OUT ON FILM: Straight actors who have played gay roles perfectly

OUT ON FILM

STRAIGHT ACTORS WHO HAVE PLAYED GAY ON THE BIG SCREEN - BRILLIANTLY!

Whilst some people feel that all LGBTI+ roles on screen should be played by LGBTI+ people, some of us don’t have issues with straight actors portraying LGBTI+ roles...I guess that’s why it’s called acting... some of the films are award-winning classics, whilst others have been panned ... check out just a small sampling of some of the best...

Many screen legends, as well as a huge array of modern day actors, have taken on gay roles to huge critical acclaim. From Tom Hank’s powerful Oscar-winning performance in Philadelphia, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal’s superb performances in the ground-breaking Brokeback Mountain to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s brilliant portrayal of American novelist Truman Capote, in Capote as well as numerous other towering works. In this issue we celebrate - and acknowledge - some of these memorable performances and find out what the actors had to say about playing gay.

In no specific order of who was best, these are the films that OUT Africa Magazine ranks as worthy of the accolades...

TOM HANKS & ANTONIO BANDERAS - PHILADELPHIA

(1993) Starring Tom Hanks as a brilliant lawyer who is fired because of AIDS, who then employs Denzel Washington to defend him, and Antonio Banderas who plays his lover. The film remains a ground-breaking look at the AIDS crisis and the stigma experienced by gay men in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Philadelphia is a powerful, engrossing film that is still relevant today.

Jake Gyllenhaal & Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain Tom Hanks & Antonio Banderas - Philadelphia

TREVANTE RHODES - MOONLIGHT (2016) Growing up in a rough Miami neighbourhood, Chiron, played by Trevante Rhodes and Aston Sanders experiences his fair share of abuse and neglect. The film follows his life in three self-reflexive stages – from childhood to adolescence and finally adulthood. Throughout, Chiron battles bullying, poverty, and the effects of drug addiction, whilst attempting to come to terms with his sexual identity. Every facet was realised in this Oscar-winng film, with flawless delivery, from the astonishing acting by every performer, to lush or exquisitely brutal cinematography, to tight editing.... And, of course, the script — original, profound, empathetic, and nuanced.

Trevante Rhodes - Moonlight

JAKE GYLLENHAAL & HEATH LEDGER - BROKEBACK

MOUNTAIN (2005) The American Neo-Western romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee is considered as one of the breakthrough films of queer cinema. This film is about the complex emotional and sexual relationship between two men who developed a bond over one summer in the ‘60s. Brokeback Mountain is one of the most critically acclaimed films and heads many lists as one of the best. It’s a romantic masterpiece with a destructive ending both literally and emotionally. Most of all, the exquisite acting from the two leads, who never make a wrong move.

WILLIAM HURT - KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (1985) This unexpectedly beautiful film set in such an abjectly depressing situation in a South American jail in the middle of a revolution The two characters--a macho journalist protestor hungry for justice and a gay story-teller hungry for love--are polar opposites on many levels. Sexual. Social. Political. Even their versions of freedom are miles apart, although each are willing to do just about anything to have it.

Slowly, however, they evolve in their relationship to one another. Although they never lose their core differences, they do find their meeting points. And it is beautiful. William Hurts performance was a Tour De Force.

William Hurt - Kiss Of The Spider Woman

EDDIE REDMAYNE - THE DANISH GIRL (2015) “God made me a woman, but the doctor corrected the mistake that nature made”, surely the most memorable line from Tom Hooper’s beautiful film. Set in the late 1920s, details the life of artist Einar Wegener, (subsequently Lili Elbe), who, with the aid of his longsuffering wife and fellow artist, Gerda, comes to terms with his desire to become a woman in an age of intolerance, and gambles all in agreeing to undergo one of the first ever sex-change operations. Eddie Redmayne triumphs as Einar/Lili, bringing to life the smallest nuances, dilemmas, insecurities, confusions throughout the movie.

Eddie Redmayne - The Danish Girl

MICHAEL DOUGLAS & MATT DAMON - BEHIND

THE CANDELABRA (2013) This film about the legendary performer Liberace is a masterpiece, thank’s to the electrifying Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as his lover, Scott Thorson. Dramatising the last ten years in the life of the famed pianist based on Thorson’s memoir. The film perfectly portrays the over-the-top glamour and manipulative behaviour of the iconic performer.

ROBIN WILLIAMS - THE BIRDCAGE (1996) This movie is hilarious. An uplifting movie with lot of heart and so entertaining it can be watched over and over. The film is an American remake of the French classic La Cage aux Folles and many armchair critics think it better than the original- updated and delightfully acted, with the brilliance of Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in the lead roles.

HARRY HAMLIN & MICHAEL ONTKEAN - MAKING

LOVE (1982) This was a griund-breaking film when it was first released, dealing with gay men who have been hiding their true selves. The film was way before it’s time. Relevant and sensitive to anyone struggling with being honest with not only yourself, but your future partner as well. An excellent movie, well acted produced and directed. Hamlin did say it ruined his career.

Michael Ontkean & Harry Hamlin - Making Love

EWAN MCGREGOR & CHRISTIAN BALE - VELVET

GOLDMINE (1998) Velvet Goldmine, itself the title of a David Bowie song, follows the lives of Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a queer glam rock idol based on Bowie and Marc Bolan, and his eventual lover, Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor). Slade fakes his own death and is exposed as a fraud. A decade later in 1984, a reporter and former fan, Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale), tracks down the former rocker to do an article on his life and downfall. Described by some critics as “one of the most underrated films”, so perhaps it needs to come out of the closet again for another viewing.

JIM CAREY & EWAN MCGREGOR - I LOVE YOU

PHILIP MORRIS (2009) A really lovely tale of two men whose relationship is a little more complicated than it seems. Charming, odd, and unlikely love story. Carey is at his offbeat best and McGregor is sweet and adorable as his love interest. The shenanigans are implausible but it is based on true events.

HUGH GRANT & RUPERT GRAVES - MAURICE (1987) - Maurice is a heart-touching, meticulously detailed period piece that is a must-watch. Brilliantly capturing E.M. Forester’s novel of the same name will sensitive, deep performances from all the lead actors in this tale of forbidden love.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Capote

Ewan Mcgregor & Jim Carey - I Love You Philip Morris

COLIN FIRTH - A SINGLE MAN (2009) Directed by Tom Ford, the film is brilliant, powerful, meaningful. Its a painful, and perfectly portrayed look at how grief can suffocate us, making it hard to get through each day, but also make each day resonate more deeply because of the pain. Colin Firth is superb but Fords cinematography nailed it.

Colin Firth - A Single Man

PHILLIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN - CAPOTE (1987) - This is a startling adaptation of Capote’s In Cold Blood. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s riveting central performance guides a well-constructed retelling of the most sensational and significant period in author Truman Capote’s life, he is simply a tour de force. Excellent from start to finish, under the stunning direction from Bennet Miller.

SEAN PENN - MILK (2008) The plot revolves around Harvey Milk who became the first openly gay man elected to the first notable public office seat on the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco who was shot dead by a colleague. Sean Penn is absolutely brilliant, compelling, and utterly convincing.