Tonight I had the joy of watching another horrifying queer movie to add to the long list I have seen in my lifetime. I was reading Entertainment Weekly a few weeks ago. They are usually very good at keeping me up to date on good movies that have come out on DVD.
I have a long list of holds from the library and I just add to it when I find something I may want to watch.
Tonight, that movie ended up being "Querelle".
I kind of feel bad making fun of the movie since the main character, Brad Davis died of AIDS in 1991 (supposedly Brad Davis was straight in real life, or was he bisexual? depends on the website you check.), but let it be known, nothing can stop me from saying how weird and ridiculous this movie is.
Here are some things you may want to know about my experience with this movie:
1. I didn't watch the whole thing. Miles and I could only stand it for 22 minutes, so we don't know if it miraculously gets better after the 22nd minute.
2. This movie had the false appearance of becoming a musical at any moment. The background was a lovely peach spray painted back drop, which made it look like there was a perpetual sunset. Querelle was supposed to be a homo sailor. He wore a white beanie with a red ball on top. I kept waiting for a musical number like, "I think I'm gay, what a beautiful day, let's roll in the hay, if that's okay." Or, "I've never done this before, don't call me a whore, my acting is a bore, while watching your brain may grow sore." Or, "My name is Querelle, my acting is hell, I guess you can tell."
3. Every shot has a penis in it. Not subtle.
4. This movie came out around the same time as "ET". I don't know how to explain how hillarious that is.
5. I am not sure what Jean Genet was smoking when he made this film, but Entertainment Weekly must have gotten ahold of the stuff when they recommended watching it.
