Customer Reviews

101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men

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Whether or not you agree with all of Duralde's choices, he has created a funny and informed guide with "101" that will give any gay man (or any film fan for that matter, gay or straight) a wide variety of choices of films to seek out, and others to revisit. His selections range from the international (All About My Mother, Cachorro), camp classics you've probably never heard of (The Apple, Boom!), to more obvious gay classics (Auntie Mame, All About Eve) and less obviously gay films (Fight Club, Jackass: The Movie), revealing trivia and famous quotes from each film as he goes along.

The book's main strength comes from the narrator's voice: a self-described film "nerd", Duralde reads less like a stodgy, know-it-all critic, than a friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate fan. He's not afraid to trash a film either (I won't reveal which one of the 101 films he lists as a red herring for the hilariously scathing review he gives it).

Lightweight in size but heavy in content, this is a perfect holiday gift for friends, film fans, and of course, that "funny uncle". Bring on the sequel!

As a female movie lover, I was drawn to buy this book. I have seen many films listed within it, but still found many fresh insights into familiar movies. He writes in a very distinctive voice, as if your best friend was telling you why to see a particular film. However, this voice is very literary and knowledgeable. Informative, witty, funny and interesting any movie lover will be want to own this book. It is concise and succinct with clever symbols to help describe the film. It will help greatly with trips to the video store and Netflix lists of films to rent.

101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men is a seminal tome in more ways than one. Well, actually, only one. It hasn't got any of the good pictures in it. But it does have 101 movies that are essential to a broad range of the gay aesthetic. It's got movies for drama queens, diva queens, show tune queens, bears, disco queens, grunge queens and size queens. The only gay subgenre it's lacking is the queer sports movie, and I'm sure once Duralde has seen Summer Storm and Guys and Balls he'll add something appropriate to Bride of 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men he keeps promising (unless that what he's titling the lesbian companion piece he keeps promising as well, in which case he'll have to include Bend it Like Beckham or, better yet, Personal Best).

When I came out, I was told I couldn't get my queer card until I'd seen Torch Song Trilogy and Murder by Death. Both are missing from 101. I'm not going to fight too hard for Murder by Death which is simply a very good example of camp and not particularly queerly significant beyond that, but I will say that I can't imagine a list of queer movies complete that doesn't include Torchsong.

But what is in the book is delightful and insightful. I knew Fight Club is about the slashiest thing every made, but it didn't occur to me to put it in a list of must-see movies for the queer cognoscenti. But even the obvious choices - Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Sunset Boulevard, Valley of the Dolls, Sunday, Bloody Sunday and many more - are given new life and new perspective with plot synopsis, evaluation of what's important to the queer viewer, quotes from the movie and an interesting visual classification system.

Duralde examines these movies with wit and sensitivity. He makes you want to expand your DVD library, and in some cases your VHS library, not only with the movies he lists, but with the movies he mentions in passing discussion about other movies.

And, for the record, I've seen The Broken Hearts Club and it isn't nearly as awful as Duralde makes it out to be, but it is awful.

I cannot remember the title or anyone who was in it, but it you're looking for a movie emblematic of what bad queer cinema is, the one with the fireman who begs his girlfriend for a threesome without specifying the gender of the third participant and then is horrified when she brings some guy from the neighborhood who's been crushing on him for years into the bedroom is the one to choose.

That said, I normally wouldn't have thought, judging from its title, that this book would appeal to me. But appeal it does! Alonso Duralde has an inimitable style of writing that seems to urge me relentlessly from the page I was on to the page that followed. I read this book in one day. Two days later, I turned around and opened it up to page one and began to read it all over again.

Anyone who appreciates film or film criticism should thoroughly enjoy this book. Even if (like me or some of the other reviewers) you're not a gay male, there's plenty to entertain you within the covers of this book. Duralde has a singular talent for discussing his topics without weighing down the reader with a lot of jargon, opinion or rhetoric. I completely absorbed his thoughts without having to analyse his statements. By incorporating his critique into discussion of each film, I could understand his point of view without having it get in the way of his hip, stylish method of writing.

All in all, this book boils down to one word -- FUN. It's fun to read, fun to learn about movies you haven't seen, fun to see how Duralde's opinion of the films you have seen match your own. Good God! What else could you want?

This is far more than a simple list of films that may be aimed at a gay audience. It is 101 hysterical fan rants from someone who has a wicked sense of humor and extraordinarily evolved taste in film.

This is a book that every film student should read because Duralde has a genuine passion for movies and the understanding of them to back up his opinions.

Many of Duralde's choices surprised and delighted me; he didn't go for the easy selections. Any book that mentions "Tarnation" and "Without You, I'm Nothing" in the same breath is aces by me.

`101 Must See Movies for Gay Men' by Alonso Duralde is a must have quick reference guide for anyone who has a penchent for all things celluloid. From movies that are so bad that they're good to the kind that make you want to thank the creator for bringing to your life a newfound joy, this book has them all. Written in an easy, approachable style, this no-nonsense guide lets the reader know what movies to watch and all the reasons why, without sounding hoity-toity or pretentious. Complete with memorable movie quotes, a fun rating system and inciteful analysis, this book needs to be within easy reach every time you think about buying or renting a movie.

I just finished this book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The films listed within are all films that either are gay films or simply films that cater to a gay man's sensibilities in one way or another.

I liked how he organizes the book so that you get a concise synopsis of the film, his thoughts, insights and in some cases, productions notes and/or memorable quotes and some other film suggestions that relate to the film being discussed.

His reviews are witty but never pandering nor slamming the film in question, but rather he finds a middle ground to his reviews. He has the facts to backup his thoughts on why a certain film works, does not work. A lot of reviewers don't even bother.

After having read this book, I now have a list of films I'll rent and/or purchase over the next few months.

Definately one to keep handy when renting and/or viewing a film.

Duralde has written a great, comprehensive guid - funny and biting in spots, but always respectful of the films and his reader. He has a keen knowledge of cinema and an understanding how movies - great movies - can really move abd affect us. Duralde doesn't take the "easy" road and make this a list of popular favorites; he lists a full array of moving films, from high art to low camp and every shade in between. Some films are not expressly filled with gay content, but strike a chord of identification that resonates on other levels. This is a must-read guide that you'll want to take to the video store or have in front of you when you rent or buy your next DVD.

I picked up the book on a recommendation from a friend and found it to be very well thought out. The author puts together a concise list. I found myself keeping a tally as I read the book of the films I had seen the more I found myself skimming across my own personal DVD collection in the book, the more I was adding titles to my netflix list. I'm looking forward to picking up 101 MORE must-see movies for gay men!

This book has movies you know, movies you've seen, and some that may be new to you. Even when reviewing movies I had seen many times, this book gave me new perspectives on them.

And isn't that what great criticism is supposed to do?

It's not some stuffy book, yet it's not all fluff either. Fun enough for a light read, but deep enough to get the mind working too.