Thursday, July 9, 2015

Thursday Movie Picks - Road Trip Movies

Written for the blogathon hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Join us by picking three movies that fit the week's theme and telling us something about them. It's fun - I promise!

There's a bit of a theme with my picks this week. Allow me to explain: June was Gay Pride Month. And not only was this year my first Pride in NYC, it was my first time attending a Pride parade March EVER. I can't even tell you how incredible it was, ESPECIALLY since the tremendous Supreme Court decision on gay marriage came down the Friday of Pride weekend. I was so thankful I had that day off from work, because I would NOT have gotten ANY work done. Between reading news items, watching CNN, and checking/posting to Facebook, that was all I did that day.

Well, that and crying.

I haven't ever thought about getting married - I'm not sure that it's something I want - but the fact that now the highest court in the land has affirmed my right to do so ANYWHERE in these fifty United States of America, well, it's a pretty powerful feeling, and was a bit overwhelming at the time. That night I went to down to Greenwich Village, to the Stonewall Inn (site of the famous riots that started the Gay Pride movement, the subject of Roland Emmerich's upcoming film) and it was a mob scene. You could barely move anywhere, but you could feel the LOVE permeating the air, the joy of everyone's spirits. And then you looked up and saw Freedom Tower and the Empire State Building lit up in rainbow colors... I am so glad I was in New York for this. There have been several moments since moving here in September that I've been happy I moved here, but none more so than that night. It was truly special, something magical.

All of which was a long way of saying: The gays have been on the brain. So, these Road Trip picks are LGBTQ-centric.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Stephan Elliott, 1994) Surely the most fabulous road trip ever filmed. "Priscilla" is an old bus taking three Australian drag queens (Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, and Guy Pearce - yes, THAT Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, and Guy Pearce!) through the outback to a gig on the other side of the continent. Come for the (deservedly) Oscar-winning costumes (some of which cost all of $7 to make out of stuff from a K-Mart!), stay for the revelatory performances from the three leads, all of whom have become famous for far different kinds of roles.

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (Beeban Kidron, 1995) This pseudo-remake of Priscilla written by the great Douglas Carter Beane isn't as subtle or quirky as its predecessor, but I still kinda love it. John Leguizamo, Patrick Swayze, and Wesley Snipes (of all people) turn in some of their best performances in this as two veteran queens and one newbie Q.I.T. (that's Queen In Training) driving across America for a beauty pageant. It's formulaic sure, but it's surprisingly funny, and all the performances (especially Chris Penn and Stockard Channing in supporting roles) are generous of heart and spirit. Think of the balls it took for these stars to take these roles when they did! I still almost can't believe it.

Transamerica (Duncan Tucker, 2005) Felicity Huffman was robbed of an Oscar for her stunning work as Bree, a male-to-female transsexual on the verge of completing her transition when she gets a phone call from a son she didn't know she had. The kid (Kevin Zeegers) is a hustler, of course, and before you know it he's talked his way into having Bree drive him cross-country, even though he may be onto - and may not like - the fact that Bree is transitioning. The film pulls no punches, but Huffman finds plenty of funny in places you'd never think of. Bonus points for the lovely Dolly Parton song "Travellin' Thru", also robbed of an Oscar.

19 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you got to be in NYC for this. I love your story, that sounds incredible. I've only seen Transamerica, which I was salty about because Breakfast on Pluto got NO love that year and I thought it was a better film, but I should probably re-watch it. Adventures of Pricilla sounds great, but it's not on Netflix. Damn!

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    1. Thanks - it really was the most incredible weekend.

      I get that about Transamerica/Breakfast on Pluto, and while I don't think Transamerica is a GREAT film, Huffman's performance alone makes it worthwhile for me.

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    2. Oh, and screw Netflix. See Priscilla by WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY. You can probably buy it on DVD for cheap.

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  2. I've only seen Priscilla (and it made my list too) and I LOVED that movie so much!

    I need to check out the others, although I've been skeptical (and I always thought Huffman's performance wasn't well liked)...but now I'm on board with seeing these!

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    1. LOVE Priscilla. I remember at the time it was solidly between Huffman and Witherspoon for Best Actress, with Reese having the slight edge. Truly, Huffman's work in Transamerica is transcendent. Really, really great stuff. The film around her isn't anywhere near her level, but it's good enough.

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  3. That's great that you were in one of the major cities during these historic times. I walked in the Philly parade this year but it was before the decision so while it was festive it didn't have the same air of celebration.

    I've seen all three of your picks but the only one I can say I flat out loved is Priscilla, so many great elements in that film and while all the men were fantastic Stamp should have received a nomination for his work. The costume Oscar was completely deserved.

    To Wong Foo is enjoyable but I always felt its pacing was off and it could have moved more agilely but the three main performances are very fine. Felicity is wonderful in Transamerica but the overall movie didn't blow me away.

    I considered doing three of the Crosby/Hope Road movies this week, they are ready made for the theme but I'm not much of a Bob Hope fan so to make my way through three again to refresh my memory just wasn't worth it.

    I'm glad I didn't now because my first movie fits into your theme!! It's a huge favorite of mine, I saw it several times during its initial release and have a framed poster signed by most of the cast and the director that my sister surprised me with.

    My three for the week:

    The Trip (2002)-The multi decade story of Alan and Tommy, soulmates that are drawn together and pulled apart by love, differing beliefs, fears, secrets and the machinations of others over the turbulent 70’s and 80’s. Low budget (some of the period wigs are beyond terrible), moving comedy/drama, with a better than average cast for something this small-one-time Bond girl Jill St. John is a hoot as Alan’s former showgirl mom, looks at the rise of the gay rights movement, the shame inflicted by Anita Bryant’s hate crusade and the beginnings of the AIDS crisis. The road trip in the film only comprises the final act of the picture but all that comes before is a lead up to that journey.

    The Daytrippers (1996)-A young suburban wife, Eliza (Hope Davis), discovers what seems to be a love note shortly after her husband Louis (Stanley Tucci) leaves for work one morning. Unsure what to do she turns to her mother (the recently departed Anne Meara) for advice who encourages her to drive into the city and get an explanation from her husband. So Eliza, both her parents, her sister and her sister's boyfriend (Parker Posey & Liev Schreiber) pile into the station wagon and hit the road to the city and so starts an odyssey as they travel from place to place trying to find him and discovering far more than they bargained for. Quirky and engaging.

    The Sure Thing (1985)-Walter “Gib” Gibson is a freshman at a Northern college whose sole desire over his Christmas break is to somehow get to his friend Lance’s college in L.A. where a “sure thing” awaits, a tan, blonde and very young Nicolette Sheridan. Short on cash he answers an ad to share the ride out West which is also being taken by Alison, a classmate who can’t stand him. Once they’re on the road many adventures and calamities come between him and his goal, among them show tune loving drivers, money troubles and unexpected feelings. Engaging comedy made a star out of John Cusack who is quite brilliant in the lead.

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    1. Totally agree with you about To Wong Foo and Transamerica - Two Wong Foo is VERY oddly paced, but still enjoyable, and the most worthy thing about Transamerica is Huffman's performance.

      Oh dear lord, those Bob/Bing Road To... movies. SIGH. I have such a love-hate relationship with them.

      The only one of your picks I haven't heard of is The Trip, which sounds really good. I've been wanting to see The Daytrippers because of the cast, but honestly The Sure Thing hasn't ever been a must-see for me, despite liking 80s John Cusack.

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    2. I think Sure Thing has suffered through the years in being lumped in with other lesser road trip films such as Road Trip and Rat Race and their fun, dumb humor but other than the trip aspect it really stands apart in its gentle spirit and the captivating charm of the young Cusack, which completely dissipated over the years to the point where I find him odious now, and Reiner's focused direction.

      Definitely seek out The Trip, I love it so much. I can't tell you how many times I saw it in the theatre with different people who I had rhapsodized to about it and peaked their interest, and some of them who loved it as much as I did went back multiple times.

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  4. I love all these films! Pricilla is the highlight for me. Seeing bad-ass Wesley Snipes in a dress makes me feel great for some reason. The film is quite good and they all make an impact on how we need to be more compassionate to people who are unique in their own way. I agree that Felicity Hoffman should have won the Oscar

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    1. I totally agree on Wesley Snipes. That part is so unexpected coming from him, I almost can't believe it!

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  5. Damn, I still need to see Priscilla. I enjoyed To Wong Foo. Swayze and Snipes were both good, but Leguizamo was amazing. Imagine a big fan of Transamerica. Hoffman was so perfect. That year, I enjoyed it far better than the overrated Brokeback Mountain.

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    1. BTW, just nominated you for an Award!

      http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2015/07/liebster-award.html

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    2. I'm honored, Dell! Thanks so much! I guess that's incentive to post more...

      Yeah, Leguizamo really is amazing in To Wong Foo. You should DEFINITELY see Priscilla, though. It's really something.

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  6. I still have to see your last two picks but loved THe Adventures of Priscilla! The three actors were amazing and loved the costumes.

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    1. It's really amazing watching Priscilla now knowing what kind of careers those actors have had since. Such against-type roles, and they're all great. Definitely try to see the other two, they're very sweet and pretty good films.

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  7. What a brilliant story, I'm really chuffed for you. Great picks too, I haven't seen any of them but they sound like great movies!
    - Allie

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    1. Thanks, Allie! Definitely seek them out, especially Priscilla.

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  8. Dude! Yes! To the Supreme Court, to you being in New York, for equality, for your great story. Thanks for sharing. As for your picks, I've only seen one, your second, To Wong Foo... That is a great movie! It needs to be talked about more. My Mom took me to see it in the theater, well, she wanted to see it, and I was with her. I fell in love. How could you not? Such great performances, as you said, and brave for all three of them. I really need to see Priscilla now, I guess. I hadn't heard of it.

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    1. Your Mom is AWESOME: Her favorite movie is Imitation of Life, and she took you to see To Wong Foo in the theater. If you liked that one, then you'll LOVE Priscilla!

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