemistry thereafter is so curious and interesting; the way one gravitates toward the other, then one pulls back at first only to confess love shortly thereafter. Then there's a complete shift due to fear, which starts an entire new arc allowing another romance to occur which, in itself is a fantastic one. This is truly a magnificently crafted film (based on a fabulous novel) and Grant and Wilby are spot on.
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Eeek! I think you've provided a massive spoiler by including The Crying Game!
Bound and Love and Human Remains are favourites of mine.
Does Orlando count??
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Cinema is Truth
Cinema is Truth
Cinema is Truth
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile